Country music star Dallas Smith won't be spending much time before Christmas in his hometown of Langley.
The 47-year-old singer and songwriter, who has made a name for himself as a solo country artist following a run as lead singer for the acclaimed hard rock band Default, announced that soon after the Junos next month he's going on a massive cross-country tour.
The Walnut Grove native will be one of several performers at the 43rd annual Canadian Country Music Association Awards night being hosted this fall in the B.C. Interior. And as soon as he finishes up on stage at Prospera Place in 琉璃神社 for the CCMA awards night on Saturday, Sept. 13, he finalizes plans for a tour that will take he and his band 鈥� unplugged 鈥� and accompanied by artist Brock Phillips on an extensive trip throughout B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
It starts in early October, with a show in Fort St. John. There are roughly 50 shows on his calendar 鈥� the closest concerts to his hometown being in Abbotsford and New Westminster 鈥� taking them across the continent where they wrap up in Belleville, Ont., on Dec. 14.
"I鈥檓 excited to announce that I鈥檓 hitting the road in Canada this fall with my full band for our first-ever stripped-down, unplugged tour," Smith shared.
"There鈥檚 something special about taking it all back to the songs, the stories, and the raw connection that happens when it鈥檚 just you, your long-time band, and the audience. I can鈥檛 wait to bring this experience across Canada and for you to see what we have in store," he said.
He's been around for 25 years touring, but said he's never done an extensive tour like this.
"It's 51 dates, hitting up Canadian cities that I never hit. We have such a beautiful country鈥� I've seen a lot of it, but to get into the nooks and crannies鈥� I love visiting small towns," Smith said.
"I'm a very, very proud Canadian. So, to bring this show to as many possible small towns that I could is really important to me."
He insisted he won't be playing the same songs every night, either.
"Every show is going to be different. Every show is going to be unique."
In fact, Smith has been in and out of the studio getting some new music prepped for the tour, as well.
"I couldn't be more excited to bring this new stuff to light and share these new song with you," he shared.
Talking about the "unplugged" or acoustic aspect of the show he'll be presenting, he admitted big shows never made him nervous, but the more personal, intimate show did.
Now though, he's excited about telling his story more, explaining where he was in life, and in the different stages of his career, when his songs came to him.
"When I think back to acoustic tours, I think of the MTV unplugged and all the great bands that played those," Smith said. "Full bands, stripped down. Getting to hear the parts a little more clearly, more musically maybe. Yes, they were acoustic, but the energy was still next level."
That's what he hopes to create when he heads out for his "Unplugged" tour this fall.