Latest news with #Default
CBC
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour
Country singer Dallas Smith isn't looking to stir the political pot, but he admits it's no coincidence that his upcoming Canadian concert tour is booked for 51 dates. In a wink to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, the British Columbia-born country singer and frontman of rock band Default says he's investing in his homeland with an acoustic tour that rolls through 51 communities starting this fall. "We were close to that number and then we said let's just make that happen," he said with a laugh in a recent interview. "It was important for me to come, especially at this time, [with] a lot of Canadian pride. I want to get out there, really go hard, and visit all these places that I haven't been and see the country." The Dallas Smith & His Band (Unplugged) tour will focus on places he's never toured before and is mostly booked in small theatre venues of several hundred to a thousand seats. He starts in Fort St. John, B.C. on Oct. 3 and continues to less-travelled communities such as Kitimat, B.C., Enoch, M.B. and Wingham, Ont. By the time it's over, Smith will have wound through nine of the 10 provinces — skipping Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories — reaching his final stop in Belleville, Ont., on Dec. 14. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. Sporting a red-brimmed maple leaf baseball cap emblazoned with "Canada," Smith explained the reasons behind making Canada his main focus for the rest of the year. "There is a lot going on in the U.S. that goes against my upbringing and what I think is right," he said in a video chat from Nashville, where he was meeting with his management. "So why not double down and spend the time in a place that I really want to enjoy and be around my people?" 'Nooks and crannies' of Canada Few Canadian musicians take on the challenge of playing so many small markets. Life on the road can be mighty expensive once accounting for all the people required to carry a tour. With his band Default, Smith is more familiar with big venues, music festivals and major events, such as the Calgary Stampede, where he's roared through hits like Wasting My Time and Deny. He intends to revisit some of those older songs on this tour with stripped-back versions, while sharing stories of his upbringing, music career and newer solo tracks, including How Do You Miss Me and Drop. The concept is inspired by the "MTV Unplugged" sessions of the 1990s made famous by Nirvana and Alice In Chains. Smith said he's been throwing around the idea of exploring the "nooks and crannies" of Canada since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the plan never took shape. More recently, alongside his management team, he mapped out a budget to make it happen, shedding the lavish perks and complex lighting rigs for something more modest — a single bus, trailer, full band and most of his regular crew. Together they'll work on a tight schedule that, at times, sees them booked for six consecutive nights in six different cities before they have a break. To make it happen, their stage setup will be minimal. "We're gonna dial back and allow the beauty of these venues to kind of lead the way and be the backdrop," he added. Smith's approach might seem counter to the music industry trend of making shows bigger and more social media friendly — think towering digital screens and gimmicky celebrity appearances. But he said he's often rejected those pressures, and with this tour, he focused on making tickets affordable, within the $60 to $100 range, without impacting the live performance. "I did not want to sacrifice how these songs would be played," Smith said. "I love the guys in my band; they're like brothers to me. Playing these songs together, and paying them a full wage where they feel valued ... and balancing that with ticket price, it's a little tricky, but we landed in a good spot where everybody feels really happy."
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Canadian country music star to play Dakota Dunes Casino
Dallas Smith accepts the Fans' Choice award at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh One of Canada's most celebrated country artists is bringing his Unplugged Full Band Tour to Saskatchewan this fall for an intimate, stripped-down show. Three-time CCMA Entertainer of the Year Dallas Smith and his band will perform Nov. 6 at Dakota Dunes. The tour is described as an experience of stories and songs behind the hits, in an unforgettable night of music. Smith has gone from the frontman of Platinum-selling rock band Default to one of the most successful Canadian country musicians of his generation, with 21 Gold singles and 640 million global streams. Smith recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut and released a self-titled album. Canadian country musician Brock Phillips will serve as the opening act at the 19+ concert. Early access pre-sale tickets go on sale Aug. 13, with general tickets available Aug. 15.
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour
Dallas Smith accepts the Fans' Choice award at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh TORONTO — Dallas Smith says it's no coincidence that his upcoming Canadian concert tour is booked for 51 dates across the country. In a wink to Donald Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, the British Columbia-born country singer and frontman of rock band Default says he's skipping the U.S. and doubling down on homeland pride with his first-ever acoustic tour. Smith says he jumped at the opportunity to explore the 'nooks and crannies' of Canada 25 years into his music career, in which he's played mostly larger markets. The Dallas Smith & His Band (Unplugged) tour will focus on places he's never been before, starting in Fort St. John, B.C. on Oct. 3 and continuing to less-travelled communities such as Kitimat, B.C., Enoch, M.B. and Wingham, Ont. It also winds through major Canadian cities across nine provinces, reaching its final stop in Belleville, Ont. on Dec. 14. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025. David Friend, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Country singer Dallas Smith winks at Trump's annexation threats with 51-date tour
TORONTO – Dallas Smith says it's no coincidence that his upcoming Canadian concert tour is booked for 51 dates across the country. In a wink to Donald Trump's threats of making Canada the 51st state, the British Columbia-born country singer and frontman of rock band Default says he's skipping the U.S. and doubling down on homeland pride with his first-ever acoustic tour. Smith says he jumped at the opportunity to explore the 'nooks and crannies' of Canada 25 years into his music career, in which he's played mostly larger markets. The Dallas Smith & His Band (Unplugged) tour will focus on places he's never been before, starting in Fort St. John, B.C. on Oct. 3 and continuing to less-travelled communities such as Kitimat, B.C., Enoch, M.B. and Wingham, Ont. It also winds through major Canadian cities across nine provinces, reaching its final stop in Belleville, Ont. on Dec. 14. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Mattawa Voyageur Days a rocking success
Downtown Mattawa was bustling this past weekend as festival fans descended on Main Street from near and far. The weather cooperated, and folks didn't seem to mind the scorching heat, especially while enjoying a cold drink or ice cream. The town always has an in-depth review of the festival at a future council meeting. Councillors and Mayor Raymond Bélanger go over the numbers and hear the feedback and provide a full report on the event. However, by all accounts, the 26th Mattawa Voyageur Days was a success. One of the big changes this year was swapping rock and country nights. Since the beginning, country night was on Friday and rock night fell on Saturday. Bob Taylor, who has volunteered with the festival for 25 years, mentioned some people didn't get the memo. He said 'A lot of people were coming in their cowboy hats on Friday night.' Taylor's wife, Francoise, also volunteers with the fest. Both work the gate, and Taylor also handles security. He's been with the fest almost from the beginning, and he's proud of the event and what it means for Mattawa. His favourite part of the festival? 'The people you meet. It's fun working here. We always have good people to work with,' Taylor said. Overall, he's happy with the direction the festival is taking, and he's happy to see more events take place downtown. However, he would like to see more. Taylor recalled, 'We used to have the lumberjack competitions, log rolling, we used to have everything here. The kids would build go-karts and have races down Main Street, and every road was blocked up. The town was closed during the festival and every street seemed to have events happening.' See: Default and The Reklaws headline next Voyageur Days Annie's Park is still rocking, with a second stage for local and regional acts, and vendors, including Whiskeyjacks, a brewery from Haileybury with a special Mattawa pilsner on offer. The stage at Annie's Park is a great casual venue for the afternoon crowds, and about 10 bands played throughout the weekend. Jennifer Plummer, of Roamy Only, told BayToday, 'Offering Annie's Park as a side stage, gives local and regional artists a chance to be seen and heard as part of the main event. It's a simple, grounded space that reflects the spirit of the North and keeps the festival connected to its community.' Keith Benard, who has served as the festival's official photographer for the past 15 years, told BayToday, 'I love it, it's always been so much fun and I get to meet so many people.' He mentioned he 'has so many memories of great bands' coming through Voyageur Days, but one that really stood out was Cheap Trick. 'Rick Nielson was the coolest to work with,' Benard said. Pop Mach!ne, a Sudbury-based band, opened the Friday night rock show, which included Royal Tusk, Fefe Dobson, and Default. The band told BayToday, 'It was an honour to share the stage with so many amazing Canadian acts, and to be able to perform our original music for a new audience!' Having a spot on the main stage at Explorer's Point means a lot to up-and-coming bands, a point well-understood by Pop Mach!ne, 'It's definitely a pleasure to play on the rock night at Mattawa Voyageur Days. The beautiful scenic waterfront view and the enthusiasm of the audience makes it one of our favourite places to perform.' The stage has become a favourite for many. As MPP Vic Fedeli said, 'This year's festival truly embodied the pride and spirit of Northeastern Ontario.' 'What an incredible turnout at the 26th Annual Mattawa Voyageur Days Festival, where over 5,000 visitors enjoyed exciting new attractions and an unforgettable music lineup that included the Reklaws,' Fedeli said. David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
