2023 is going to be a big, big year for Michael Ray. The “Holy Water” singer reveals he is heading out on the road the first part of the year, with his new tour kicking off on February 18 in Los Fresnos, Texas.
“I want people to come out to see us and know that when they do, we’re gonna take great care of that time as it means more to us all now,” Ray shares.
Ray, by his own admission, had a turbulent couple of years, fueled by time away from his fans during the pandemic. Although brutal, Ray learned plenty in that time, both about himself and those who surround him, which he says will come out both on the road and in his new music.
“The main things that have kept me going this year is my family, friends, and these incredible fans that have become friends,” says Ray. “I think they’ll see a lot of life lived in these songs, and hopefully they’ll see themselves in it, too.”
The Florida native’s last album, Amos, was released in 2018. He also released his Higher Education EP in 2021, which includes his multi-week, No. 1 hit, “Whiskey and Rain.” Now, Ray is ready to share new music with his fans — and a lot of it — which is why he is currently working on a new record, produced by Michael Knox.
“My romance with the business of music was starting to take its toll on me,” Ray reflects. “Things really come into focus when you take the time to live a little life. I feel like the music that we’ve been writing has real intention and is focused on the next chapter. I’ve discovered lately, especially in spending time with my family, that there’s a lot of life you miss when you’ve got your head down, doubling down on work. I think a lot of folks feel that way as all our lives changed, and so this idea of being present has moved beyond an idea…it’s how I’m living life these days.”
The 34-year-old has also learned a lot about himself in the last few years, lessons that will be evident with his forthcoming new project.
“Being busy living life is the goal,” Ray says, explaining that he no longer feels the need to always occupy his time. “I find I give more in my live shows when I’m the same human off stage and on, versus only giving folks one side of me for 90 or 120 minutes when I’ve got a microphone in my hand.”
Ray previously hinted that his next album would celebrate the diverse artists and genres that helped shape the kind of artist he became.
“This whole process has been exactly how I’ve always wanted to cut a record, being able to really dive into some stuff that I feel like people have been waiting for me to put out for a few years,” Ray told Everything Nash. “And, touch on some subjects I touched on, but also have some influences of what I grew up with. You’re gonna hear a lot of Allman Brothers, a lot of Skynyrd, and a lot of traditional country music mixed with ’90s country music.
“We just took a lot of different eras that I was influenced by and put them together,” he adds. “It’s by far the most excited I’ve been about putting a record out.”
See a list of Ray’s tour dates below. Updates on new music, as well as tickets to all of his shows, can be found at MichaelRayMusic.com.
Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Michael Ray 2023 Tour Dates:
Feb. 18 Los Fresnos Rodeo Los Fresnos, TX
March 3 Dakota Event Center Aberdeen, SD
March 4 North Dakota Winter Show Concert Valley City, ND
March 11 Carnaval ME Portland, ME
March 17 The Foundry Greenville, SC
March 24 Shooting Star Casino Hotel & Event Center Mahnomen, MN
April 22 The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa Sonora, TX
April 25 Von Braun Center Arena Huntsville, AL
April 26 Temecula Stampede Temecula, CA
April 27 Stoney’s Rockin Country Las Vegas, NV
April 28 Clovis Rodeo Clovis, CA
May 19 Grizzly Rose Denver, CO
May 20 365 Sports Complex Inman, KS
June 3 San Bernadino County Fairgrounds Victorville, CA
June 15 Barefoot Country Music Fest Wildwood, NJ
Aug. 26 Country In The Burg Cedarburg, WI
Photo Credit: Courtesy of EB Media / Connor Vaughan Morss
