Trace Adkins II USA Today
Trace Adkins 'having a ball' with Blake Shelton on Friends and Heroes Tour
[edited version]
Country music mega-star Blake Shelton brings his Friends and Heroes Tour to Sioux Falls on Saturday with special guests Lauren Alaina, The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson and Trace Adkins.
The third stop on the Friends and Heroes tour makes its way to Denny Sanford Premier Center with a 7 p.m. start.
Trace’s own headlining tour, Don’t Stop Tour 2019, begins after the Shelton tour.
USA Today Network had the opportunity to speak with opener Trace Adkins about the tour, the band camaraderie and his upcoming new album.
On playing Midwestern towns like Sioux Falls
“It’s amazing to me how country music fans aren’t much different. No matter where you go, country music fans are country music fans. Depending on the venues you may have a little bit rowdier crowd or more sedate crowd. But it’s been my experience over 20 years, that country music fans are great, they’re great all over the country.”
On Trace’s friendship with Blake Shelton
“I did this tour with Blake last year and it was the highlight of my year. I just had a blast doing it every day. The camaraderie and the atmosphere that Blake and his management team and his tour company run their organization is really loose and everybody is comfortable and happy. It’s just as much fun as people imagine it would be, we’re just having a ball out there.”
On the other artists on the bill
“I’ve met the Bellamy’s, but I haven’t been around them a whole lot. John Anderson and I’ve been around a little bit and he’s a great guy. Lauren, I’ve only met her a couple of times, but I haven’t been around her that much. I’m sure we’ll be (friends) when this thing’s over with.”
On the Friends and Heroes Tour theme
“That’s Blake’s thing. He just wants to have fun. Blake is in a beautiful place in his career, just like I am. We get to make decisions based on the answer to one question; will that be fun? And if the answer to that question is yes, then we’ll probably do it. Money’s not a motivating factor anymore. Blake goes on tour and he just wants to have his friends and heroes with him and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”