Luke Bryan Is Eager to Tour Europe Again, But Is Waiting Until He Can Do It Right
Luke Bryan will soon hit the road -- or rather, the fields -- for his ninth annual Farm Tour. The trek, which is scheduled to off on Sept. 28 in Lincoln, Neb., is a way for Bryan to connect with his fans who live in rural areas, who may not have easy access to the larger venues where he typically performs.
"We just put a big stage up in a field," Bryan told The Boot and other reporters at a recent media event. "We go shake hands with this farmer, and they’re like, ‘Okay, as long as you don’t tear my hay field -- or whatever field we’re in -- up too bad.'"
During his Farm Tours, Bryan also awards college scholarships to deserving students from the communities in which he's playing.
"I think about energizing little towns [with the tour]," Bryan shares. "Occasionally I have some of those kids [who receive the scholarships] write me a letter and reach out. It’s very special."
In addition to his Farm Tour dates, Bryan is also continuing his 2017 Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day Tour. The tour, which kicked off in January, has paired Bryant with a variety of opening acts, including Lauren Alaina, Craig Campbell, Brett Eldredge, Adam Craig and Seth Ennis.
"Nothing makes me smile more than to watch new artists walk out there, and they’re like, ‘This is what it’s like? This is crazy. There’s a lot of people here,'" Bryan says of his reason for inviting so many acts to join him on the road. "[When] Seth Ennis was out with me, he was just standing there, watching what we were doing, and I love that stuff. I remember being that kid, that guy that just watched ... So by offering multiple artists [the chance] to be in the front, the first act, it was just an opportunity for me to spread the opportunity out there a little more and have fun with it. You can always tell their appreciation and tell how much they enjoy it."
Bryan says that he hopes to tour more in other countries in the future, but the married father of two (who is also raising his nephew Til) says those plans may wait until his children are a little bit older.
"We want to get the kids and make it a big European experience, and let them see so much of the world," Bryan says. "My first trip to Europe, it was such a cultural experience for me, and a learning experience -- so much that I was aggravated that I didn’t plan more time before and after my shows ... We went to little Scotch bars in Scotland, and we went to markets in Berlin, and we didn’t sleep for days ...
"It’s really about trying to plan it and make it a fun experience for everybody, not flying in, doing a show, and flying out," Bryan adds. "I want to fly in and do shows, but then take some time and see if I can catch some fish."
A list of all of Bryan's upcoming tour stops is available on his website.
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