Canadian country star George Canyon is scheduled to wow Jasperites with an intimate show Friday night, as part of a tour to promote his sixth studio album, released earlier this year.

The show will be taking place at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre, where only 150 people will be lucky enough to spend their evening eating, drinking, singing and dancing along to the songs of the two-time Juno Award winner.

“It’s going to be a very intimate feel,” said Greg Ross, food and beverage manager at the inn. “Everyone will be within arm’s length of George.

“I think it’s going to be like going to a house party with George playing ... It’s not something that happens every day in Jasper.  I think it’s going to be a very unique show.”

Canyon will be playing hits from his new album, Better Be Home Soon. It’s the second album he has co-produced with Richard Marx, who makes an appearance on the album, in a duet with Canyon. 

“Richard Marx and Kenny Rogers wrote a song for me called When Love is All You’ve Got and it’s the first song that Richard and I ever recorded as a duet,” Canyon stated in a press release. “To record this song together for the album was the icing on the cake.”

Also on the album is the title track, Better Be Home Soon, originally performed by Crowded House in 1988. Canyon said the song holds a special meaning for him because it was one of his late father’s favourite tunes.

“What’s really funny, though, is my father always thought I wrote it and I didn’t have the heart to tell him differently.”

Canyon, who was born and raised in Nova Scotia, got his musical start in 2004, when he competed in the USA Network’s reality television show, Nashville Star, and finished as the runner-up.

Since then, he has sold more than 250,000 CDs and has won numerous awards, including two Junos and multiple East Cast Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards and SOCAN Awards.

And he has also started acting, appearing in television shows like Trailer Park Boys and CBC’s Heartland. 

Canyon is set to meet with fans after the show, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Tickets are available from the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre. A ticket includes dinner and the show. Doors open at 6 p.m.