After he performed back-to-back to sold-out crowds at Red Rocks in early 2018, no one expected Pretty Lights (real name Derek Vincent Smith) to head off the grid. Save for his quietly released “Rainbows & Waterfalls” single in 2017, it’s been radio silence from one of dance music’s biggest stars. It was a surprising departure, especially for an artist who has typically maintained a close relationship with his fan base.
The Pretty Lights rumor mill roared back to life over the weekend, however, as Festive Owl, a popular source for global festival news, sparked speculation of a Pretty Lights comeback seemingly out of nowhere. Taking to the artist’s dedicated subreddit, Festive Owl cryptically commented that it was “time to dust off the cobwebs,” and maintained more information would be available soon.
Those who followed the owl’s wise words weren’t left disappointed. Smith began updating his social media and website on Tuesday morning before dropping a bombshell teaser trailer that brought everything into focus. The kaleidoscopic clip teased new music and 27 new tour stops across 9 U.S. locations: Denver, Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, the Tennessee Caverns, Atlanta, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Lake Dillon.
🌀❤️🚀 pic.twitter.com/NKnoRNXt6x
— PL (@PrettyLights) April 4, 2023
The “Finally Moving” producer has also been confirmed to play festival slots at Florida’s Suwannee Hulaween festival as well as the debut of Cascade Equinox in Redmond, Oregon.
Smith has consistently innovated in the world of live events throughout his career, most notably melding the traditional DJ performance format to include accompanying symphonic performers at a time when it was far less conventional to do so. In a statement shared to Twitter, Smith noted that a new vision for his spellbinding live events is also in the works.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time and am immensely grateful to be healthy and happy and surrounded by amazing people,” Smith tweeted. “I feel recharged and more ready than ever to launch a new vision of PL music and live events.”
The Soundship Spacesystem tour kicks off with a trifecta of shows in Denver at Mission Ballroom on August 4th-6th. General sales for the tour begin on Friday, April 7th at 10:00 AM local time.
