Ryan McAllister's career began as the lead singer and songwriter for Dakona, a Fraser Valley band that became the subject of a bidding war between music labels.
Following a reshuffling at Maverick, Madonna's label, the band lost their deal but the band still managed to tour for a couple of years and share stages with the likes of Sam Roberts and Willie Nelson.
McAllister found a new path, recording indie bands in the little rehearsal space the band had built with their record-deal advance. He runs Five Acres, a recording studio in a converted barn a few steps from his home. He has taught himself the art of producing and recording, and has written plenty of music along the way.
He wrote, produced, recorded and mastered, Music for a Rainy Town, his first solo effort. It's a return to his gospel roots, an honest, vulnerable record that runs the gamut between southern pop, story-telling folk, and straight-up rock.
"In an age of 99 cent singles, Music for a Rainy Town is a powerful 12-song album from front to back, with each track showcasing strong, seasoned storytelling, engaging melodies and lyrics steeped in imagery," according to his bio.
Ryan McAllister, Friday, March 27, $10 at the door at The Vineyard Centre (Acoustic Emporium) 45892 Wellington Ave. doors at 7 p.m.