Alton's Dakota Smart to perform at the NE Music Awards

ALTON — Lakes Region Native Dakota Smart has been selected to perform at the 2023 New England Music Awards at Six String Grill & Stage in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Nov. 12. Smart, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Alton, caught the attention with his 2023 New England Tour of over 100 performances this year and the release of his newest song, “Greatest Thing You’ve Never Seen."

He was one of the handful of artists chosen to perform out of hundreds of talented acts from several New England states. For more information and tickets, visit nemusicawards.com

Smart's career writing music and performing began at the age of 10, and by the time he was 17, he was on tour with an opening band for the legendary Three Dog Night. At 18, he was already writing and releasing professional studio recorded songs, and he'd started winning song competitions. He received multiple New England Music Awards nominations by the time he was 21.

Smart also released his fully produced Album “Leap of Faith” and was selected out of over 1,100 acts to perform in a Nashville Showcase in front of a panel of Music Industry A&R and Labels. Covid downtime inspired him to write dozens of new songs which have tilted the ear of many music industry professionals encouraging him to continue this journey. He was recently paired with producer Lowell Reynolds to record 10 of Smart’s new songs at historic Blackbird Studio, Nashville. He was thrilled to record in the same room as one of the most iconic rock bands, Queen.

Listen to Smart on Spotify and other music-streaming platforms. Follow him on social media @Dakota Smart Music and dakotasmart.com.