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Alberta country star Shane Yellowbird is scheduled to perform two shows at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre this weekend. He and his six-piece band plan to come up a day early to see some Northern sites.

"We'll have a chance to meet some people and hang out for a day," he said.

Shane Yellowbird plays two concerts at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre this weekend. - photo courtesy of Shane Yellowbird

Yellowbird charted on the national radar in 2006 with his debut album Life is Calling My Name, an upbeat collection of original country tunes that tap into the singer's Cree and country roots.

Filled with songs about falling in love and finding the confidence to be yourself, Yellowbird's album strays from the heartache and heartbreak that dominates most country music albums.

"Those were my rules for my first album," he said. "I told my management and label and everything that for my first album I didn't want any breakup songs. I wanted it to be the album that if people are having a bad day and stuff they could put it on to help them perk up a little bit."

Yellowbird said he will also play some new songs from his as-yet-untitled second album with a few classic country covers thrown in.

"You know, people have told me that I get personal on stage," he said. "It helps a crowd get to know me. Who I am. Where-I-come-from-type stuff. I tell stories a lot. I have a good time up there and the crowd has a good time, too."

This is the first time Yellowbird has performed in Yellowknife. Last year he toured much of the continent. He took January off to recuperate at home in Ponoka, Alta., where he enjoys riding horses, playing hockey and sharing time with family.

"I was wore out," he said. "I was gone too much last year, which is why I don't have a girlfriend now. She couldn't deal with me being away for 200 or 300 days out of the year."

Following his two shows at NACC, which begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Yellowbird will embark on a long line of tour dates punctuated by lots of time in the recording studio.

"It's going to be another busy year," he said.