The Fray - Summer of Light Tour with Dashboard Confessional

Overview

“We have such great memories of touring in the summer. The vibe for us and for the fans is something that we've all really connected with and had a good time with over the history of The Fray,” Wysocki says. “Getting these new songs in front of people is going to be exciting.

The tour supports The Fray’s upcoming album, A Light That Waits, arriving March 13. The record marks the band’s first full-length release in years and ushers in a renewed creative chapter defined by emotional clarity, cinematic songwriting, and the timeless sound that has connected The Fray to fans around the world for more than two decades. The album’s title track, “A Light That Waits,” is available now, offering a powerful first look at the band’s next era.

Written by Joe King (lead vocals), Ben Wysocki (drums), Dave Welsh (guitar), and producer Jason Suwito, the title track holds special significance as the first song born from a full collaboration between the three band members since their return.

“This was the first moment where the three of us were writing from scratch,” says King. “We were in Ben’s studio in Denver, just trying to discover something… All of a sudden, it was clear: this is a light that waits. But it took us being in the room, listening to ourselves and to one another, to really find the song. And that's what's beautiful about being a band.”

The album follows the 2025 releases “My Heart’s a Crowded Room,” “Emerald,” and “Songs I’d Rather Not Sing,”and features 11 tracks in total, produced by Jason Suwito, Ryan Linvill & The Fray.

“We could have hung it up, and I think we all contemplated that, but we have more stories about life to tell,” adds Welsh. “And we had to respect what we had earned from fans. I heard it phrased once by somebody that plays tennis, that you have to respect the spirit of the player. We’ve earned a seat at the table with a lot of people, and to not do it just because you're tired wasn’t an option. We owe it to both the life that happens in us and to the people that have listened to us and asked for more. And so, A Light That Waits is more.”

Rising to prominence in the early 2000s, The Fray introduced a soul-searching alt-rock sound that was both expansive and intimate. Over the course of their career, the band has earned four GRAMMY Award nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, multiple Billboard Top 10 hits, and a devoted global fanbase. Their breakout single, “How to Save a Life,” is RIAA Diamond-certified, spent 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a defining anthem through its association with ABC’s Emmy-winning series Grey’s Anatomy.

Following a triumphant return in 2024 after a decade-long hiatus, The Fray continue their next chapter with the release of their highly anticipated new album, A Light That Waits, arriving March 13. The album’s title track will be released January 23, marking the band’s first full-length body of new music in years and signaling a renewed creative era defined by emotional clarity and cinematic songwriting.

The multi-Platinum-selling band, composed of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Joe King, guitarist Dave Welsh, and drummer Ben Wysocki, rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a soul-searching alt-rock sound that was both expansive and intimate. Over the course of their career, The Fray have earned four GRAMMY Award nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, multiple Billboard Top 10 hits, and a devoted global fanbase. Their breakout single, “How to Save a Life,” is RIAA Diamond-certified, spent 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a defining anthem through its association with ABC’s Emmy-winning series Grey’s Anatomy.

Praised by Rolling Stone for their “stick-in-your-head hooks and eloquent narratives” and by the Los Angeles Times for their “melodically rich” songwriting, the band’s 2005 debut album How to Save a Life is RIAA-certified 4x Platinum in the U.S. and remains one of the best-selling digital debuts of all time. In support of A Light That Waits, The Fray will launch their new North American run, the Summer of Light Tour, with special guest Dashboard Confessional, kicking off in Canada this May and continuing throughout the summer.

As punk rock proliferated radio airwaves, Dashboard Confessional cemented their role at the vanguard of an entire music scene. Facing familiar aches with tenderness and precision, singer / songwriter Chris Carrabba rocketed the band into mainstream focus, solidifying their place as one of the biggest alternative bands of the 2000s. All The Truth That I Can Tell, the band’s ninth studio album, is both a remarkable renewal and fortunate step forward. Carrabba found himself at a distinct crossroads as the last decade came to an end. Running on fumes , unsure if he’d ever release another album, he waited. The songs eventually came, and though the project might’ve easily come to a screeching halt following a near-fatal motorcycle accident in the summer of 2020, the album stands among Carrabba’s finest — a strikingly potent musical look at himself through a rediscovered keyhole, both an achievement of vision and a vital burst of artistic clarity; less like reading someone’s diary and more like reading their eyes.

Since their 2014 debut When I Was Younger—featuring the breakout single “Silhouettes,” a four-month #1 on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation—Colony House has steadily grown into one of modern indie rock’s most reliable voices. Their follow-up Only the Lonely (2017) delivered the viral hit “You Know It,” later featured in a global Samsung campaign, while 2020’s Leave What’s Lost Behind led to the self-produced feature film Everybody’s Looking for Some Light. With festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Shaky Knees, plus TV performances on The Today Show, CONAN, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, the Tennessee four-piece has built a reputation for pairing timeless songwriting with a powerful live presence.

Now, the band returns with their fifth studio album, 77, a record that feels less like a departure and more like an arrival. Rooted in its organic approach, the album leans into themes of faith, contentment, and perspective while better capturing the raw energy of Colony House’s live show. “We’ve always wanted our music to bring people together,” says frontman Caleb Chapman. “This album is asking: what does that look like in a world that feels more divided and distracted than ever?” Mature and searching, 77 doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but it’s brave enough to keep asking the questions.

The Strumbellas know that misery loves company, and that if we’re together, even in dark times, there’s some joy in that. Their songs of suffering and celebration date back to their 2012 debut My Father And The Hunter, and the multi-platinum, Juno and iHeartRadio Music Award-winning group have obsessively chased big hooks, group vocal exuberance, and folk-rock propulsion through their 2016 breakthrough Hope to 2026’s Burning Bridges Into Dust. Their new single Come Back Around gives listeners an urgent, new take on their iconic mix of intimate feelings with stadium folk sounds.

Brother Elsey has a remarkable ability to transform everyday moments into powerful melodies, capturing the raw beauty of life with every note. Hailing from Michigan and now based in Nashville, the brothers fuse vulnerability and strength into a sound that balances heartfelt introspection with bold, heartland energy. Their self-titled debut album is the culmination of a decade of growth and dedication, marking a new chapter for a group that has spent years refining their craft on the road. From early days on the DIY circuit of the Midwest to headlining iconic rooms like The Shelter and Mercury Lounge, Brother Elsey has built a reputation as a relentless touring act. Having shared stages with a diverse roster of heavyweights—including Young The Giant, The Wallflowers, Mt. Joy, and Shakey Graves—they have proven their ability to resonate with massive festival crowds while maintaining the intimate "blood harmony" connection that defines their live show. With raw lyrics and infectious energy, Brother Elsey invites listeners into a space where emotions are laid bare. It’s more than just a debut—it’s the start of a movement that only grows stronger with every mile traveled.