The revolutionary and immersive entertainment destination known as the Sphere is a visionary creation that, if it hadn’t existed, Zac Brown would have undoubtedly needed to bring it to life himself.

“I’ve been dreaming of creating a spectacular show for several years,” he shares with Billboard. “My goal was to craft an experience where both the production quality and the fan experience reach unprecedented heights. During my research for this project, I learned about the Sphere and took a tour of the venue while it was still under construction. It was then that I realized, ‘This is the ideal location…’ The Sphere offers the most remarkable canvas ever designed for artistic imagination.”

Just over two years after its grand opening in September 2023 with U2, Zac Brown Band will take the stage for their highly anticipated engagement titled Love & Fear. This limited four-show series coincides with the release of the band’s seventh studio album, which shares the same title, on December 5. The scheduled performances will take place on December 5-6 and December 12-13. When asked about the possibility of additional concert dates, Brown confidently responds, “Yes.”

Last week, the band took to social media to clear their accounts, signaling that a significant transformation was on the horizon. They posted on Instagram, “There’s no way to sum up what the last chapter has meant to us…The next chapter? It’s the biggest one yet.” Following this, on Monday (July 14), the band unveiled the striking cover of the Love & Fear album, which depicts an epic clash between a mythical angel and a devil, accompanied by the message, “Two sides of the same truth.”

Zac Brown characterizes their upcoming performance at the Sphere and the new album as a significant evolution for the band, referring to it as “2.0 for our band.” He explains, “Some bands lose their momentum over time and eventually fade away, but my enthusiasm and creativity are at an all-time high. I aim to continually push the boundaries of what our band can achieve while taking our fans along for this exhilarating journey… This is our opportunity to demonstrate that we are not slowing down; in fact, we are accelerating.”

The Grammy-winning Zac Brown Band, with five albums topping the Billboard Country Albums chart, began crafting this new album two and a half years ago. The visual elements for the Sphere performances began development 14 months prior to the launch. “Every single detail of the Love & Fear show will be incredibly memorable,” Brown promises. He confidently states that the performance will, in a positive way, “make people’s eyes bleed and evoke every possible emotion that we, as artists, can express.”

The album, which the band is self-releasing, along with the accompanying show, narrates the story of Brown’s life. “You know, I’ve never genuinely shared my life’s story with anyone who isn’t a close friend,” the Georgia native reveals, “so this is a unique opportunity to express all these personal experiences.”

The lead single from the album, “I Ain’t Worried About It,” has already been released, while another new track titled “Let It Run” featuring Snoop Dogg is set to debut on Friday (July 18). Additionally, the album will feature collaborations with Dolly Parton and Marcus King.

Zac Brown goes as far as to describe Love & Fear as “one of our masterpieces,” noting the incredible effort invested in its creation, which includes a 40-piece orchestra and a 20-piece choir. He emphasizes that the same level of detail has been integrated into the immersive experience they are crafting for their Sphere performances. (Due to the Sphere’s unique acoustics not supporting a live orchestra, the symphonic elements for the Sphere show were recorded on-site and will be incorporated into the visual display).

Zac Brown, who has enjoyed performances by Phish, Eagles, and Anyma at the venue, shares that the planning process for this show has been all-consuming. “Our self-imposed challenge is to elevate the standards,” he asserts. “You’re only limited by your imagination and your budget,” he explains. “It’s a tremendous creative endeavor, but I absolutely love it and feel obsessed with it. It’s akin to constructing a plane while in flight.”

The Sphere show will take audiences on a captivating journey, featuring around six songs from the new album while reimagining many of the group’s multi-platinum hits to create a cohesive narrative, according to Brown.

He expresses no reservations about being so vulnerable in the album and performance. “I believe that’s what defines our humanity,” he states. “As an artist, you’re exposed and vulnerable, and people’s reactions can vary from admiration to criticism. But that’s a risk one must be willing to embrace. I’m unapologetically committed to creating music that resonates with my innermost feelings and experiences. If you lack a strong sense of self, the music industry will easily overwhelm you. It’s crucial to fiercely protect your identity.”

The band has intentionally limited its touring efforts to focus on developing the album and show, encouraging fans to attend the Sphere performances. ZBB has only a few scheduled dates in Australia for October before launching their highly anticipated run in Las Vegas.

“I’m reaching out to every friend I have on the planet for support with this album and the Sphere,” he shares. “Due to our contract with the Sphere, we can’t tour extensively, so the revenue we would typically generate from touring is now being reinvested into creating this project. I aim to elevate our artistry, and this is the perfect time and venue to make that happen. This album is essential for our journey forward.”

Following the Sphere performances, Brown intends to take the Love & Fear show on the road. While certain aspects will be exclusive to the Vegas experience, the overarching themes will be adapted for more traditional venues.

“We’re constructing all of our staging, lighting, and other elements for the Sphere, and we plan to incorporate those components into our touring setup,” Brown explains. “However, the level of detail and the extensive effort put into creating the video content for the Sphere show simply cannot be replicated on a smaller scale. The Sphere is truly a modern marvel.”

Tickets for the highly anticipated Love & Fear shows will be available for the general public starting July 25 at 10 a.m. PT via ZacBrownBand.com. Exclusive travel VIP packages, which include a concert ticket and a two-night stay at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, are currently available at ZacBrownBand.com. All other VIP packages will go on sale on July 21 at 10 a.m. PT.