It’s big. Very big.

Last year, more than 280,000 people descended on it, generating millions of dollars for the local economy.

Fitting, then, that this year Grand Canyon — Chris Seldon and Courtney Farquhar — is one of the 650 musical acts playing the North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference (NXNE), which this year, its 17th, runs June 13–19 in venues around Toronto.

“Courtney and I have both played NXNE as solo artists but this is our first time together,” Seldon said. “We are excited to be a part of it.”

The duo have only been playing together since August of last year, but already have quite a following of music lovers who dig their brand of singing, lyrical storytelling and finger-picking guitar work.

“I would describe our music as roots/country,” Seldon said. “We are fans of ‘real deal’ artists and miss the good old days of the outlaw balladeer.

“We get our influences from Allison Krauss, Merle Haggard and Neil Young.”

Grand Canyon is set to play the NXNE festival Friday at 9 p.m. at The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Ave. This gig, though, is just one of many on the horizon.

“We have a busy summer of shows ahead,” Seldon said. “We are playing at the Drake Hotel July 5th and 12th, and are planning another trip to Nashville, [Tenn.], in July, along with working on a U.K. tour for the fall.”

And why the name Grand Canyon?

“Because,” Seldon said, “it’s vast and beautiful, like us.”

For more NXNE information, visit nxne.com.