Back in 2021, Sturgill Simpson promised Rolling Stone that he was done making albums under his own name after the release of The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. “I always said there would be five, and I wondered if I’d go back on that. But it really has cemented every step of the way how much I don’t want to carry all that weight,” he told RS’s Marissa R. Moss. “Not having to stand up there behind my name would allow me to be even more vulnerable, in a way.”
On Wednesday, Simpson made good on that vow with the announcement of Johnny Blue Skies, his new moniker, and a band full of members from his original group: guitarist Laur Joamets, drummer Miles Miller, and bassist Kevin Black, plus the addition of Robbie Crowell, formerly of Midland, on keys. Simpson will introduce Johny Blue Skies to fans on a fall tour — the Why Not? Tour — beginning with a festival show at Outside Lands in San Francisco in August.
There’s also a new album: Passage Du Desir, named after a storefront on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in Paris. Due July 12, the record was produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville and at Abbey Road Studios in London. According to a release, it will comprise eight songs with titles like “Swamp of Sadness,” “Jupiter’s Faerie,” and “Mint Tea.”
Tickets to Simpson’s tour will go on sale via a pre-sale on June 12; fans must first register at Simpson’s website. A general on-sale for a limited number of tickets begins June 14.
Sturgill Simpson’s Why Not? Tour:
Aug. 9 – 11 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
Sept. 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
Sept. 15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
Sept. 17 – West Valley City, UT @ Maverik Center
Sept. 19 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sept. 20 – George, WA @ The Gorge Amphitheatre
Sept. 22 – Missoula, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater
Sept. 24 – Moorhead, MN @ Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater
Sept. 25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Sept. 27 – Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena
Sept. 28 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
Oct. 1 – Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed
Oct. 2 – Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed
Oct. 4 – Brandon, MS @ The Brandon Amphitheater
Oct. 4-6 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct. 8 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Criterion
Oct. 9 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
Oct. 11 – 13-Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival
Oct. 15 – St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre
Oct. 18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Events Center
Oct. 19 – Forest Hills, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
Oct. 21 – Ashville, NC @ ExploreAsheville.com Arena
Oct. 22 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Oct. 24 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena
Oct. 25 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
Nov. 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
Nov. 15 – Hampton, VA @ Hampton Coliseum
Nov. 18 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Nov. 20 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Nov. 21 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
Nov. 23 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway