Sturgill Simpson returns to music as Johnny Blue Skies with ‘Passage du Desir’

Sturgill Simpson has announced his new album ‘Passage du Desir’ under his new stage name Johnny Blue Skies.

The musician’s new era comes after he promised to release only five albums under his own name. “This is the last Sturgill record. I always said there would be five, and I wondered if I’d go back on that,” the Kentucky-born songwriter told Rolling Stone in 2021 while promoting his fifth album ‘The Ballad of Dood & Juanita’.

‘Passage Du Desir’ is set for release on July 12 via High Top Mountain Records – Simpson’s own independent label. Fans can pre-order / pre-save it here.

Comprised of eight songs, the album was produced by Johnny Blue Skies and David Ferguson and recorded at Clement House Recording Studio in Nashville and Abbey Road Studios in London.

‘Passage Du Desir’ tracklist is: 

1. ‘Swamp of Sadness’
2. ‘If The Sun Never Rises Again’
3. ‘Scooter Blues’
4. ‘Jupiter’s Faerie’
5. ‘Who I Am’
6. ‘Right Kind of Dream’
7. ‘Mint Tea’
8. ‘One for the Road’

Simpson previously used the Johnny Blue Skies moniker while collaborating with Diplo and Dove Cameron on the 2023 track ‘Use Me (Brutal Hearts)’.

Along with the album, Simpson has also announced dates for his ‘Why Not?’ North American tour which is set to kick off in August. He and his touring band – consisting of bassist Kevin Black, keyboardist Robbie Crowell, guitarist Laur Joamets, and drummer Miles Miller – will be making stops in major cities such as Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin, Queens, Philadelphia and Boston.

Fans can register for a ticket pre-sale here. The pre-sale will start on Wednesday June 12. General ticket sales will commence on Friday June 14 at 10am local time. Visit here to purchase tickets and check out a full list of dates below.

Johnny Blue Skies ‘Why Not?’ tour dates are: 

AUGUST
9-11—San Francisco, CA—Outside Lands

SEPTEMBER 
14—Los Angeles, CA—The Greek Theatre*
15—Santa Barbara, CA—Santa Barbara Bowl*
17—West Valley City, UT—Maverik Center*
19—Bend, OR—Hayden Homes Amphitheater*
20—George, WA—The Gorge Amphitheatre†
22—Missoula, MT—KettleHouse Amphitheater*
24—Moorhead, MN—Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheater*
25—Minneapolis, MN—Roy Wilkins Auditorium*
27—Lexington, KY—Rupp Arena*
28—Detroit, MI—Fox Theatre*

OCTOBER
1—Chicago, IL—Salt Shed*
2—Chicago, IL—Salt Shed*
4—Brandon, MS—The Brandon Amphitheater*
4-6—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music Festival
8—Oklahoma City, OK—Criterion*
9—Rogers, AR—Walmart AMP*
11-13—Austin, TX—Austin City Limits Music Festival
15—St. Louis, MO—Fabulous Fox Theatre*
18—Pittsburgh, PA—Petersen Events Center*
19—Forest Hills, NY—Forest Hills Stadium
21—Ashville, NC—ExploreAsheville.com Arena*
22—Cary, NC—Koka Booth Amphitheatre*
24—Duluth, GA—Gas South Arena*
25—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena*

NOVEMBER
12—Philadelphia, PA—The Met*
15—Hampton, VA—Hampton Coliseum*
18—Washington, DC—The Anthem*
20—Toronto, ON—Massey Hall*
21—Toronto, ON—Massey Hall*
23—Boston, MA—MGM Music Hall at Fenway*

*“An Evening with Sturgill Simpson”
†with support from Lord Huron