Devin Townsend is currently working on his new album Empath, a Casualties Of Cool record, and a Ziltoid EP. Because he's not busy enough, Townsend has also now announced a solo acoustic tour of Europe for March and April 2019, presumably right after Empath hits the shelves. The shows are dubbed "An Evening With" and will also feature a Q&A segment each night.
Here's what Townsend had to say.
"I have been busy making my newest recording, 'Empath', over the past year. It has been a complicated and enlightening experience in that I have gone back to my roots in terms of what my motivations are for making music, in hopes that I am able to move forward as a musician being as true as I possibly can to my motivations. The result is an album that I am exceptionally proud of, one that is uncompromised and diverse in ways that accurately represent where I'm at now at the age of 46.
"The past decade of relentless touring with Devin Townsend Project had been something that caught up with me in a big way, and as a result, I felt I needed to step back from that world and analyse myself and make this music before stepping onto a stage again. The time has come, however, for me to take the next step in my career, and when asked about how I would like to do so, I decided the first thing I would do was a very intimate run of shows that allows me to play my music stripped back to just me and a guitar. The shows are at nice venues, and includes a spoken-word element with questions from the audience as well as aspects of my entire career represented in this one show.
"Before I tour with a band again, I wanted to have the opportunity to play for you, and meet up with the people who not only have made my work possible, but inspire me to continue. In a world of computers and social media, to be stripped of all the bells and whistles is a very important step for my reintroduction to the live concert world. I truly hope you'll join me and I look forward to being the most honest I can be with you at these special shows.
"Thank you to Andy Farrow and Northern Music, Thomas Waber and InsideOut records, as well as all who have supported me during this period. I have not been as proud of an album as I am of 'Empath' in many years, and I really needed to get this out of my system."
Catch Townsend at one of the dates below.
March 07 – Piano Man Jazz Club, Delhi, India
March 08 – Levi’s Lounge, Mumbai, India
March 30 – Savoy-teatteri, Helsinki, Finland
March 31 – Sodra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden
April 01 – Edderkoppen, Oslo, Norway
April 02 – Bremen Theater, Copenhagen, Denmark
April 04 – PassionsKirche, Berlin, Germany
April 05 – Stodola, Warsaw, Poland
April 06 – La Fabrica, Prague, Czech Republic
April 07 – Freiheiz, Munich, Germany
April 09 – Kulturkirche, Cologne, Germany
April 10 – Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany
April 11 – St-Bavokerk, Haarlem, The Netherlands
April 24 – Bush Hall, London, UK
April 25 – Bush Hall, London, UK
April 26 – St George’s, Bristol, UK
April 27 – City Varieties, Leeds, UK
April 29 – Jam House, Edinburgh, UK
April 30 – Glee Club, Birmingham, UK
