Devin Townsend to Take an “Indefinite” Break from Touring After Upcoming U.S. Run
When you think of incredibly busy musicians out there, Canada’s own Devin Townsend has to be high up there in the list. The dude’s constantly writing, constantly touring, and for the first time in a long time, he’ll be taking a rest.
Earlier today, the madcap Canadian maestro announced in a post on social media that after his upcoming United States tour, which will kick off on May 2 in Nashville, Tennessee, he’s going to take some well-needed respite. In fact, he said the tour would be the “last time” fans would catch him live for the foreseeable future.
“For nearly 35 years, I’ve followed a creative path guided by instinct — each album, each tour, each project a new chapter in a story I’ve felt compelled to tell. My mind latches on to concepts, and I love chasing them down. That chase has made this journey wild, unpredictable, and deeply fulfilling.
“Over the years, I’ve heard it countless times: ‘Dev, take a break… please.’ But the flood of ideas, the excitement, and the support of incredible musicians and listeners have kept me going, kept me touring, and kept me grateful for a life on the road. That said, things have changed — especially since the pandemic. Booking tours now means planning up to two years in advance. With fewer venues, fewer crews, and a saturated touring circuit, it’s become more challenging than ever to line things up. And beyond the logistics, life has simply caught up with me: my parents need help, my dogs are on their last legs, the kids have moved out, ‘The Moth’ is nearly complete, and truthfully, I need some time to breathe and recalibrate.
“So I’ve made the decision to take a break from touring — an indefinite one. This upcoming North American run will be the last time you’ll see me on stage for the foreseeable future.
“That doesn’t mean I’m done playing live. Not by a long shot. I’ll be performing until my final breath. But right now, I need to be present for the people who need me, and to give myself the space to reflect on everything I’ve been through.
“In the meantime, I’m launching a long-overdue project: ‘The Ruby Quaker Show’ — a YouTube series where I’ll finally explore the dozens of creative ventures I’ve had on the back burner. Albums, worlds, inventions, and strange, wonderful ideas I’ve postponed for years — now I’m making the time to bring them to life, without that familiar pressure of knowing I’ll be gone again in a month.
“I will return to the stage. But first, I need to reset. Touring has been a beautiful, exhausting constant in my life, and for once, I’m listening to the voice that says: slow down. I want to create from a place of calm inspiration rather than frantic obligation. And until I can truly be there for the people who rely on me, my creativity won’t be at its best.
“So here’s the deal: this final North American tour is going to be something special. We’re digging deep into the catalog, pulling out some big ones, and making these shows a true celebration.
“If you’ve ever wanted to step into this world I’ve built — maybe you caught ‘The Moth’, or a song found its way to you when you needed it — now’s the time. I know things are tough economically, and I don’t take that lightly, so I’m doing everything I can to make these shows as meaningful and unforgettable as possible. Let’s make this one count.”
If you’d like to make sure you see him one last time before he goes on that long-ass break, maybe you should check him out when he hits a venue near you. The full list of dates can be found below, along with links to get tickets.
Devin Townsend Tour Dates
w/ Tesseract
2-May Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
3-May Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
4-May Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues (Orlando)
6-May Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
7-May Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
9-May New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
10-May Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
11-May Boston, MA – House of Blues
13-May Montreal, QC – MTELUS
14-May Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
16-May Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
17-May Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest
19-May Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
21-May Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
23-May Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
