Acclaimed Canadian musician Devin Townsend has announced that his upcoming North American tour, kicking off May 2nd in Nashville, will be his last for the foreseeable future. In poignant statements released today (Monday, April 28, 2025), the prolific artist revealed his decision to take an indefinite break from the demands of the road, citing a combination of industry challenges and pressing personal needs.
For nearly 35 years, Townsend has relentlessly pursued his unique creative vision through countless albums and tours. However, he explained that the landscape of touring has shifted significantly, particularly post-pandemic, while life itself requires his attention elsewhere.
In a detailed statement, Devin shared his reasoning:
“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.”
Townsend was quick to clarify that this is not an end to performing live entirely. “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.”
During his time off the road, Devin plans to launch a new venture: “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.”
He concluded his main statement by emphasizing his commitment to making the final tour leg special: “I will return to the stage. But first, I need to reset… 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… Let’s make this one count.”
In a separate video message, Townsend reiterated the point: ”In two weeks I start a tour in America… If you’re in America and you wanna have the opportunity to see me or meet me or participate in the work that I do in a live front, this upcoming tour will be the last time you get a chance to see me for quite some time. I’m going on a vacation. That being said, that vacation will incorporate about a dozen things that I’ve been waiting to do for all these years that have to be pushed aside because of the constant touring… It’s a pleasure to play for you. It’s a pleasure to be in your life, and thank you for being in mine.”
The upcoming North American tour supports Townsend‘s recent album PowerNerd and features support from progressive metallers Tesseract. It kicks off May 2nd in Nashville and concludes May 23rd in Los Angeles.
Devin Townsend North American Tour Dates 2025 (with Tesseract):
- May 02 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
- May 03 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
- May 04 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues (Orlando)
- May 06 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
- May 07 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
- May 09 – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square
- May 10 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
- May 11 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
- May 13 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
- May 14 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
- May 16 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre
- May 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest (Devin Townsend only)
- May 19 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
- May 21 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
- May 23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Ogorthul: Immersed in the bone-shattering world of death metal and beyond. I’m here to excavate the latest news, reviews, and interviews from the extreme metal scene for you.
