Tickets for Townsend’s forthcoming “Lightwork” tour will go on sale tomorrow (June 24^th) at 10 AM BST. You can view a trailer for the tour at the link below, which also includes a preview of some of Townsend’s forthcoming music.

In regard to the other shows on the “Lightwork” tour, it has been confirmed via a recent press release that any previously purchased tickets will still be valid for the upcoming shows. A full list of dates can be viewed here, as well as any remaining tickets for these performances.

Speaking in an interview with Louder Sound in March, Towensend talked about the process of writing and recording Lightwork, describing his collaboration with producer Garth Richardson: “I’ve known Garth for so long, his method of production became more like one of those retractable leashes that you have dogs on. You can run and run, but, after you get to a certain point, he’s like, ‘No! Hold back there!’”.

Townsend also offered some insight into the themes of the record, saying: “I think I’m looking around at all the chaos and depression and suicides and all these sorts of things. I’ve always been of the mindset that music doesn’t come from musicians; it exists in the aether, and you try and drag it out. I just hope that there’s some inspiration or strength that can be taken from it. Don’t give up, I guess that’s the whole point.”

Lightwork follows along from Townsend’s nineteenth and twentieth studio albums The Puzzle and Snuggles; a pairing of ambient records that Townsend released in December of 2021. This was preceded by his 2019 full-length album Empath. You can listen to these albums, along with the rest of Townsend’s catalogue via streaming services. You can find out more about the album via MXDWN.com’s recent article. 

You can view Townsend’s newly announced UK dates down below.

28/03/2023 – De La Warr Pavilion- Bexhill-on-Sea
29/03 – Academy- Bristol
31/03 – Academy- Manchester,
01/04 – Rock City- Nottingham
02/04 – University- Newcastle
04/04 – KK’s Steel Mill- Wolves
05/04 – UEA- Norwich

Photo Credit: Paul Harries

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A post shared by Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend)

Townsend initially announced the shows in early January, however made it clear that given the COVID-19 situation at the time, he was unsure whether the performances would go forward, saying: “2 nights at Royal Albert Hall as well as an Irish and Scottish date, Dream Theater dates after then it basically turns into a cycle of craziness with tours and festivals. I’m getting myself focussed and ready to sing again so fingers crossed I suppose, life changes so quickly these days so let’s see where things go:)”

Ever prolific, Devin Townsend will be releasing a new album in March, entitled Lightwork. It follows the release of two ambient albums entitled The Puzzle and Snuggles, which were Townsend’s nineteenth and twentieth albums respectively. Townsend has stated that they shouldn’t be regarded as “proper” albums and “more a collaborative, multimedia art project that acts as a stopgap between Empath and the next record”. Townsend released a five-part documentary regarding the making of the two albums, entitled Making THE PUZZLE which can be found on YouTube. You can check out part one at the link below.

No official singles have been released from Lightwork, however Townsend has played some demos from the record on his Twitch streams, which some fans have uploaded to YouTube. Townsend has said that the upcoming record is: “abstract and a stream of conscious. Still significantly far away from anything, but it’s determinedly taking shape. It’s been odd though, as every record is a reflection of the time it was conceived… This is clearly a weird time. It’s strange, abstract, meandering and weird. If I try to curb it and write something more disciplined, it would be a dumb rehash of stuff I’m clearly bored of. So, I follow this where it wants to go.”

Following Townsend’s Royal Albert Hall shows, he will be embarking on a European tour supporting Dream Theater. Tickets can be purchased here, and all his upcoming dates can be viewed down below.

13/04/2022- Olympia- Dublin
14/04- Glasgow Academy- Glasgow
16/04- Royal Albert Hall- London
17/04- Royal Albert Hall- London

w/ Dream Theater

20/04- SSE Arena- Belfast
21/04- Utilita Arena- Newcastle
23/04- Wembley- Greater London

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

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A post shared by Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend)

“2 nights at Royal Albert Hall as well as an Irish and Scottish date, Dream Theater dates after then it basically turns into a cycle of craziness with tours and festivals.” Writes Townsend on his socials, “I’m getting myself focussed and ready to sing again so fingers crossed I suppose, life changes so quickly these days so let’s see where things go:)”. With support for these shows yet to be announced, and tickets available now. Fans may have to get in pretty quickly for this reasonably modest tour.

If this isn’t enough for you though, Townsend has also released a 5-part documentary mini-series explaining the direction and surroundings for his last 2 albums. One detail he has made clear to fans is that the Puzzle and its brother Snuggles, should not be regarded as “Proper” Devin Townsend albums. But, if it’s a proper album you’re after; his new record Lightwork will be out in March. Until then, his The Puzzle has been described by him as a “more a collaborative, multimedia art project that acts as a stopgap between Empath and the next record,” as well as a “highly orchestrated” project that “gave me a chance to purge and be completely creatively free”. Snuggles, on the other hand, is “meant to be something you listen to in order to feel better… Puzzle is chaos, Snuggles is calm,” concluding, “The whole project is meant to express that I think there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel we’ve been through.”

Watch below, the first episode in the series where Townsend lays the groundwork for the project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding his upcoming album, Townsend describes Lightwork as, “abstract and a stream of conscious. Still significantly far away from anything, but it’s determinedly taking shape. It’s been odd though, as every record is a reflection of the time it was conceived.” Adding, “This is clearly a weird time. It’s strange, abstract, meandering and weird. If I try to curb it and write something more disciplined, it would be a dumb rehash of stuff I’m clearly bored of. So, I follow this where it wants to go.”

Find all information on Townsend’s UK, EU, and Dream Theatre support tour, here.

Tour Dates:
13/4/22 – Olympia – Dublin
14/22 – Glasgow Academy – Glasgow
16/22 – Royal Albert Hall – London
17/22 – Royal Albert Hall – London

In the two years since DTP’s last album  Z2, Townsend’s ambitions have been continuing to grow, recently culminating in the of release ‘Ziltoid Live At The Royal Albert Hall’, a documentation of the band bringing the famous Ziltoid story to life, on the grandest of stages.

Whilst on the road, the band will be supported by Milton Keynes’ own TesseracT, as well as Norwegian prog-metallers Leprous. The dates and venues are below, and tickets can be purchased via the band’s Facebook page, or their official website.

12/03- Colston Hall- Bristol

13/03-Manchester Academy-Manchester

14/03- Barrowland-Glasgow

16/03-O2 Institute-Birmingham

17/03-Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith-London

18/03-Rock City- Nottingham

Fans will be able to catch Townsend live at the Royal Albert Hall on 13th April 2015 and they can expect to hear his new album on 27th October. Townsend describes the album as “a multimedia event that has taken a ton of people a ton of effort to bring to you!” and explains that “the concept expands on Ziltoid the alien, and his sci-fi adventures in a way that kind of throws back to 50’s radio plays”.

To book your tickets to the Royal Albert Hall gig, click here.