American Utopia, according to a press release, fits hand-in-hand with Byrne’s vision for his series “Reasons to be Cheerful,” named for the song by the late Ian Dury. Over the last year, Byrne has been collecting stories, news, ideas and other items that all either embody or identify examples of things that inspire optimism, such as a tech breakthrough, a musical act, a new idea in urban planning or transportation—something seen, heard or tasted. Just as the album questions the current state of society while offering solace through song, the content of the series recognizes the darkness and complexity of today while showcasing alternatives to the despair that threatens us.

Pre-order American Utopia on CD here.

Pre-order the LP here.

While Byrne has collaborated on joint releases with Eno, Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim), and most recently St. Vincent over the past decade, American Utopia is Byrne’s first solo album since, 2004’s Grown Backwards, also on Nonesuch. American Utopia, according to the press release, morphed during the writing and recording process, beginning with longtime collaborator Eno, and eventually growing to include collaboration with producer Rodaidh McDonald (The xx, King Krule, Sampha, Savages) and others. The album was recorded in New York City at Byrne’s home studio, Reservoir Studios, Oscilloscope, XL Studios, and Crowdspacer Studio and in London at Livingston Studio 1.

The album packaging features the work of “outsider artist” Purvis Young, whose work was often a blend of painting/drawing and collaged elements comprised of everyday found objects. A painting depicting a head with a face of indeterminate race or possibly gender—dreaming, meditating, contemplating—is on the album’s cover.

American Utopia 2018 Tour Dates (Tickets for many of the dates are available on Ticketmaster and StubHub)

3/3 -Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Theatre SOLD OUT
3/4 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts SOLD OUT
3/6 – Buffalo, NY – Center For The Arts SOLD OUT
3/7 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre SOLD OUT
3/9 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater SOLD OUT
3/10 – Kingston, NY – Ulster Performing Arts Center SOLD OUT
3/16 – Santiago, CHI – Lollapalooza (Chile)
3/18 – Buenos Aires, ARG – Lollapalooza (Argentina)
3/19 – Buenos Aires, ARG – Teatro Gran Rex*
3/24 – Sao Paulo, BRA – Lollapalooza (Brazil)
4/3 – Mexico City, MEX – Metropolitan Theater
4/5 – Monterrey, MEX – Auditorio Pabellon*
4/7 – Guadalajara, MEX – Sonico Festival
4/14 – Indio, CA – Coachella
4/15 – Tucson, AZ – Centennial Hall*
4/17 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theater*
4/18 – Las Vegas, NV – Smith Center for the Arts*
4/21 – Indio, CA – Coachella
4/24 – Dallas, TX – Winspear Opera House*
4/25 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion*
4/27 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center for the Perf. Arts*
4/28 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Outside Lawn*
5/4 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees
5/6 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium*
5/8 – Asheville, NC – Thomas Wolfe Civic Auditorium*
5/9 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium*
5/10 – Durham, NC – Durham PAC*
5/12 – Washington, DC – The Anthem*
5/13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center for the Arts*
5/15 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater*
5/16 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater*
5/17 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theater*
5/19 – Saskatoon, SASK – TCU Place*
5/20 – Edmonton, ALB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium*
5/21 – Calgary, ALB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium*
5/23 – Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theater*
5/24 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater*
5/27 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium*
5/28 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center*
5/30 – Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre*
6/2 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater*
6/5 – Des Moines, IA – Des Moines Civic Center*
6/7 – Kansas City, MO – Kauffman Center for the Arts*
6/8 – St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House*
6/9 – Indianapolis, IN – Farmers Bureau Lawn Amphitheater*
6/14 – Oxford, England – New Theatre*
6/15 – Glasgow, Scotland – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall*
6/17 – Birmingham, England – Birmingham Symphony Hall*
6/18 – Manchester, England – Manchester Apollo*
6/19 – London, England – Eventim Apollo*
6/23 – Prague, Czech Republic – Metronome Festival
6/25 – Zagreb, Croatia – INmusic Festival
6/30 – Ewijk, Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole
7/6 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
7/5 – Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival
7/11 – Oeiras, Portugal – Cool Jazz Festival
7/13 – Bilbao, Spain – Bilbao BBK Live Festival
7/14 – Barcelona, Spain – Cruilla Barcelona
7/19 – Ravenna, Italy – Ravenna Festival
7/20 – Perugia, Italy – Umbria Jazz Festival
7/21 – Trieste, Italy – Piazza UNita
7/27 – Camden, NJ – XPoNential Music Festival

Watch David Byrne and St. Vincent in concert: