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
3/4 – Wilkes-Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
3/6 – Buffalo, NY – Center For The Arts
3/7 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre
3/9 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater
3/10 – Kingston, NY – Ulster PAC
3/16 – Santiago, CHI – Lollapalooza
3/18 – Buenos Aires, ARG – Lollapalooza
3/19 – Buenos Aires, ARG – Teatro Gran Rex
3/22 – Porto Alegre, BRA – Pepsi on Stage
3/24 – Sao Paulo, BRA – Lollapalooza
3/28 – Rio de Janeiro, BRA – Km de Vantagens Hall
3/29 – Belo Horizonte, BRA – Km de Vantagens Hall
4/3 – Mexico City, MEX – Metropolitan Theater
4/5 – Monterrey, MEX – Auditorio Pabellon
4/7 – Guadalajara, MEX – Sonico Festival
4/12 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Center
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
4/19 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
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
4/29 – New Orleans, LA – Jazz Fest
5/4 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees
5/5 – 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
5/18 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theater
5/18 – 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
5/25 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
5/27 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
5/28 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center*
5/30 – Salt Lake City, UT – Capitol Theatre
6/1 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater
6/2 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theater
6/3 – 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
6/20 – London, England – Eventim Apollo
6/23 – Prague, Czech Republic – Metronome Festival
6/25 – Zagreb, Croatia – INmusic Festival
6/26 – Wien, Austria – Museumsquartier
6/27 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
6/30 – Ewijk, Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole
7/5 – Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival
7/6 – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
7/8 – Werchter, Belgium – Rock Werchter
7/11 – Oeiras, Portugal – Cool Jazz Festival
7/13 – Bilbao, Spain – Bilbao BBK Live Festival
7/14 – Barcelona, Spain – Cruilla Barcelona
7/17 – Zurich, Switzerland – Theater 11
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
7/29 – New York, NY – Panorama NYC, Randall’s Island Park
7/31 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
8/01 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
8/03 – Toronto, ONT – Sony Center for the Performing Arts
8/04 – Toronto, ONT – Sony Center for the Performing Arts
8/05 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands PAC
8/08 – Grand Rapids, MI – Devos Performance Hall
8/10 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theater
8/11 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center
8/12 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
8/16 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
8/17 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
8/18 – San Jose, CA – City National Civic Auditorium
8/21 – Sacramento, CA – Community Theater
8/22 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Center
8/24 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
8/25 – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Auditorium
8/27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater
8/28 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater

Watch David Byrne and St. Vincent in concert