Sturgill Simpson Unveils New Johnny Blue Skies Album ‘Mutiny After Midnight’

Rob Moderelli on February 13, 2026

Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) & the Dark Clouds, photo by Edwin Keeble

Sturgill Simpson has formally announced Mutiny After Midnight, his second studio album as Johnny Blue Skies. Set to release exclusively in physical formats on March 13 via Atlantic Outpost, the country-rock pathbreaker’s follow-up to Passage Du Desir – his 2024 debut under the new moniker – takes another bold step away from tradition by attempting to “make an album centered firmly on groove” with his Dark Clouds band. Simpson first forecasted his return yesterday with a letter mailed to his fans, in which he explained the intentions that guided his latest left turn.

“The enjoyment we experienced in making this album of songs will be quite evident for the listener,” Simpson wrote. “But it’s a lot more than joy. You can call it a mutiny,… an open rebellion. In any case, despite the motivations behind it the mutiny in the studio turned into a party. To categorize Mutiny is tricky, but many will no doubt come with their glass ceilings to try. We believe the term American Music pretty much says it all. And for all the big ideas behind the ‘Mutiny,’ there’s a simple goal we as a band set out to achieve: to make a dance record.

“So this protest, this mutiny is really more about the primary dance,” the singer-songwriter’s statement continues. “The dance of all creation. To be clear it is a protest against oppression and suppression, and the only tried & tested true antidote to that is pure, unfiltered, unapologetic, relentless disco-hedonism.”

Simpson’s seventh studio album was cut at Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studios in Nashville with his tried and true band of drummer Miles Miller, guitarist Laur Joanets, bassist Kevin Black and keyboardist and saxophonist Robbie Crowell. Through the nine-track set, he lays out unflinching reflections on trying times and strives to outmaneuver modern social ills with music inspired by tour bus obsessions, including ‘70s fusion supergroup Stuff and Marvin Gaye’s 1981 concept album In Our Lifetime. The project will also mark the alt-country star’s return to Atlantic, which released his Grammy-winning breakthrough A Sailor’s Guide to Earth in 2016.

“This is a new and very different Atlantic Records than my last go-around,” Simpson expressed with today’s formal announcement. “Mostly, I’m very excited and honored to be working with my dear friend Ian Cripps, and to finally bring to fruition a vision we initially shared together over ten years ago. I wrote words to what is happening in the world and my life in real time, and played with a group of musicians I deeply love and respect. Together, we made an album that is very fun and will hopefully offer some relief from darkness in the world.”

Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds’ Mutiny after Midnight is available to pre-order on vinyl, CD, and cassette now. Read on for the album’s full tracklist.