Sturgill Simpson Comments on Fans’ Ticket Price Criticism

Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds — better known to the world as Sturgill Simpson and his band — put tickets on sale this week for their nationwide “Mutiny for the Masses” tour. And even though we’re only in the pre-sale period before the general on-sale this Friday, fans are already grumblings about high ticket prices. 

In an Instagram post, Mr. Blue Skies himself pushed back. “Inflation, fuel, and all other related touring costs have increased exponentially in the last year,” he wrote. “However, despite some saying otherwise, I’m afraid our ticket prices have not. High end ticket and low end ticket prices are the exact same, and the average ticket price is the exact same. I know because I insisted on it.”

He went on to explain that the only actual increase was a mere $10 for GA pit tickets. “There are even more lower price level tickets available this time because we are playing bigger venues,” he wrote. “Playing smaller venues would have absolutely increased ticket prices …A LOT. Not sure if the vocal minority complainers are new discovery phase fans or scalper bots sewing discord but these are the facts folks and if I’m lying you can sell my bones to Davey Jones.”

It’s difficult to make a strict comparison between price points for this tour and 2025’s Who the Fuck Is Johnny Blue Skies? Tour since Simpson largely played outdoor amphitheaters that year, and this is an arena run. But when Simpson came to Bozeman, Montana’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on April 17, 2025, GA pit tickets were $149.50, primo floor and lower sections seats were $129.50, and prices continued downward from $99.50 to $79.50, $59.50, and $49.50. 

At this point, only platinum tickets are available for upcoming shows without a pre-sale password. Various Reddit threads are filled with hardcore fans complaining about significant ticket prices increases this year, despite Simpson’s claims to the contrary, but it’s hard to confirm their statements until there’s a fuller sense of the prices for the new tour. (A rep for Simpson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Many acts are indeed raising prices this year due to many of the issues outlined by Simpson, most notably inflation and gas prices. The Harry Styles fan community was very vocal about their displeasure with the price points for his Madison Square Garden residency. That didn’t stop all 30 shows from selling out in a flash.