Johnny Blue Skies Releases New Album 'Mutiny After Midnight'

The project will be released only on vinyl, CD and cassette by High Top Mountain Records/Atlantic Outpost.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Johnny Blue Skies, the current stage name of singer Sturgill Simpson, is set to release his second studio album and first with his band the Dark Clouds, titled "Mutiny After Midnight." The album will be released on March 13 through High Top Mountain Records/Atlantic Outpost and was recorded at Black Keys member Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville.

Why it matters

Simpson, who previously released his breakthrough album "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" on Atlantic Records, is returning to the label under new leadership and a new vision. The album is expected to offer a more dance-oriented sound compared to his previous work.

The details

"Mutiny After Midnight" is the follow-up to Johnny Blue Skies' 2024 debut album "Passage du Desir." The new album features material that was written on the spot and the band set out to "make a dance record." Simpson expressed frustration in the past that concert promoters insisted on using his real name instead of his stage name Johnny Blue Skies.

  • The new album "Mutiny After Midnight" will be released on March 13, 2026.
  • Simpson previously released his breakthrough album "A Sailor's Guide to Earth" in 2016.

The players

Johnny Blue Skies

The current stage name of singer Sturgill Simpson, who is releasing his second studio album and first with his band the Dark Clouds.

Dan Auerbach

Member of the Black Keys, who owns the Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville where "Mutiny After Midnight" was recorded.

Ian Cripps

Co-head of Atlantic Outpost, the label that is releasing "Mutiny After Midnight" alongside High Top Mountain Records.

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What they’re saying

“This is a new and very different Atlantic Records than my last go-around. Mostly, I'm very excited and honored to be working with my dear friend [Atlantic Outpost co-head] 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 (spin.com)

“There's a simple goal we as a band set out to achieve: to make a dance record.”

— Johnny Blue Skies (spin.com)

What’s next

No new tour dates have been announced yet for Johnny Blue Skies to support the release of "Mutiny After Midnight."

The takeaway

Johnny Blue Skies' return to Atlantic Records under new leadership, coupled with his desire to create a more dance-oriented sound on "Mutiny After Midnight," signals an evolution in the artist's musical direction and a potential shift in his live performances as well.