Sturgill Simpson is gone. Well, not gone-gone, but the name is retired. He told us years ago he’d only make five albums under his own name, and he actually kept his word. Now we have Johnny Blue Skies, a nomadic, cosmic-country persona that debuted with the album Passage du Desir. If you’re heading to a show, you aren’t just getting a standard country concert. You’re getting a psychedelic soul-rock marathon.
The Johnny Blue Skies setlist is a beast. It's long. It's loud.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock for people who only know him from "You Can Have the Crown." If you go into a show expecting a 90-minute run of radio-friendly hits, you’re going to be surprised when he plays for nearly three hours and hits every genre from bluegrass to swampy disco.
Why the Johnny Blue Skies Setlist is a Marathon
Most touring acts stick to a rigid 18-song structure. They play the hits, they do the encore, and they get on the bus. Johnny Blue Skies doesn't do that. On the Why Not? tour, the setlists have consistently clocked in at over 25 songs.
Sometimes 30.
He treats the stage like a laboratory. You'll see him and his band—which features longtime collaborators like bassist Kevin Black, Miles Miller on drums, and the incredible Laur Joamets returning on guitar—stretching out songs into ten-minute jams. It’s more Grateful Dead than Grand Ole Opry. This shift is intentional. By adopting the Johnny Blue Skies moniker, Simpson has freed himself from the expectations of the Nashville machine. He can play whatever he wants, and what he wants is often a blend of A Sailor's Guide to Earth brass-heavy soul and the French-influenced atmosphere of the new record.
He usually opens with something high-energy. "Swamp of Sadness" or "Jupiter's Faerie" from the new album often set the mood early. It's moody. It's textured. It's very "Johnny."
Mixing the Old with the New
You might be wondering if he still plays the Sturgill stuff. Yes. Absolutely. But he reimagines it.
The Johnny Blue Skies setlist bridges the gap between the different "eras" of his career. He’ll take a song like "Best Clockmaker on Mars" and turn it into a sprawling, fuzzed-out rock epic. Then, without a word, he’ll pivot into a lightning-fast bluegrass medley. It's jarring in the best way possible.
Here is the thing: he doesn't do encores.
He’s been very vocal about how much he hates the "fake" nature of walking off stage just to wait for applause and come back. Instead, he just plays straight through. When the music stops and the house lights come up, that's it. No gimmicks.
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The Core Tracks You'll Likely Hear
While he swaps things out frequently, there are staples that have anchored most shows recently:
- Scooter Blues: This is the unofficial anthem of the new era. It’s light, breezy, and mentions wanting to "go to town on a scooter." It usually gets the biggest reaction from the crowd because it’s just fun.
- Mint Tea: A soulful, mid-tempo track that highlights his vocal range. It feels like a throwback to 70s R&B.
- If the Sun Never Rises Again: This one gets heavy. The guitar work here is usually where Laur Joamets (aka "Little Joe") gets to shine.
- Right Kind of Dream: A driving rock song that feels like it belongs on a highway at midnight.
He also peppers in covers. You might hear a heavy version of "Midnight Rider" or even some Procol Harum. He plays what he's listening to, which makes the show feel personal. It's like he's sharing his record collection with you in real time.
The Evolution of the Performance
Watching him now compared to the Metamodern Sounds in Country Music days is wild. Back then, he was a guy with an acoustic guitar trying to prove he belonged. Now, as Johnny Blue Skies, he looks comfortable. He isn't trying to prove anything to the industry anymore.
The setlist reflects that confidence.
He’ll play "Turtles All the Way Down," but he might play it as a slow-burn psychedelic track rather than a straight country tune. He’ll take "Brace for Impact (Live a Little)" and turn it into a 12-minute jam session that sounds more like Pink Floyd than Waylon Jennings.
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If you're at a festival, the set will be tighter. More hits, less jamming. But if you catch a headlining date at a venue like the Ryman or Red Rocks, buckle up. You’re in for a long night.
What People Get Wrong About the Transition
Some fans were worried that "Johnny Blue Skies" meant he was abandoning his roots. That’s just not true. If you listen to the way he integrates "Long King White Cloud" or "A Whiter Shade of Pale" into the set, you realize he’s just expanding the palette.
He's not throwing away the country stuff; he's just putting it in a bigger box.
The transition is actually pretty seamless. Because his voice is so distinct—that deep, resonant baritone—everything he touches sounds like him, regardless of what name is on the ticket. The Johnny Blue Skies setlist is basically a retrospective of a guy who has spent twenty years trying to find his true voice and finally found it by changing his name.
Preparing for the Show
Don't show up late. Since there's often no opener for many of these dates, or very short ones, he gets started early. And because the set is so long, you'll want to be there from the first note.
Wear comfortable shoes. You'll be standing for three hours.
Check the specific venue's recent history on sites like Setlist.fm before you go, but don't expect a carbon copy. He’s been known to shuffle the order of the middle section entirely on a whim.
Specific Logistics and Vibe
The crowd is a mix. You’ll see old-school country fans in cowboy hats standing next to jam-band enthusiasts in tie-dye. It’s a weird, beautiful demographic. The energy is usually pretty respectful—people are there to listen to the musicianship.
The lighting is often as trippy as the music. Lots of deep purples, oranges, and swirling visuals that match the "Blue Skies" aesthetic. It’s a full sensory experience.
Actionable Tips for Fans
If you want to make the most of the experience, here is how to handle the night:
- Listen to Passage du Desir on repeat. The new songs make up at least 40% of the set. If you don't know the new material, you'll feel lost during the long instrumental breaks.
- Look for the "Bluegrass Medley." Usually tucked into the second half of the show, this is where the band shows off their technical chops. It's fast, acoustic-driven, and incredible.
- Stay until the very end. Since there is no encore, people sometimes start leaving when they think the "main set" is over. Don't. He will play until the venue literally tells him he has to stop.
- Hydrate. It sounds boring, but a three-hour show in a packed, hot theater is a test of endurance.
- Watch the chemistry. Keep your eyes on the interaction between Sturgill (Johnny) and Laur Joamets. Their dual-guitar attacks are the highlight of the current tour.
The Johnny Blue Skies setlist isn't just a list of songs. It's a statement. It says that the artist formerly known as Sturgill Simpson is finally playing exactly what he wants, how he wants, for as long as he wants. Whether he's Johnny or Sturgill, the music remains some of the most vital, interesting stuff happening in the Americana space today. Grab a ticket if you can find one; these shows sell out fast for a reason.