Sturgill Simpson Disputes Fan Reports That Johnny Blue Skies Ticket Prices Went Up

Sturgill Simpson wants to clear something up — and no, it's not the origins of his teenage rap video that just hit the internet.

Simpson's band Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds are heading out on tour this year in support of their sexed-up country-funk protest album Mutiny After Midnight, and it seems some complaints about increased ticket prices have made their way back to JBS himself. In a new Instagram post, Simpson pushes back against those claims, asserting that the ticket prices have not gone up since the last time the Dark Clouds hit the road. "I know because I insisted on it."

"Inflation, fuel, and all other related touring costs have increased exponentially in the last year," Simpson writes. "However, despite some saying otherwise, I’m afraid our ticket prices have not." The one exception, he says, is a $10 increase in the price of general admission pit tickets. "There are even more lower price level tickets available this time because we are playing bigger venues," Simpson notes. "Playing smaller venues would have absolutely increased ticket prices …A LOT."

Here's his full message:

Inflation, fuel, and all other related touring costs have increased exponentially in the last year.

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.

1. Tickets are the exact same prices they were last tour
2. The ONLY tickets that have increased are the GA Pit section in front of the stage (up $10 from last tour)
3. There are even more lower price level tickets available this time because we are playing bigger venues.
4. 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.

And now ya know…

If you're looking for someone to stoke your enthusiasm about the Mutiny For The Masses Tour, in his note announcing Mutiny After Midnight, Simpson wrote, "We're going out to play arenas and theaters with a vengeance. No opening act. We're going to take every minute the venue gives us. We're gonna rock this Mutiny as hard as humanly possible. It is our privilege and our honor because our fans deserve it."