Styx will hit the Budweiser Stage in Toronto tonight, August 13, and Pine Knob in Clarkston, Mich., on Saturday, August 16, 2025 as part of their “Brotherhood of Rock” tour with The Kevin Cronin Band and special guest Don Felder.
The dates come as the band releases its 18th studio album, Circling From Above.
SWOMP caught up with keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan to discuss the new album and tour.
The 13-track album, released July 18 on Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, blends themes of technology and nature in a 41-minute set that draws on contributions from all seven members: James “JY” Young, Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo, Todd Sucherman, Gowan, Will Evankovich and Terry Gowan. It’s the third consecutive Styx album to earn praise as a “masterpiece,” following Crash of the Crown (2021) and The Mission (2017).
The lead single, “Build and Destroy,” features Gowan on lead vocals and an AI-concept video that has passed 111,000 views on YouTube. Gowan said the title came from a melody that reminded him of a “Star Trek” or “Twilight Zone” motif, and the song was finished in a day and a half with Shaw and Evankovich.
Produced by Evankovich, the record was written by the trio of Shaw, Gowan and Evankovich, who Gowan describes as working in a “strange three-way democracy” that keeps the focus on the institution of Styx. The songs range from muscular rockers to theatrical and introspective moments, reflecting the full sweep of the band’s sound.
Styx and The Kevin Cronin Band launched the tour May 28 in Greenville, S.C., after sold-out residencies at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, where Styx performed The Grand Illusion in full for the first time in their 50-plus-year career.
Later this year, the band will headline “Rockin’ in Paradise: Styx + Friends,” a three-day festival Oct. 9 to 11 in Miramar Beach, Fla., featuring two special performances by Styx, including the final 2025 full-album performance of The Grand Illusion. The event will also feature Gowan’s solo band, Collective Soul, Loverboy, Cheap Trick, 38 Special, John Waite and Edwin McCain.
Follow the band at https://styxworld.com/.
Photo credit: Jason Powell
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.