James Blake is heading back on the road this summer, marking a major milestone in his new chapter as an independent artist. The British singer and producer has announced the “Trying Times North America Tour,” a run of dates scheduled for May and June 2026, with stops at iconic venues like the Brooklyn Paramount and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.
The tour announcement arrives as Blake prepares for the March 13 release of his seventh studio album, Trying Times. Released through his own Good Boy Records, the project is his first full-length effort since leaving the major label system. Blake has described this upcoming set of shows as featuring a “brand new setup,” saying this is the most excited he has been to perform in years.
To celebrate the news, Blake released his latest single, “I Had A Dream She Took My Hand,” on February 13. The track offers a glimpse into his current vocal-forward creative direction, notably sampling the 2019 song “It Was Only A Dream” by the Los Angeles R&B group Thee Sinseers. It follows the lead single “Death of Love,” which featured a haunting Leonard Cohen sample, and continues the understated production and emotionally direct songwriting that define this new era.
By balancing his signature atmospheric sound with a renewed sense of creative freedom, Blake is using this 2026 tour to reconnect with his audience on his own terms. Fans can expect an intimate live translation of what he calls his “favorite record” to date.