Beloved singer/songwriter Donovan Woods returns with the release of his upcoming EP Squander Your Gifts due February 27th, 2026 – PRE-SAVE HERE. This EP will be the first original music we’ve heard from Woods since the release of his Polaris Prize Long Listed album Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now. This announcement launches alongside the first track “I Talk About You,” that perfectly encapsulates his signature style of crafting intimate and honest songs. The song is accompanied by a simple but meaningful visualiser.
The five-track EP is a collection of songs dedicated to his friend and writing partner Abe Stoklasa, who passed away in 2023. Stoklasa and Woods have worked together closely for years in Nashville, writing songs together including, “Leaving Nashville” recorded by Lady A’s Charles Kelley and Woods’ breakout single, “Portland, Maine” first recorded by Tim McGraw. Squander Your Gifts is a personal reflection of loss, love and living that will keep listeners pulled in. On the first track, “I Talk About You,” Woods opens up about the loss. Explaining the song, Woods says:
“This song is very explicitly about my friend Abe Stoklasa. Abe died unexpectedly and way too young in 2023. I wrote many songs with Abe and was so admiring of his talent. He wrote melodies unlike anyone else’s. Which is hard to do after 100 years of pop music. You couldn’t hear the jumping-off point in his ideas. He somehow started and finished lines of lyric and melody in ways that consistently surprised and left-footed me. I love to think and talk about his uniqueness, and that’s what the song’s about. He got a raw deal in childhood and had a hard life because of it. Especially in the wake of his death, people would lament that he wasn’t able to fully express his gifts because he struggled so mightily. He didn’t feel any compunction about it. His gifts were entirely his own. He used them when he wanted, with whom he wanted. I loved that about him and was frustrated by it in equal measure. I didn’t do enough to help him and I miss him every day.”
He continues to discuss the full EP saying:
“I went through a period of only being able to write about him. It lasted about a year and I wondered if it would ever end. Eventually, I felt that I owed it to Abe to dedicate a collection of songs to him and that’s what this is. He liked my writing and that emboldened me to believe that my point-of-view had value, that my stubborn, maybe even boring devotion to plainspoken lyric would eventually matter. Abe was a gifted melodist whose ideas arrived from a musical palette I had no access to. His voice was wonderful: wise, easy to hear and easy to love. He sounded like he was 58 years old at 24. In a way, he was. Abe was incredibly kind and thoughtful to those he loved, whip smart and hilarious, as principled as anyone I’ve ever known. He cooked me the best steak I’ve ever eaten. He was brilliant. He was irritating as hell. I loved him and I’ll miss him terribly.”
Known for his endearing live shows, Donovan Woods is set to head on a North American tour this May opening for The Paper Kites – see below for a full list of dates.
Stay tuned for much more to come from Dononvan in 2026, which is shaping up to be an exciting and busy year.
Known for his candid, emotionally resonant songwriting, Woods blends folk, country, and pop. Outside of his own recorded music, he has written songs that have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ben Platt, Hailey Whitters, Ashley Cooke, Barenaked Ladies, Matt Nathanson, Phillip Phillips and more. Albums like Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled, Both Ways, Without People and his most recent Polaris Prize Long Listed album Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, are praised for his consistent compelling storytelling of exploring love, vulnerability, and relationships. 2026 he is back with brand new music with the upcoming EP Squander Your Gifts due February 27. The five track EP is a collection of songs dedicated to his friend and writing partner Abe Stoklasa, who passed away in November 2023. A reflection of loss, love and living, the singer once again finds a way to paint a picture and make a deeply personal experience resonate with fans. Donovan Woods continues to solidify his place as one of North America’s most compelling songwriters: unflinchingly honest, an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul.
DONOVAN WOODS TOUR DATES:
^Supporting The Paper Kites
May 1, 2026 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin^
May 2, 2026 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall^
May 4, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Nashville^
May 6, 2026 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club^
May 7, 2026 – Boston, MA – Royale^
May 8, 2026 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts^
May 9, 2026 – New York, NY – Webster Hall^
May 10, 2026 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS^
May 12, 2026 – Toronto, ON – History^
May 14, 2026 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues Chicago^
May 15, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue^
May 17, 2026 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre^
May 19, 2026 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom^
May 20, 2026 – Vancouver, BC – The Centre for Performing Arts^
May 21, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre^
May 26, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern^
Nov 11-15, 2026 – Miami, FL – Moon River at Sea