The Tear Garden (The Legendary Pink Dots & cEvin Key)

The Tear Garden, the long-running experimental collaboration between cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy and Edward Ka-Spel of The Legendary Pink Dots, comes to Union Stage on September 28, 2026. The project traces its origins to a 1986 plane ride over Greenland, when Key asked Ka-Spel to contribute lyrics to the Skinny Puppy track “Center Bullet.” That initial exchange quickly grew into a full musical partnership, and the debut album “Tired Eyes Slowly Burning” followed in 1987. Over the years, the project expanded to include Skinny Puppy’s Dwayne Goettel and essentially the entire Legendary Pink Dots lineup, blending Skinny Puppy’s dense, industrial sonics with the Pink Dots’ hallucinatory psychedelia. The band remains active decades later, with the recently released album “Astral Elevator” receiving a warm reception and a long-requested tour finally taking place.

When: Monday, September 28, 2026.

Venue: Union Stage, 740 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Tickets: Free admission per the event listing.

Lineup: The Tear Garden, featuring cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy), Edward Ka-Spel (The Legendary Pink Dots), and an expanded lineup drawing on members of both groups.

Background: The collaboration began with Key’s request for lyrics for “Center Bullet” in 1986, leading to the debut album “Tired Eyes Slowly Burning” in 1987 and subsequent work with Dwayne Goettel and the full Legendary Pink Dots roster.

Recent release: The album “Astral Elevator” has been enthusiastically received, and this tour responds to sustained demand from fans.

Showtimes: Not specified in the listing.

Note: This performance is presented by Union Stage; the venue’s address is 740 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.