Swiss folk metallers ELUVEITIE have parted ways with guitarist Simeon Koch after eight years. A statement from the band follows:

"We regret to inform you that Sime (guitars) is leaving Eluveitie. Sime was thinking about this since quite a long time already and finally decided to take this step. He will set about some new goals in his life – both, vocational and familial – which will make it impossible for him to play in a touring band.

Sime was part of Eluveitie for 8 years now, part of our little, crazy family – and we will dearly miss him. But at the same time we’re thankful for the awesome time we spent together. We wish him and his family all the best for his personal and vocational future!

Simeon Koch states: "A couple of months ago I informed my band mates, that I’ll leave Eluveitie in September 2012 for familial reasons. It was a very tough call, it was difficult to make this decision – in a way the band is part of the family too, after all. I will dearly miss Eluveitie. But fortunately the world (or rather Switzerland) is small: I will still play the upcoming shows in Solothurn’s Kofmehl and the Eluveitie & Friends festival with full commitment! I wish the band all the best and accident-free upcoming tours!"

Eluveitie continue: "We’d like to make you aware of two special shows: Sime will share the stage with us as special guest on the 20th of September in the Kofmehl (Solothurn, CH) and on the 29th of December in the Eulachhalle (Eluveitie & Friends festival, Winterthur, CH)! Don’t miss it!

At the same time it’s about time to introduce you to the man who will follow in Sime’s footsteps! His name is Rafael Salzmann and he will play the upcoming tours with us as a live session guitarist.

Rafael is a gifted musician and very skilled guitar player and he also already has been working together with Anna in the Soundfarm Studios. Now we’re looking forward a lot to rock the stages together with him!

On a related note, Päde will have to take a short leave for personal reasons as well and will rejoin our tour with SABATON in the beginning of October. In the meantime, there’s still 7 of us left to kick some ass all over Europe!"

Eluveitie and Finnish metallers WINTERSUN, will co-headline a North American tour this winter. The trek will commemorate Eluveitie’s 10th anniversary as well as serve as Wintersun’s introduction to North American shores.

Also included on the tour will be German pagan metal band VARG.

Wintersun’s mstermind Jari Mäenpää commented: "We are very excited to tour US and Canada for the first time in November/December. We´ve had lots of requests from the fans before, but finally we are able to come there and kick some ass with new material from the Time I album and of course play the old stuff too! Hope to see you guys there. Let´s make it special!"

Tour dates are below:

November

28 - 910 Live – Tempe, AZ
29 - The Roxy Theater – Hollywood, CA
30 - Oakland Metro – Oakland, CA

December

1 - Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
2 - El Corazon – Seattle, WA
3 - Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
5 - Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
6 - Republik – Calgary, AB
7 - Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK
8 - West End Cultural Centre – Winnipeg, MB
9 - Station 4 – Saint Paul, MN
11 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
12 - Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
13 - The Opera House – Toronto, ON
14 - Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
15 - Club Soda – Montreal, QC
16 - Imperial – Quebec City, QC
18 - Water Street Music Hall (at The Club) – Rochester, NY
19 - Mr. Small’s Theatre – Millvale, PA
20 - Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
21 - Royale Boston – Boston, MA