David Byrne has shared new single “The Avant Garde”, the track is off the multi-artist’s forthcoming album Who Is The Sky?, available September 5 via Matador Records. Who Is the Sky? is Byrne’s first album and follow-up to his 2018 LP American Utopia. The LP was produced by Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), its 12 songs were arranged by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra. Guests include Paramore’s Hayley Williams, St. Vincent and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner. This September, David Byrne will kick off a massive world tour. The Live Nation-produced tour kicks off Sept. 14 in Providence, R.I. and includes multiple nights at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles,The Auditorium in Chicago and more.

“Some people will hear this and say, “David is calling bullshit on his friends” but it’s more nuanced than that. Anyone who knows me knows that I go to plenty of shows that might be classified as avant-garde or experimental. Edgy and untraditional work is hugely inspiring to me, as it often changes the way I think and influences what I do (without me simply appropriating the ideas, I hope). That said, trying something unproven and radically new is risky. Sometimes, as with anything risky, it doesn’t quite hit the bullseye. There’s no guarantee that it will achieve what it aims to do, but when it does, the emotional and intellectual rewards are worth it. That is the risk one takes while making something new and unconventional. So yes, there are times when it doesn’t mean shit, but often there are times when something wholly original comes into being and it’s all worth it. I love that the Ghost Train folks and Kid Harpoon took what could have been a fairly conventional song I’d written (musically at least), and steered it into something that to me sounds like Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.”

David Byrne
Who Is the Sky?
track list
Matador Records

Everybody Laughs
When We Are Singing
My Apartment Is My Friend
A Door Called No
What Is the Reason for It?
I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party
Don’t Be Like That
The Avant Garde
Moisturizing Thing
I’m an Outsider
She Explains Things to Me
The Truth

David Byrne 2025-2026 Tour Dates

North America:

09/14/2025 – Providence, RI – Veterans Memorial Auditorium

09/16/2025 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center PAC

09/17/2025 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium

09/19/2025 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre

09/21/2025 – Schenectady, NY – Proctors

09/23/2025 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre

09/25/2025 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Buffalo Theatre

09/27/2025 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem

09/28/2025 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem

09/30/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

10/01/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

10/02/2026 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre

10/03/2025 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre

10/04/2025 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre

10/07/2025 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre

10/08/2025 – Portland, ME – Merrill Auditorium at City Hall

10/10/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

10/11/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

10/14/2025 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater

10/16/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

10/17/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

10/18/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark

10/21/2025 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall

10/22/2025 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall

10/23/2025 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall

10/25/2025 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

10/28/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

10/29/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

10/31/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

11/01/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium

11/03/2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre

11/04/2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre

11/06/2025 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

11/07/2025 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre

11/11/2025 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

11/12/2025 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

11/13/2025 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre

11/16/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

11/17/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

11/18/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

11/20/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

11/21/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre

11/25/2025 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

11/26/2025 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall

11/28/2025 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park

11/29/2025 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park

12/02/2025 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

12/03/2025 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre

12/05/2025 – Miami, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre

12/06/2025 – Miami, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre

Australia & New Zealand:

01/14/2026 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena

01/17/2026 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Center

01/21/2026 – Sydney, Australia – ICC Sydney Theatre

01/22/2026 – Melbourne, Australia – Sidney Myer Music Bowl

01/24/2026 – Adelaide, Australia – Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena

01/27/2026 – Perth, Australia – RAC Arena

Europe & United Kingdom:

02/12/2026 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom

02/15/2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live

02/16/2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live

02/18/2026 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National

02/21/2026 – Milan, Italy – Teatro degli Arcimboldi

02/22/2026 – Milan, Italy – Teatro degli Arcimboldi

02/24/2026 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle

02/26/2026 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal Main Hall

02/27/2026 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall

03/02/2026 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena

03/03/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo

03/04/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo

03/06/2026 – Glasgow, UK – SEC Armadillo

03/07/2026 – Glasgow, UK – SEC Armadillo

03/09/2026 – Manchester, UK – o2 Apollo

03/10/2026 – Manchester, UK – o2 Apollo

03/11/2026 – Manchester, UK – o2 Apollo

03/13/2026 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

03/15/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo

03/16/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo

03/18/2026 – Paris, France – La Seine Musicale

03/19/2026 – Paris, France – La Seine Musicale

Pre-order Who is The Sky? by Davis Byrne HERE