David Byrne Releases New Album 'Who Is The Sky?'
DAVID BYRNE
RELEASES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM
WHO IS THE SKY?
OUT TODAY VIA MATADOR
DAVID BYRNE CHATS AND PERFORMS ON THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON
Watch Byrne Surprise Fans At NYC’s Rough Trade Underground Performing “What Is The Reason For It?,” “Everybody Laughs” and Talking Heads’ “Houses In Motion”
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR STARTS THIS MONTH
David Byrne today releases his highly anticipated new album Who Is The Sky? via Matador Records. Who Is the Sky? is Byrne’s first album since releasing the acclaimed 2018 American Utopia, which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and HBO film. It was produced by the Grammy-winning Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), while 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.
On Wednesday night, Byrne sat down with Jimmy Fallon to discuss the album, followed by a surprise performance at NYC’s Rough Trade Underground in 30 Rockefeller. The mini set saw Byrne and band performing for broadcast “What Is The Reason For It?” off the album, with an extended performance featuring "Everybody Laughs” and Talking Heads’ “Houses in Motion” online.
Earlier this week, Byrne released the video for “What Is The Reason For It?” featuring Hayley Williams. The video was born from a creative collaboration between David Byrne and artist Dustin Yellin, using cutting-edge AI technology to animate more than 20 of Byrne's original line drawings. The project highlights Yellin’s interest in exploring new technologies to bring still images to life. The video follows
The album was introduced by the infectious first single “Everybody Laughs,” directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo. The video set the tone for Who Is the Sky? with its universal themes of human connection and the potential for societal unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world.
Later this month, 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. A full rundown can be found below and tickets are available at davidbyrne.com.
“At my age, at least for me, there's a ‘don't give a shit about what people think’ attitude that kicks in,” Byrne says about the spirit behind Who Is the Sky? “I can step outside my comfort zone with the knowledge that I kind of know who I am by now and sort of know what I'm doing. That said, every new set of songs, every song even, is a new adventure. There's always a bit of, ‘how do I work this?’ I've found that not every collaboration works, but often when they do, it's because I'm able to clearly impart what it is I'm trying to do. They hopefully get that, and as a result, we're now joined together heading to the same unknown place.”
WORLDWIDE 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
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
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