David Byrne has released his ninth studio album, Who Is the Sky? via Matador Records. Stream the album below.
Who Is the Sky? is Byrne’s first full-length effort since 2018’s highly regarded American Utopia. The new album was produced by Grammy winner Kid Harpoon, with all 12 songs arranged by members of New York-based chamber ensemble, Ghost Train Orchestra. The LP arrives with a slew of guest appearances from the likes of Paramore’s Hayley Williams, St. Vincent, The Smile and Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco.
“At my age, at least for me, there’s a ‘don’t give a shit about what people think’ attitude that kicks in,” Byrne said about his new work in a press statement. “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.”
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Byrne will celebrate the new release with a multi-leg world tour, which kicks off later this month on September 14th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After covering North America, the show will head over to Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, wrapping up March 2026 with a two-night stand in Paris. The new shows will feature a band of 13 musicians, singers and dancers, including some members of the American Utopia band. Like that tour, everyone on stage will be fully mobile. See the complete itinerary below, and get tickets here.
The singer released a trio of singles leading up to the release of the new album: “Everybody Laughs,” “She Explains Things to Me,” and ““The Avant Garde.” Just last night, he previewed a fourth song, “What Is the Reason for It,” with a live band performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During the interview with Fallon, he revealed how an autocorrected text helped name his new album.
The world tour will cap an eventful year for the former Talking Heads frontman, which includes getting married to his partner, Mala Gaonka, the same week as the release of Who Is the Sky? Byrne marked the special occasion by sharing the mostly instrumental wedding playlist that spans 42 songs and two-and-a-half hours.
This summer saw Byrne join Olivia Rodrigo at the Governors Ball festival for a surprise performance of Talking Heads’ classic, “Burning Down the House,” complete with synchronized choreography.
In February of this year, he joined Robyn at SNL’s 50th anniversary concert to perform her song, “Dancing on My Own,” as well as Talking Heads’ 1983 single, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”
Who Is the Sky? Tracklist:
01. Everybody Laughs
02. When We Are Singing
03. My Apartment Is My Friend
04. A Door Called No
05. What Is the Reason for It?
06. I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party
07. Don’t Be Like That
08. The Avant Garde
09. Moisturizing Thing
10. I’m an Outsider
11. She Explains Things to Me
12. The Truth
David Byrne 2025-2026 Tour Dates:
09/14 – Providence, RI @ Veterans Memorial Auditorium
09/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center PAC
09/17 – Columbus, OH @ Mershon Auditorium
09/19 – Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Theatre
09/21 – Schenectady, NY @ Proctors
09/23 – Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre
09/25 – Buffalo, NY @ Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
09/27 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
09/28 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
09/30 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/01 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/02 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/03 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/04 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
10/07 – Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre
10/08 – Portland, ME @ Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
10/10 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/11 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
10/14 – Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
10/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
10/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
10/21 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Massey Hall
10/22 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Massey Hall
10/23 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Massey Hall
10/25 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
10/28 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/29 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
10/31 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
11/01 – Chicago, IL @ The Auditorium
11/03 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/04 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/06 – Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
11/07 – Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
11/11 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/12 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/13 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
11/16 – San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
11/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
11/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
11/25 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/26 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
11/28 – Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park
11/29 – Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park
12/02 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
12/03 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
12/05 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
12/06 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
01/14 – Auckland, NZ @ Spark Arena
01/17 – Brisbane, AU @ Brisbane Entertainment Center
01/21 – Sydney, AU @ ICC Sydney Theatre
01/22 – Melbourne, AU @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
01/24 – Adelaide, AU @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena
01/27 – Perth, AU @ RAC Arena
02/12 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom
02/15 – Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
02/16 – Amsterdam, NL @ AFAS Live
02/18 – Brussels, BE @ Forest National
02/21 – Milan, IT @ Teatro degli Arcimboldi
02/22 – Milan, IT @ Teatro degli Arcimboldi
02/24 – Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle
02/26 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU @ Rockhal Main Hall
02/27 – Zurich, CH @ The Hall
03/02 – Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena
03/03 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/04 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/06 – Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
03/07 – Glasgow, UK @ SEC Armadillo
03/09 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
03/10 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo
03/13 – Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
03/15 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/16 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo
03/18 – Paris, FR @ La Seine Musicale
03/19 – Paris, FR @ La Seine Musicale
