David Byrne has always been an influential and innovative musician from his time in the iconic Talking Heads to his solo and collaboration work that have magnified his talent exponentially. Today, he announces a new album entitled ‘Who Is The Sky?’ out through Matador Records and Remote Control Records on 5 September 2025, a single ‘Everybody Laughs’ to whet the appetite and a massive world tour from September taking in North America, the UK and Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand.
In his new work, Byrne collaborations include St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, The Smile drummer Tom Skinner and American Utopia percussionist Mauro Refosco.
‘Everybody Laughs’ features the unique vocals of Byrne delivered in the as expected melody-filled intelligent, hyperactive style with Byrne’s acute insights into the human condition, laced with a gentle sense of humour and absurdity. The song is infectious, joyous, and wonderful panacea to the ills of the world with its irrepressible bounce and panache with a slight latin beat.
Byrne says of the track:
Someone I know said, ‘David, you use the word “everybody” a lot.’ I suppose I do that to give an anthropological view of life in New York as we know it. Everybody lives, dies, laughs, cries, sleeps and stares at the ceiling. Everybody’s wearing everybody else’s shoes, which not everybody does, but I have done. I tried to sing about these things that could be seen as negative in a way balanced by an uplifting feeling from the groove and the melody, especially at the end, when St. Vincent and I are doing a lot of hollering and singing together. Music can do that – hold opposites simultaneously. I realized that when singing with Robyn earlier this year. Her songs are often sad, but the music is joyous.
Producer Kid Harpoon (Tom Hull) (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) says of the track:
It took me a second to realize, oh yeah, these songs are personal, but with David’s unique perspective on life in general. Walking around New York listening to the demo of ‘Everybody Laughs’ was so joyous, because it made me feel like we’re all the same – we all laugh, cry and sing. The thing about David that resonates with a lot of people is that he’s in on the joke. He gets the absurdity of it all, and all of these personal observations are his perspective on it.
Along with the song, Byrne has released its official video, directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo.
It’s archetypal Byrne and all the more welcome for it. ‘Everybody Laughs’ is out now and available to stream and download here.
‘Who Is The Sky’ has 12 songs which were arranged by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra. Click here to pre-order the album, including a limited Cantaloupe Orange / Strawberry Pink split vinyl featuring a lenticular cover.
Byrne is embarking on a massive world tour through Live Nation.
Tickets will be available starting with presales that will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 13 at 10am local time at LiveNation.com. Select packages include premium tickets, a tour of the stage and an on-stage photo op, a signed copy of David Byrne’s photo book and early entry into the venue. For more information, visit vipnation.com.
European pre-sale: Mastercard cardholders have special access to presale tickets in Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and France. Mastercard Presale starts Wednesday, June 11 at 10am local. Plus, Preferred ticket access to some of the best tickets are available from Friday, June 13 at 10am local. Check out priceless.com/music for details.
Ticket sales in Australia and New Zealand begins: Friday, 13 June (1pm local time) from here.
Dates are as follows:
United States:
14/09/2025 – Providence, RI – Veterans Memorial Auditorium
16/09/2025 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center PAC
17/09/2025 – Columbus, OH – Mershon Auditorium
19/09/2025 – Akron, OH – Akron Civic Theatre
21/09/2025 – Schenectady, NY – Proctors
23/09/2025 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre
25/09/2025 – Buffalo, NY – Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
27/09/2025 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem
28/09/2025 – Washington D.C. – The Anthem
30/09/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
01/10/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
03/10/2025 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
04/10/2025 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Wang Theatre
07/10/2025 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
08/10/2025 – Portland, ME – Merrill Auditorium at City Hall
10/10/2025 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
14/10/2025 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
16/10/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
17/10/2025 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark
21/10/2025 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall
22/10/2025 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Massey Hall
25/10/2025 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
28/10/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium
29/10/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium
31/10/2025 – Chicago, IL – The Auditorium
03/11/2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
04/11/2025 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
06/11/2025 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre
07/11/2025 – Denver, CO – Bellco Theatre
11/11/2025 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
12/11/2025 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
16/11/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
17/11/2025 – San Francisco, CA – The Theater at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
20/11/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre
21/11/2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Dolby Theatre
25/11/2025 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
26/11/2025 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall
28/11/2025 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park
29/11/2025 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park
02/12/2025 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
03/12/2025 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
05/12/2025 – Miami, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
06/12/2025 – Miami, FL – Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theatre
Australia & New Zealand:
14/01/2026 – Auckland, New Zealand – Spark Arena
17/01/2026 – Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Entertainment Center
21/01/2026 – Sydney, Australia – ICC Sydney Theatre
22/01/2026 – Melbourne, Australia – Sidney Myer Music Bowl
24/01/2026 – Adelaide, Australia – Adelaide Entertainment Centre Arena
27/01/2026 – Perth, Australia – RAC Arena
Europe & United Kingdom:
12/02/2026 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom
15/02/2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
16/02/2026 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live
18/02/2026 – Brussels, Belgium – Forest National
21/02/2026 – Milan, Italy – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
22/02/2026 – Milan, Italy – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
24/02/2026 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle
27/02/2026 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
02/03/2026 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena
03/03/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
04/03/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
06/03/2026 – Glasgow, UK – SEC Armadillo
07/03/2026 – Glasgow, UK – SEC Armadillo
09/03/2026 – Manchester, UK – o2 Apollo
10/03/2026 – Manchester, UK – o2 Apollo
13/03/2026 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
15/03/2026 – London, UK – Eventim Apollo
18/03/2026 – Paris, France – La Seine Musicale
19/03/2026 – Paris, France – La Seine Musicale
Feature Photograph: Shervin Lainez
