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David Byrne Shares New Single “The Avant Garde” From New Album ‘Who Is The Sky?’

 

David Byrne has shared a new song from his upcoming album Who Is The Sky? The single “The Avant Garde” is out now and it’s accompanied by a lyric video. Check it out below.

“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,” Byrne explained. “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.”

‘The Avant Garde” is the latest song Byrne has shared from his upcoming record. The two singles “Everybody Laughs” and “She Explains Things to Me” were released earlier in 2025. Who Is The Sky? will be released on September 5 via Matador Records. Pre-order and pre-save a copy here.

Byrne kicks off a massive world tour in September, with shows scheduled in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United Kingdom. Scroll down for a full list of shows and dates. Tickets for Byrne’s tour can be purchased at this link.

David Byrne World Tour Dates 2025:

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

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Ben Pagani

Ben Pagani

Ben is a music journalist living and working in Chicago. They joined Beyond The Stage as an intern and have stayed on the staff for several years. Now serving on the editorial board, Ben is proud to be BTS' Music Projects Manager, coordinating coverage between international record labels and our staff. Ben has interviewed, photographed and written about bands from across the world. Ben has lived all over the United States working in television and media. They are an Emmy Award-winning writer. Ben can be found spinning records as 'DJ Wearing Sunglasses' in clubs and basements across the US.