David Byrne Drops New Single ‘The Avant Garde’ Ahead of 2026 Australian TOur
The track is the third single taken from David Byrne’s upcoming new album, Who Is The Sky?.
Image Shervin Lainez
Just as the title suggests, David Byrne’s latest single, ‘The Avant Garde’, is a weird and wonderful slice of modern pop from the man behind Talking Heads.
Taken from Byrne’s upcoming album, Who Is The Sky?, ‘The Avant Garde’ follows on from the previously released album tracks ‘Everybody Laughs’ and ‘She Explains Things To Me’.
Talking about the new track, Byrne says, “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.”
Who Is The Sky? arrives September 5 via Remote Control/Matador (pre-order here) and is produced by Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus) and features members of Ghost Train Orchestra. It marks Byrne’s first studio album since 2018’s American Utopia.
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To coincide with his new album, Byrne has revealed he’s embarking on a massive world tour, performing in North America, Australia, Europe and the UK from September 2025 to March 2026.
Returning to our shores for the first time since 2018, Byrne will be accompanied by 13 musicians, singers and dancers, including members of his American Utopia band.
The Australian leg of Byrne’s Who Is The Sky? World Tour kicks off at Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre on Saturday 17 January. Byrne then plays Sydney’s ICC Theatre on Wednesday 21 January, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Bowl on Thursday 22 January and Adelaide’s AEC Arena on Saturday 24 January, wrapping things up at Perth’s RAC Arena on Tuesday 27 January.
Tickets for all shows are on sale now via frontiertouring.com.
Catch David Byrne at AEC Arena on Saturday, January 24. Tickets on sale now via frontiertouring.com. Who Is The Sky? arrives September 5 via Remote Control/Matador (pre-order here).
David Byrne Who Is The Sky? Australian Tour 2026
Saturday 17 January – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday 21 January – ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Thursday 22 January – Sidney Myer Bowl, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, 24 January – AEC Arena, Adelaide, SA
Tuesday, 27 January – RAC Arena, Perth, WA
