David Byrne Tickets at SEC Armadillo

First famed for his time at the helm of American new wave group Talking Heads, David Byrne is equally revered for carving out a prolific (if experimental) solo career spanning music, filmmaking and performance art.

Born in Dumbarton, Scotland, and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, David Byrne fortuitously dropped out of the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design before forming Talking Heads in 1975. Alongside Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison, the group quickly became a defining voice of the late 20th century. Known for their disregard for the confines of genre, the band gained critical acclaim with albums such as Remain in Light (1980) and Speaking in Tongues (1983) featuring their respective hits Once in a Lifetime and This Must Be The Place. Byrne’s idiosyncratic vocals and cerebral lyrics gave the band a distinctive edge, while their collaboration with producer Brian Eno expanded their sonic palette through avant-garde song structures. Talking Heads’ landmark concert film Stop Making Sense (1984) showcased Byrne’s visionary performance style and foreshadowed his legacy as a much-lauded figure in popular culture.

Since striking out on his own, David Byrne’s artistic endeavours, though wide-ranging, have seen him remain unwaveringly committed to merging his music with performance, visual art or social commentary. Marked once again by a fluid approach to genre, Byrne’s solo work has proffered his takes on Latin (1989’s Rei Momo), orchestral arrangements (1991’s The Forest), and even Scottish music (2003’s Lead Us Not Into Temptation). In 2002, his collaboration with British duo X-Press 2 on hit dance-floor anthem ‘Lazy’ saw Byrne layer his laid-back vocals and sardonic lyricism against an electronic backdrop. Elsewhere, his love for collaboration has endured, with 2008’s Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (Brian Eno), 2010’s Here Lies Love (Fatboy Slim), and 2012’s Love This Giant (St. Vincent).

In 2018, David Byrne released American Utopia, his first solo album since 2004’s Grown Backwards. Focusing on optimism in an age of political uncertainty and forming part of a wider multimedia project entitled ‘Reasons to Be Cheerful’, the album earned Byrne his highest ever charting album on the Billboard 200, and saw him embark on an ambitious US and Europe tour. Replete with intricate choreography and a troop of musicians, the show found a natural home on Broadway in 2020, with Spike Lee appointed as its director. The concert film was released soon after, with the show winning a coveted Tony Award.

Byrne returns to the UK and Ireland in March 2026 with dates in Cardiff, London, Glasgow, Manchester and Dublin as part of his An Evening With David Byrne - Who is the Sky tour.