R.E.M. icon Michael Stipe joined members of The National for a rare and intimate performance of the 1996 classic ‘E-Bow The Letter’ at the Atabal venue in Biarritz, France, on October 17. The collaboration took place during the AB100 festival, a two-day event celebrating the 50th birthdays of the band’s twin brothers, Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner.

Stipe appeared alongside Matt Berninger and the Dessner brothers to deliver the track, which originally served as the lead single from R.E.M.’s New Adventures In Hi-Fi. The performance was a highlight of the “Mixtape” opening concert, which featured a rotating cast of collaborators including Ben Howard, Kevin Morby, and Jon Hopkins.

Before launching into the song, Stipe shared a lighthearted moment with the audience, gifting handmade sculptures to the Dessner brothers, while Berninger playfully handed out pieces of chewing gum to the crowd. Stipe noted that the song was written during a 1995 stay in San Sebastián, while Aaron Dessner recalled how The National had “begged” to perform the track when they supported R.E.M. on tour in 2008.

Check out the footage below:

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The collaborative history between these artists runs deep. Stipe and Aaron Dessner previously teamed up for the 2020 single ‘No Time For Love Like Now’ under the Big Red Machine moniker. As Stipe continues to work on his long-awaited debut solo album—having recently shared the spoken-word track ‘Hum Desiderata’—this performance serves as a poignant reminder of his enduring influence on the indie-rock landscape.