David Byrne’s Night Announces 2027 UK Tour Featuring Indie Supergroup
David Byrne’s Night – a unique tribute act celebrating the legacies of Talking Heads and Robert Burns – has officially announced plans for a 2027 UK tour. The upcoming run of shows promises to be a significant cultural event, featuring a rotating supergroup of musicians drawn from the ranks of English Teacher, The Pogues, and several other prominent acts from the indie, punk, and experimental scenes.
David Byrnes Night press shot. CREDIT: Maisy Banks
Founded by Dundee native Lola Stephen, the project began as a one-off performance at Hackney’s MOTH Club in 2023. Since then, it has evolved into a celebrated live experience that blends the iconic discography of David Byrne and Talking Heads with the traditional poetry of Robert Burns. The performances are designed as a celebration of two distinct Scottish icons, creating a bridge between experimental pop and classic literature.
A Growing Collective of Talent
The 2027 tour is set to be the project's most ambitious to date, with the London show at Troxy serving as a centerpiece. Confirmed participants for this leg include members of The Horrors, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, Goat Girl, Imogen and the Knife, Orchestra (for now), 1000 rabbits, and Ebbb. The broader tour will also feature contributions from artists such as VLURE, Tooth, Hank, The Ninth Wave, Hutch, Bathing Suits, Butch Kassidy, thistle, and YAANG.
WATCH
These dates follow a highly successful, sold-out four-date tour earlier this year, which included a standout performance at London’s KOKO. The project has also made significant festival appearances at Green Man, Wide Awake, All Together Now, and Latitude, cementing its reputation as a must-see live act.
The 2027 tour kicks off on January 15 at New Century Hall in Manchester. Subsequent dates are scheduled for Leeds, Brighton, London, and Glasgow. These performances coincide with the 50th anniversary of the debut Talking Heads album, Talking Heads ‘77, adding a layer of historical significance to the tour.
U2 Share Poignant Cover of The Pogues’ ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’
U2 have shared a cover of The Pogues’ ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’, which they recorded for an upcoming Shane MacGowan tribute album. The project, titled ‘20th Century Paddy – The Songs Of Shane MacGowan’, is a collection of songs the late frontman “wanted to make himself” and is scheduled for release on November 13.
Bono and Shane MacGowan. CREDIT: Kevin Mazur/Getty
The tribute album features an array of high-profile artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Depp, The Libertines, Tom Waits, and Primal Scream. The project aims to honor the legacy of the legendary songwriter, with half of all artist royalties being donated to the Dublin Simon Community to support those experiencing homelessness.
Reflecting on the late musician, The Edge stated: “Shane MacGowan was full of contradictions — and that’s where the truth of him lived. He could be precise about what mattered and gloriously careless about everything else. If that sounds like a kind of performance, maybe it was. But as Oscar Wilde put it, ‘a mask tells us more than a face.’”
The Edge continued, noting that MacGowan’s unique persona was a signal of his place in a musical lineage. “The crooked grin, the wildness, the old-Ireland inflections — they weren’t disguises so much as signals. A way of placing himself in a lineage that ran from the pub storyteller to the punk stage. Somewhere between John B. Keane and The Clash, he found a voice that felt both ancient and completely of its time.”
U2’s involvement in the project is a testament to their long-standing friendship with MacGowan. The band has frequently performed alongside him and covered his work, including a notable performance of ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ with Johnny Depp at MacGowan’s 60th birthday concert in 2018. Following MacGowan’s passing in November 2023, the band paid tribute to his songwriting, noting: “Shane MacGowan’s songs were perfect so he or we his fans didn’t have to be.”
