David Byrne kicks off four-night Radio City residency with Who Is The Sky Tour

David Byrne is kicking off a four-night residency at Radio City Music Hall in New York, launching his Who Is The Sky Tour in support of his ninth solo album of the same name. The former Talking Heads frontman will perform on Tuesday, Sept. 30, followed by shows on Wednesday, Oct. 1, Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, with all performances slated to begin at 8 p.m. The run marks Byrne’s return to a marquee New York stage with a concert concept that blends mobility and location-based staging, a hallmark of his recent touring approach.

Ticket prices for the Radio City run span a range that reflects demand and market dynamics. As of publication, the cheapest available seat was listed at $105, including fees, for the Oct. 10 show on secondary marketplaces. Other Radio City nights carried price points from roughly $135 to $164, all inclusive of fees where noted. Listings caution that prices can fluctuate ahead of show time. Platforms marketing these tickets also cite buyer guarantees and delivery timelines, common features of verified resale sites. Byrne’s four appearances at Radio City come amid a broader 2025 tour calendar that has included numerous stops across North America.

Byrne continues to mine a rich repertoire while introducing material from the new album. He has been delivering a long, 20-plus song set at recent stops, weaving Talking Heads classics with tracks from Who Is The Sky and select covers. Audiences have heard staples such as Burning Down the House, Once In A Lifetime, And She Was, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), and Life During Wartime, alongside newer work and a Paramore cover. Notably, he revived Psycho Killer for the first time in nearly two decades on the trek’s opening night in Pittsburgh on Sept. 16, a moment that underscored the performer’s willingness to reanimate old favorites while pushing into new territory. The vocalist has appeared in a distinctive, all-blue jumpsuit, maintaining the intense focus that has defined his live shows for decades.

The new album, Who Is The Sky, released Sept. 5, has been described as a life-affirming collection that seeks joy, expression and affection even amid darker material. Lead single Everybody Laughs leans buoyant and catchy, while the closing track The Truth leans more austere and intimate. Byrne has shown particular fondness for certain songs on this outing, including the playful My Apartment Is My Friend and the more intimate A Door Called No, along with What Is The Reason For It?, a Hayley Williams collaboration that has drawn notice for its cross-genre spark. Critics and fans alike have noted that the record sits comfortably in Byrne’s canon, balancing idiosyncratic lyricism with genre-bending arrangements.

The Radio City residency also reflects Byrne’s ongoing fascination with live presentation as a storytelling engine. He has described the tour concept as retaining the mobility that characterized the American Utopia era and the Broadway-era show, but translating that mobility into a format defined by location shifts and the energy of a live room. This approach aligns with Byrne’s broader artistic arc, which has long favored experimentation, theatricality and a sense of playful confrontation with conventional rock performance tropes.

Reflecting on the year’s touring landscape, Byrne’s Radio City run sits among a wave of veteran artists continuing to test new material and staging ideas while filling large rooms with devoted audiences. The four-night stand is a reminder that even as Byrne revisits legacy material, his eye remains fixed on inventive presentation and a willingness to push the boundaries of a live concert experience.

For fans weighing which night to attend, Byrne’s shows at Radio City offer a chance to experience a rare fusion of the old and the new in a single evening. While set lists vary from city to city, the Pittsburgh start indicated a pattern of deep cuts alongside beloved hits, a mix likely to continue in New York. As with most high-demand tours, ticket availability can be tight, and prices could shift in the days leading up to each show. Those considering a purchase should monitor primary outlets or authorized resale sites for the latest information on seating options and price points.

Beyond Radio City, Byrne’s 2025 itinerary includes additional tour stops through the fall, with performances that echo the artist’s longstanding commitment to live experimentation. The four-night stand at Radio City serves as a centerpiece in a year marked by a steady stream of inventive performances, a testament to Byrne’s persistent relevance in culture and entertainment. Fans who want to explore the breadth of Byrne’s live catalog can expect a concert that honors Talking Heads classics while inviting new audiences to hear the latest in his evolving creative voice.