David Byrne – Hammersmith Apollo – Live Review – 4/03/26
by R. Sheedy

March 4th, 2026

From the moment you walked into the venue, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be your average concert – a moonscape stage with no instruments set up visible, and a warm pre-stage announcement from the man himself encouraging us to stand up and dance (it’s a seated venue).

The show absolutely didn’t disappoint – it was a joyous and joyful couple of hours, filled with hope and faith in mankind. The show never strays into overt politics, but the message is clear, positive and uplifting.

The set was a beautiful mix of Talking Heads and solo work, and showcased the sustained quality of Byrne’s songwriting and lyrics over his long career. Opening with a stripped back version of the Fear of Music era Talking Heads’ ‘Heaven’, played violin, cello, and keys set the tone for the night, with the musicians gathered around Byrne, as he sang.

From there, we were treated to an ever-changing stage setting – it’s spectacularly well designed and staged, and makes use of the players and dancers as a part of the visuals throughout – as the thirteen members of the troupe came on and off as needed for each song.

The choreography of the whole event was dazzling, and to produce so strong a vocal performance whilst constantly on the move was impressive from Byrne, all the more so at this stage of his career.

There was a strong balance of songs from across his career – six off his 2025 Who is the Sky?  Record, but early appearances for ‘And She Was’ and the Brian Eno collaboration ‘Strange Overtones’, and as we moved through the show the middle section was heavily solo-orientated, with a fantastic quartet of Talking Heads songs to finish the pre-encore show – ‘Air’, an Arthur Russell arrangement of ‘Psycho Killer’, ‘Life During Wartime’ and a delicious version of ‘Once in a Lifetime’.

Not being one to mess around, the encore followed swiftly, with ‘Everybody’s Coming to My House’ and a raucous ‘Burning Down the House’ to round things out.

The musicianship was incredible throughout, and the band had the audience on their feet throughout. It really is a stunning experience, and it received the ovation that it deserved. The care, thought, choreography and design that’s clearly gone into the show is amazing, and most importantly, delivers an absorbing night that will leave you smiling and grooving throughout.

If you only go to one concert this year… (get out more).

Setlist

Heaven (Talking Heads song)
Everybody Laughs
And She Was – (Talking Heads song)
Strange Overtones – (Brian Eno & David Byrne cover)
Houses in Motion – (Talking Heads song)
T Shirt
(Nothing but) Flowers – (Talking Heads song)
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) – (Talking Heads song)
What Is the Reason for It?
Like Humans Do
When We Are Singing
Independence Day
Slippery People – (Talking Heads song)
Moisturizing Thing
My Apartment Is My Friend
Air – (Talking Heads song)
Psycho Killer – (Talking Heads song)
Life During Wartime – (Talking Heads song)
Once in a Lifetime – (Talking Heads song)

Encore:
Everybody’s Coming to My House
Burning Down the House (Talking Heads song)