20 October 2026 – Michael Stipe Reunites With The National's Dessner Brothers for Rare R.E.M. Performance in the Basque Country

Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe made a remarkable appearance alongside Aaron and Bryce Dessner during a special concert celebrating the twin musicians' fiftieth birthdays in the Basque Country. Newly published footage and reporting on October 19 and 20 documented Stipe performing "E-Bow the Letter", the atmospheric R.E.M. composition originally released in 1996. The performance marked the first time Stipe had sung the song publicly in approximately seventeen years.

The celebration formed part of AB100, a two-day event organised around the Dessners' musical careers and their extensive network of collaborators. Stipe was joined by The National frontman Matt Berninger, while electronic musician Jon Hopkins contributed keyboards and cellist Anastasia Kobekina added another layer to the arrangement. The musicians also revisited "No Time for Love Like Now", the Big Red Machine collaboration connecting Stipe with the Dessners.

Before performing, Stipe presented the brothers with small sculptures he had created during an earlier period when they toured together. The National also contributed to the celebrations, performing material including "90-Mile Water Wall", which had been absent from their live repertoire for approximately twelve years. The reunion arrives as Stipe prepares his long-awaited debut solo album, currently expected in 2027.

Although R.E.M. have remained inactive since their separation in 2011, Stipe's occasional performances continue to attract considerable attention from alternative-rock audiences. The Basque Country celebration demonstrated how friendships developed through independent music can remain creatively productive for decades. It also proved that turning fifty becomes considerably more interesting when Michael Stipe arrives with handmade presents and agrees to sing. Browse our latest news updates for further tour coverage.