There are places that seem to have been created to welcome beauty, and the historic Piazza Castello – the famous Piazza degli Scacchi – is undoubtedly one of these. Friday June 26, 2026The Marostica Summer Festival Volksbank inaugurated its twelfth edition under the sign of the visionary genius of David Byrne.
The former frontman of Talking Heads chose the evocative setting of Vicenza for the third and final stage of his Italian minitour, giving a memorable sold-out concert.
After the extraordinary global impact of American UtopiaByrne returned to the stage with a radically new concept, titled “Who Is The Sky?”. An immersive, geometric show imbued with that lucid philosophical irony that for fifty years has made him one of the most brilliant minds in contemporary culture.
The warehouse of ideas: pop meets philosophy
On stage, Byrne orchestrated a perfect stage machine, supported by a formidable rhythm section (in which the historic Brazilian collaborator Mauro Refosco stands out).
The new songs, like the funny one “My Apartment Is My Friend” and the dazed one “I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party”they dialogued perfectly with the rest of the set, translating small everyday observations into macro-reflections on community and human connection.
A monumental lineup: from Talking Heads to the present
The beginning of the show was thrilling: Byrne appeared on stage singing the solemn intimacy of “Heaven”immediately catapulting the square into the Talking Heads universe. From that moment on, the live show was a continuous and dynamic flow. The pop brilliance of “Like Humans Do” and the electro-funk vibes of “Strange Overtones” (daughter of the historic collaboration with Brian Eno) have mixed with a slew of monuments from the history of rock.
The encore definitely set Marostica on fire with the contagious energy of “Burning Down the House”closing a performance that has redefined, once again, the very concept of contemporary live thanks to the extraordinary chorality of the musicians and dancers.
David Byrnand proved that the avant-garde could be pop, accessible and immensely fun. Marostica couldn't have hoped for a better start.
Click here to see photos of David Byrne in concert in Marostica or browse the gallery below
DAVID BYRNE – the lineup of the Marostica concert
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-Shirts
(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)
I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party
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)
Everybody's Coming to My House
Burning Down the House (Talking Heads song)
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
