The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and Release Athens Festival are joining forces once again to connect Greek audiences with two influential, innovative musical acts who have left indelible marks on the sound and aesthetics of recent decades. We’re reupping our successful collaboration from 2023 in 2026—a landmark year for Release Athens Festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and for SNF, which is celebrating its 30th—promising two days filled with musical spectacle.
On Sunday, June 21, the one and only David Byrne will put on an extraordinary show at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), as part of his Who Is the Sky tour that began in September, filled with legendary songs from his Talking Heads and solo career. On Thursday, June 25, Gorillaz, Damon Albarn’s groundbreaking project, is coming to Greece for the first time ever to treat us to an explosive audiovisual experience at Plateia Nerou.
More acts for both concert dates will be announced soon!
To celebrate 30 years of philanthropic work, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is collaborating with Release Athens to bring music and culture closer to everyone. Thanks to SNF's contribution, ticket prices are 40-50% lower than is typical for similar events.
David Byrne
Although best known for his groundbreaking tenure fronting the new wave group Talking Heads, David Byrne is also acclaimed for his adventurous solo career, encroaching upon such diverse arenas as world music, filmmaking, and performance art in the process. After Talking Heads disbanded in 1991, Byrne branched out with numerous projects, including solo albums, film and stage productions and his Luaka Bop label, which played a crucial role in introducing innovative South American and African artists to Western audiences.
Over the course of his incredible career, David has received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, and a Special Tony Award; he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2017, David launched “Reasons to Be Cheerful,” first an online compendium of news stories, now a curated online magazine designed to be a “tonic for tumultuous times.” In October 2024, "Reasons to be Cheerful" hosted a variety show in New York City, featuring performance, music, comedy, and inspirational storytelling.
Gorillaz
Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz is singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle. The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings, and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world with their colorful backstory and groundbreaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios, Gorillaz settled into a life of musical innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses, and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF Doom to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to slowthai, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more.
With eight albums to their name, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018), Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), and Cracker Island (2023), Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, Montevideo to Manchester and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor. The band’s recent acclaimed run of London shows to celebrate 25 years of Gorillaz saw The Guardian declare, “Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s cartoon band are still riveting and relevant,” with The London Standard adding, “Albarn and Hewlett are still legions ahead of the pack,” and The Observer headline proclaiming, “Gorillaz stun in star-studded show of lush visuals and borderless music.” Gorillaz’s new studio album The Mountain will be released in 2026.
*Ticket proceeds go exclusively to Release Athens. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is a philanthropic organization that makes grants to nonprofit organizations. SNF does not accept funds from private individuals, corporations, or any other organizations.
Learn more about what we’ve got in store at SNF Nostos 2026 in our recent announcement about the program!