Michael Stipe sings E-Bow The Letter with The National musicians at AB100

Michael Stipe joined Matt Berninger and Aaron and Bryce Dessner at Atabal in Biarritz on October 17. NME and Stereogum report that they performed R.E.M.'s E-Bow The Letter, whose original 1996 recording featured Patti Smith.

The Mixtape evening opened AB100, a gathering of the Dessners' friends and collaborators celebrating their fiftieth birthdays. The programme spanned Biarritz and San Sebastián on October 17–18. Participants included Ben Howard, Kevin Morby and Jon Hopkins.

Their connection predates this concert: The National supported R.E.M. on tour in 2008. Stipe and Aaron Dessner also released No Time For Love Like Now in 2020.