Watch Michael Stipe join members of The National for R.E.M.'s 'E-Bow The Letter'

Michael Stipe stepped onto the stage at the Atabal venue in Biarritz with a quiet reverence that matched the evening’s mood. The air was thick with the scent of sea spray and the distant hum of a crowd that had gathered to celebrate the Dessner brothers’ 50th birthdays. He shared the stage with Matt Berninger and the twin guitarists Aaron and Bryce Dessner, and together they breathed new life into R.E.M.’s 1996 single “E‑Bow The Letter.” The moment felt less like a reunion and more like a quiet ceremony, a passing of a torch between generations of indie‑rock giants.

The AB100 festival, stretching across Biarritz and nearby San Sebastián, was a two‑day affair that brought together friends and collaborators of the Dessners. Saturday’s opening night, billed as Mixtape, featured a rotating lineup that included Ben Howard, Kevin Morby, and Jon Hopkins. The festival’s intent was clear: honor the brothers’ half‑century milestone with a series of intimate, collaborative performances. Stipe’s appearance was a highlight, but it was the camaraderie onstage that made the night memorable. Before the song began, he presented handmade sculptures to Aaron and Bryce, a gesture that underscored the mutual respect that has long existed between the artists.

Stipe took the mic to explain how “E‑Bow The Letter” came to be. The track was written during a stay in San Sebastián in 1995, a fact that added a layer of poignancy to the performance. Aaron Dessner recalled that The National had “begged” R.E.M. To play the song when they opened for the band in 2008. This back‑story, shared in a hushed tone, gave the audience a glimpse into the song’s journey from R.E.M.’s studio to a live collaboration between two iconic voices.

The National and R.E.M. Have a long, intertwined history. In 2008, The National supported R.E.M. On a North American tour alongside Modest Mouse. Stipe has also worked directly with Aaron Dessner, releasing the collaborative single “No Time For Love Like Now” in June 2020 under the Big Red Machine project, with Bryce providing orchestration. Aaron described Stipe as “a great hero and friend to me (and The National)”, a sentiment that speaks to the deep respect that has developed over years of collaboration. The pair even performed the track together on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon later that month, further cementing their partnership.

“E‑Bow The Letter” has long been a staple for Stipe’s live collaborations. Radiohead’s Thom Yorke has joined R.E.M. To perform the song on several occasions, taking over the vocal part originally sung by Patti Smith. Notable performances include the 1998 Tibetan Freedom Concert and a secret London church show in 2004. The song’s recurring presence in Stipe’s setlists underscores its enduring appeal and the flexibility of its arrangement to accommodate different vocalists.

The National are set to play their first full‑band concert since 2024, headlining the closing night of AB100 on October 18. This performance promises to be another chapter in the ongoing dialogue between the band and their collaborators, a dialogue that has already seen Stipe and the Dessners share the stage in a way that feels both nostalgic and forward‑looking.

As a writer who thrives on the human stories behind the headlines, I find the quiet exchanges between Stipe and the Dessner brothers particularly striking. Their shared history, expressed through gestures like handmade sculptures and chewing gum, reminds us that music is as much about connection as it is about sound. The AB100 festival, with its blend of celebration and collaboration, offers a rare glimpse into the ways that artists honor their past while crafting new moments for audiences to cherish.