Bright Eyes will celebrate the 21st anniversary of their 2005 albums I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn with three special performances in 2026. The shows will feature full album playthroughs at iconic venues, with rotating guest acts including Tilly and the Wall, The Moldy Peaches, and Built to Spill. Frontman Conor Oberst shared his excitement for the unconventional milestone in a statement.
Overview
Bright Eyes, led by Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nathaniel Walcott, is marking the 21st anniversary of their seminal twin albums—I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn—with a series of intimate yet grand concerts next summer. Released simultaneously on January 1, 2005, the albums represent a pivotal moment in indie rock, blending introspective folk with electronic experimentation. Each show will divide the performance into two sets, playing one album per set, with a guest band performing in between.
Tour Dates and Guests
The anniversary events kick off on May 6, 2026, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, featuring Tilly and the Wall as openers. Next, on May 23, the band heads to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, joined by The Moldy Peaches. The tour concludes on June 6 at Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, New York—the very location where the albums were written—with Built to Spill supporting.
Oberst's Statement
Addressing the choice of the non-round 21st anniversary, Oberst said: “I have always hated my birthdays, but I love parties. And I remember being really excited when I turned 21 for obvious reasons. So when the idea came up to celebrate the 21st anniversary of these two records who were born on the same day, Nate [Walcott], Mike [Mogis], and I took a long look in our full-length mirror and finally said, ‘Fuck it, why not?’… It will be the three of us and many old friends coming together to make what will hopefully be this magical thing happen.”
Ticket Information and Philanthropy
Tickets go on presale Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time, with general sale starting Friday at the same time. More details are available at the band's website, thisisbrighteyes.com/tour. A dollar from each ticket will support the Poison Oak Project, the band's nonprofit focused on equity for LGBTQ+ and trans individuals.
This follows Bright Eyes' recent activities, including their 2024 album Five Dice, All Threes and the 2025 EP Kids Table, after wrapping a world tour earlier this year. Oberst has noted the unique draw of full-album performances, especially for their commercially successful sixth record, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.