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You can see and hear Yann Tiersen's solo production, based on piano and electronics, at the Barba Negra Red Stage in Budapest on 28 February 2026.
Yann Tiersen returns to Budapest with a solo production based on piano and electronics. On February 28, 2026, he will present his new two-part album Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour on the Barba Negra Red Stage. The special feature of the tour is that, in response to the urgent circumstances of the climate crisis, Yann Tiersen will not be accompanied by a crew, but will travel in his own minibus, accompanied by his dog. Instead of hotels, he will stay in private homes that have been arranged in advance, thus bringing a truly intimate and special production to his fans.
The French composer and multi-instrumentalist has released more than twenty albums so far, and a recurring element in his compositions is the connection to nature, the use of special instruments and a compositional approach tied to locations. The first part of his latest album, Rathlin from a Distance, consists of eight piano pieces, each named after a location he visited on his 2023 sailing trip. From the Fastnet Lighthouse in the Atlantic Ocean, through the Faroe Islands and Shetland, to the quiet waters of the Caledonian Channel in Scotland, the pieces depict a kind of journey into ourselves.
“The sea has a transformative power. Away from the noise of the world, only nature and yourself remain. You can begin to question your beliefs, your identity. You slowly shed the expectations and roles that society places on you. The waves demand honesty. Rathlin from a Distance was born from this experience. Each track is tied to a place visited, but also to a moment of meditation. They are maps to ourselves. They are meant to lead you to the core of your true being – not to the version that social expectations have shaped. They invite you to connect, to be vulnerable, and to find solace in the authenticity that comes from confronting the forces raging around you – and within you.” – says the artist.
The second part, The Liquid Hour, was inspired by a night at sea: Tiersen stood at the helm of a ship, with the lights of Belfast in the distance, after nearly two months of sailing on the high seas. This serene moment led to deep reflection on the city’s turbulent history and its wider political context. He felt that everything needed to be rebuilt, and thus the five-song, bold musical manifesto was born. “As I stood there behind the wheel, alone and silent, I felt both anger and hope. The world is full of oppression and manipulation, but it is also full of opportunity. These energies had to be turned into music. Sometimes I listened to podcasts while recording. And I had the idea of creating a marching band that I could take to a protest. But I wanted to do it all with weird, old electronic instruments. That’s what I’ve always wanted: a fake band playing old instruments,” adds Yann Tiersen.
His Budapest concert will be held on February 28, 2026 at the Barba Negra Red Stage, for which you can find tickets here.
Photo: Aurélie Scouarnec
