Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy: Celebrating R.E.M.'s 'Lifes Rich Pageant'

On Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, Chalk in Brighton will host a performance by Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy as part of their latest UK tour. While Michael Shannon is widely recognised for his film work, his musical collaboration with Jason Narducy—known for his roles in Superchunk and the Bob Mould Band—has become a recurring project over the last few years. This particular tour marks the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s 1986 album, Lifes Rich Pageant. It follows their previous tours where they tackled other seminal records like Murmur and Fables of the Reconstruction, establishing a bit of a tradition for the duo in revisiting the early R.E.M. discography with a full professional band.

The performance is structured to feature Lifes Rich Pageant played in its full sequence, followed by a second set of various tracks from across the R.E.M. catalogue. To replicate the specific textures of that era, Shannon and Narducy are joined by a seasoned group of musicians: Jon Wurster is on drums, John Stirratt takes the bass, Dag Juhlin is on guitar, and Vijay Tellis-Nayak handles the keyboards. Shannon has been quite vocal about his personal connection to this music, describing the band Narducy has put together as a vital part of why these shows work. Because they vary the setlists for the second half of the show each night, the Brighton performance will likely feature a unique combination of songs compared to other stops on the tour.

For those looking at the logistics, the evening at Chalk is set to run from 18:00 until 22:00. Tickets are generally available for approximately £40.88, a price point that reflects the scale of the touring band being brought over. The venue has set an age restriction of 14 and over, with the standard requirement that anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Since the tickets first went on sale in late 2024, there has been plenty of time for the word to spread among local fans of the Athens, Georgia legends. It’s a straightforward opportunity to hear a classic album performed live by musicians who have a genuine history with the alternative scene, right in the centre of Brighton.