Michael Stipe has paid tribute to Heath Ledger during R.E.M.’s set at this year’s SXSW in Austin Texas.

The front man dedicated the track ‘Until The Day Is Done’ to the actor as they gave the audience a taste of their new album ‘Accelerate’.

Before performing the song he said, "This is dedicated to Heath Ledger who loved this song," before ending it with, "Goodbye Heath, we loved you!"

The 90 minute set mixed new and old songs with Stipe promising the audience: "The good news is most of them are under two-and-a-half minutes so if you don't like them you can have a pee break or grab a beer."

According to NME he also voiced his concerns about the current political climate as the band performed three tracks about the issue.

He said: "I'm terrified at how history will look back at the overreacting of the current administration to 9/11. We have a little less than two years to make something more of this decade."

The full set list was:

1. Living Well Is The Best Revenge
2. Man Sized Wreath
3. Second Guessing
4. Drive
5. Hollow Man
6. Animal
7. Auctioneer
8. Mr. Richards
9. Fall On Me
10. Great Beyond
11. Houston
12. Electrolite
13. Accelerate
14. Until The Day Is Done
15. Final Straw
16. Bad Day
17. Horse To Water
18. Walk Unafraid
19. Supernatural Superserious
20. Imitation Of Life
21. Im Gonna DJ
22. Man On The Moon

(by Daniel Melia)