Michael Stipe has paid tribute to Heath Ledger during R.E.M’s set at this year’s South By Southwest festival 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, reports the NME.

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 singer is the latest in a number of celebrity names including Michelle Williams, Naomi Watts and Phillip Seymour Hoffman who have expressed their sorrow at the actor's departure.

Ledger was found dead in New York at the start of the year due to an accidental overdose of presciption drugs.