Andrew Bird’s current tour is in its last gasp, but that doesn’t mean its over. The singer/songwriter is readying a new slate of gigs including a few churches. These shows are being dubbed as ‘Gezelligheid’, the Dutch term for coziness, and he is said to be focusing on his violin pieces during this stretch in Minneapolis (12/10-11) and Chicago (12/15-17).

In the press release, Bird said of the shows, “What I hope to do with these shows is adapt my music completely to the atmosphere of the space and the season,” Bird said in the statement. “I’m inspired to do this based on childhood memories of performing Handel’s Messiah in various churches on an annual basis. The music will be mostly original instrumentals using my voice only to intone. I want the audience to be both lifted and comforted as we head into another cold and dark winter. I feel the space should be sacred so the audience can experience my music in a different atmosphere.”

Bird’s latest album “Noble Beast” was released in January and shot up to number 1 on Billboard’s Top Independent Album Charts. The current Andrew Bird tour has hit 25 cities beginning in Los Angeles on July 20.

October 2009
24 – Portland, ME – S. Portland High School Auditorium
25 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
26 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
27 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
28 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

December 2009
8 – Champaign, IL – Foellinger Hall – solo
10, 11 – Minneapolis, MN – St Mark’s Episcopal Church
15-17 – Chicago, IL – 4th Presbyterian Church

February 2009
6 – Honolulu, HI – Pipeline Cafe
20 – Los Angeles, CA – Bovard Auditorium @ USC

Further Reading: