Andrew Bird To Do A Church Tour

Andrew Bird has been known to sell out venues ever since people realized his layered samples of violin, mandolin, guitar and whistling was something cool for a guy to do all by himself.

However, the unconventional singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has decided to take his upcoming tour outside of the arenas and into more “sacred” spaces. This winter, Bird will be taking his heavenly sounds into… church!

No, Bird is not leaving the indie rock world to pursue a career in Christian pop or anything. Instead, Bird is setting out to take advantage of the atmospheres and sounds that churches alternatively offer when compared to regular venues.

In December, he plans on playing dates in Minneapolis and of course, Chicago, for a tour that stems from a Dutch concept called “Gezelligheid” which roughly translates into “coziness.” Through a press release (via Pitchfork), Bird announced the following about his Gezelligheid tour:

“What I hope to do with these shows is adapt my music completely to the atmosphere of the space and the season. 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 will play solo for this winter tour and it will also mainly feature his instrumental violin pieces. However we want to emphasize that this church tour is his “winter” tour because it’s smack dab in the middle of other tour dates. He closes out October with St. Vincent and shares November with the ethereal sounds of Jesca Hoop and the folk of Moriarty. After that he heads overseas to Australia and China before he loops his way back to the States.

Check out a video of Andrew Bird and St. Vincent playing together then catch the tour dates out below!

Andrew Bird Tour Dates:

10/21 Buffalo, NY @ Asbury Hall at Babeville
10/24 South Portland, ME @ South Portland High School Auditorium
10/25 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
10/26 South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground *
10/27 Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel *
10/28 Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club *
11/10 London, England @ Union Chapel #
11/11 London, England @ Union Chapel ^
11/13 Paris, France @ Casino de Paris #
11/15 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg Rabozaal ^
11/16 Turnhout, Belgium @ De Warande ^
11/17 Gent, Belgium @ Vooruit ^
11/19 Katowice, Poland @ Festival Ars Cameralis (Rozrywki Theatre)
11/21 Madrid, Spain @ Joy Eslava ^
11/23 Valencia, Spain @ Palau de la Musica ^
11/24 Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Apolo ^
12/08 Champaign, IL @ Foellinger Auditorium
12/10 Minneapolis, MN @ Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Gezelligheid show)
12/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral (Gezelligheid show)
12/15 Chicago, IL @ Fourth Presbyterian Church (Gezelligheid show)
12/16 Chicago, IL @ Fourth Presbyterian Church (Gezelligheid show)
12/17 Chicago, IL @Fourth Presbyterian Church (Gezelligheid show)
12/30 Marion Bay, Australia @ The Falls Music & Arts Festival
12/31 Lorne, Australia @ The Falls Music & Arts Festival
01/01 Melbourne, Australia @ The Hi-Fi
01/03 Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House
01/07 Brisbane, Australia @ Sunset Sounds
01/09 Bussleton, Australia @ Southbound Festival
01/26 Singapore, Singapore @ The Esplanade
01/27 Hong Kong, China @ Grappas
01/29 Shanghai, China @ Zhijiang Dream Factory
01/30 Beijing, China @ Mao Live House
02/03 Tokyo, Japan @ Club Quattro
02/06 Honolulu, HI @ Pipeline Cafe
02/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Bovard Auditorium (USC)

* with St. Vincent
# with Moriarty
^ with Jesca Hoop

(via P4k)