Andrew Bird @ Òran Mór, 14 May

Slightly weird Illinois multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird packs up his guitar, mandolin, glockenspiel and whatever other instruments he can fit into his backpack for a month-long European tour this May. Bird’s undeniable attention to detail on latest album Noble Beast compounds his reputation as one of the least conventional singer-songwriters of late, making this eighth studio effort as intricate and beautiful as 2007’s acclaimed Armchair Apocryphia, and predecessor The Mysterious Production of Eggs. An instinctive and well-toured live performer, Bird's concerts are not to be missed; the raw nature of his acclaimed jazzy indie folk has its own wide appeal. Plus, he’s a damn good whistler.