Andrew Bird @ The Classic Grand, 28 Apr

Given the challenge of warming up for the irrepressible Andrew Bird are Baltimore post-rockers Human Bell (***). Appearances are deceiving as these Hell's Angels-alikes deliver an impressive combo of surprisingly tender melodies and straight up noise, with some Morricone-esque trumpet chucked in for good measure.

Aesthetically, Bird (****) is a stark contrast: decked out in waistcoat and scarf, violin hanging from his shoulder and his head thrown back in some sort of sonic ecstasy, he's every inch the touched maestro. His roots and training too are in steeped in classicism, but he has undoubtedly been touched somewhere along the line by the spirit of rock and roll. His music is laced with lucid melodies, bluesy breakdowns and witty, matter of fact lyrics. Punctuating each one of his tracks with anecdotes of a remarkably consistent funniness, he has the crowd at the comfortably occupied Classic Grand in the palm of his hand throughout. Bird is one of the busiest on-stage performers you'll see - constantly looping his violin, guitar, whistling and singing to give the illusion of a full band – and he's also one of the classiest, helping bid farewell to Triptych style, whilst ensuring he leaves for everyone present, a little legacy of his own.