Andrew Bird Announces New Album and Tour

May 29th, 2014

Nina Corcoran

Violin and whistler extraordinaire Andrew Bird has been dropping new releases somewhat quietly in the past few years, and they’ve each had their own sweet charm. First there was 2012′s Hands Of Glory; then there was 2013’s I Want to See Pulaski at Night; now he’s returning with a covers album, Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of…

The longstanding folk duo The Handsome Family and Townes Van Zandt will get to hear their material covered on the full-length album due out June 3. Considering he covered “The Giant of Illinois” on compilation album Dark Was the Night years ago, this seems like a project he’s dreamed about doing for years. The album will include The Handsome Family’s 2003 track (and True Detective theme song) “Far From Any Road,” “Don’t Be Scared” (which he originally covered on 2003’s Weather Systems), and “Tin Foil” (which you can stream after the jump).

In support of the release, Bird and his Hands of Glory band (guitarist Tift Merritt, bassist Alan Hampton, drummer Kevin O’Donnell, and pedal steel guitarist Eric Heywood) will tour this summer in support of the release. See the full list of dates below:

Andrew Bird & the Hands of Glory 2014 Tour Dates:
06/06 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Academy of Music *
06/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
06/08 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theater *
06/09 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre *
06/10 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
06/12 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
06/13 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival *
06/15 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom *
06/16 – Austin, TX @ The Paramount *
06/19 – Boulder, CO @ Chautauqua *
06/20 – Boulder, CO @ Chautauqua *
06/21 – Telluride, CO @ Telluride Bluegrass Fest *
07/02 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Power Center
07/04 – Toronto, ON @ Urban Roots Fest *
07/05 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
07/06 – Montreal, QC @ Montreal International Jazz Fest *
07/08 – New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage *
07/10 – Hanover, NH @ Dartmouth *
07/11 – Bridgeport, CT @ The Klein *
07/12 – Lowell, MA @ Summer Music Series *
07/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Folk Festival
07/24 – Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Fest *
07/26 – Edmonton, AB @ Interstellar Rodeo *
08/02 – Saratoga, CA @ Mountain Winery *
08/03 – San Francisco, CA @ Stern Grove Festival
09/19 – San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s
09/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl ^