Andrew Bird Performs “Manifest”

Andrew Bird is a violinist, singer, and songwriter.  He is known for his idiosyncratic sound, with complex melodic compositions, virtuosic violin playing, onstage use of loops and samples, and range of musical styles: folk, jazz, classical, and pop-rock, among others.

Originally from Illinois, Bird graduated from Northwestern University in 1996 with a B.A. in violin performance. He released his first solo record, Music of Hair, that same year. He played with neo swing outfit Squirrel Nut Zippers and Chicago-based band Bowl of Fire before returning to solo performance with a series of well-regarded indie records. Noble Beast (2009) sold over 150,000 copies; it’s folk-rock successor Break It Yourself (2012) reached the top 10 of the U.S. album charts. He received Grammy nominations for Are You Serious (2016) and My Finest Work Yet (2019).

Bird has also composed for film and television, including writing and performing a song for The Muppets movie in 2011.