Andrew Bird shares his Finest Work Yet at Miami Beach festival appearance

On February 9, Chicago singer-songwriter and violinist Andrew Bird played at the third annual GroundUp Festival in Miami Beach, closing out its Saturday night date.

Andrew Bird also played the night before alongside some of the festival’s talent during a smaller set, where he performed with fellow musicians at the festival. This set was in a similar format to his “Live From the Great Room” web series, where he regularly collaborates with famed musical acts. Previous guests have included Fiona Apple, Matt Beringer and Esperanza Spalding.

His Saturday set at the festival featured Bird alongside his talented band, which includes bassist Alan Hampton, who has accompanied him for several years now.

Andrew Bird also shared two previously unheard songs from his upcoming album, the boldly-titled My Finest Work Yet, along with its two leading singles, the jazzy “Bloodless” and the climactic and folky “Sisyphus,” which nods to the Greek myth of King Sisyphus of Ephyra. Sisyphus was sentenced to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity, the boulder falling down as he reaches the top of the hill. The song’s circular narrative and arrangement greatly tie into its mythology, giving it the feel of a neverending song, a spirit Bird and his band perfectly reinterpreted live.

Andrew Bird mainly played songs from his most recent releases, picking the freshest and most vigorous tunes to complement the festival’s outdoor setting aside the beach. Bird’s taciturn and enigmatic presence had the audience captivated and cheering loudly to even his most contemplative songs.

Wrapping up the show and the festival for the night, Bird and his band came closer together onstage to deliver an energetic closing performance of the anthemic “Pulaski at Night.” But Bird first introduced the song, sharing how he wrote it as a parting tribute to his hometown of Chicago when he finally left the city, reliving the memory as he also delivered his farewell to South Florida until his next visit.

Andrew Bird’s My Finest Work Yet will be released on Friday, March 22nd. Visit www.andrewbird.net for more information.

Image Courtesy of Google Images.

Coverage by Patricia Cárdenas

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