Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

The basis for Brooklyn-based band Bishop Allen was laid in the halls of Harvard University, where founding members Justin Rice and Christian Rudder first met. The band’s name refers to Bishop Allen Drive, the street where both men lived in their post-Harvard years.

In 2003 the band released their debut album, Charm School. Three years later, instead of releasing a regular album, they chose to release an EP each month for one year, each EP carrying the name of the month it was released. In late 2006 they signed with Dead Ocean, Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar’s new sister label, and compiled the best material from the EPs on one album. Here’s what Kindamuzik had to say about that album, Broken Strings: “The result is a fun record. Light indie pop with fresh melodies, reminiscent of The Unicorns, Adam Green and Ween. But when Bishop Allen takes a more reflective tone, the band manages to emulate the Arcade Fire’s sense of drama (Flight 180).” In the spring of 2009 they’ll be back with new work.