Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

Andrew Bird must have one of the most original voices in contemporary alternative folk. The multi-instrumentalist plays the guitar and the violin as well as the recorder. But it’s at his concerts that his amazing technique really becomes apparent: he records the guitar section live, loops it, mixes it with samples of the recorder and clapping and crafts the most impressive songs layer by layer. Add to that his soft voice and his clever lyrics, and you know that the ever-stylish Andrew Bird is a born artist.

Last year saw the release of his fifth album, ‘Noble Beast’ (recorded with members of Loney Dear) on the Cooperative Music label. After he previously presented his album at the Koninklijk Circus and the Pukkelpop festival, he will play an intimate set in Vooruit’s Theaterzaal with his band.

According to Tom Waits, the music of American songwriter Jesca Hoop sounds like “going swimming in a lake at night.” And he should know, seeing Jesca was the former nanny of his kids, and she got him to listen to her 2007 debut album, Kismet. She will release her next full album at the beginning of next year, and it promises to be another gem brimming with songs floating between pop and folk.