On a lovely Thursday summer night, Andrew Bird took the stage at Rock the Ruins in Holliday Park, Indianapolis, delivering a performance that showcased his extraordinary talent and multi-instrumentalist abilities. The dynamic duo Amadou & Mariam set the evening in motion, bringing their vibrant Malian sounds and infusing the atmosphere with a rhythmic energy that perfectly complemented Bird’s eclectic style.
Andrew Bird’s setlist was a journey through his expansive musical catalog, weaving together covers and originals with seamless elegance. He opened with a tribute to Indiana’s own Cole Porter, delivering a captivating rendition of “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to.” The mood shifted with “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” drawing the audience into Bird’s world of intricate melodies and introspective lyrics.
Highlights for me included a powerful “Bloodless” performance and the haunting “Three White Horses,” which enveloped the crowd in its ethereal beauty. Bird’s masterful storytelling was evident in “The Night Before Your Birthday” and “A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left,” where his playful yet profound lyrics resonated deeply with the audience.
The evening also featured a stunning cover of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan,” showcasing Bird’s ability to reinterpret jazz classics with his distinctive flair.
For the encore, Bird returned with fan favorites “Pulaski at Night” and “Capsized,” ending the night on a high note.

Photo galleries: Andrew Bird – Amadou & Mariam

Setlist: You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to (Cole Porter cover), I Fall in Love Too Easily, Why? (Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire song), Bloodless, Atomized, Sisyphus, Underlands, The Night Before Your Birthday, A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left, Three White Horses, Faithless Ghost, Orpheo, Manifest, Caravan (Duke Ellington and His Orchestra cover), Tables and Chairs

Encore: Pulaski at Night, Capsized