Andrew Bird

The Egg’s ongoing American Roots and Branches concert series has a doozy for you this evening: the one and only Andrew Bird. We say “one and only,” because that’s just how Bird rolls: The Chicago-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is known for his singular performance style, in which he creates minor symphonies from violin, guitar, glockenspiel, and voice, using looping pedals and such gadgets. Yeah, lots of people are doing the looping thing these days, but Bird’s been doing it for years; dude’s a pro. Expect to hear unique takes on songs from last year’s excellent Armchair Apocrypha when Bird comes to town.

Andrew Bird will perform tonight (Thursday, Oct. 9) at the Egg (Empire State Plaza, Albany). Sandro Perri opens. Tickets for the 7:30 PM show are $28, and can be purchased through the Egg box office at 473-1845, or online at theegg.org.

Landscapes for Landsake

So, a farmer and an artist walk into a barn . . . Sounds like the start of a joke, no? Well, the fact is that farmland provides us with far more than crispy apples, amber waves of grain, and that faint eau de manure in the spring. Just ask the Agricultural Stewardship Association.

For the seventh straight year, the ASA will bring together farmers, art lovers, and 22 regional artists (such as Leslie Peck, whose painting Stones, Wool and Wood, is pictured) for a celebration of the land. The Landscapes for Landsake art event is a pictoral manifesto of the ASA’s mission to protect farmland, open space, wildlife habitat, public recreation areas, and historic places in Washington and Rensselaer counties. So far the organization has protected 8,361 acres through easement.

The event reception will take place this Saturday (Oct. 11) from 3 to 6 PM at the Maple Ridge Barn (172 State Route 372, Coila). The gallery will be open from noon to 4 PM on Sunday and Monday (Oct. 12-13) and also on Oct. 18 and 19. For more info, call 692-7285.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

The first thing that comes up when discussing the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is that they do not have a conductor. Some find this strange, but it works for them. The second thing that always comes up is that they are superb, whether performing something from the classical repertoire or recording with the likes of Herbie Hancock.

Or when they are presenting something new. When Orpheus open the 112th season of Troy Chromatics Concerts this Wednesday night, they will perform the local premiere of Paul Moravec’s Brandenburg Gate. The Buffalo-born Moravec won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004; this piece is based on one of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet will join the orchestra for Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2, and the program also includes Ibert’s Homage á Mozart and a Haydn symphony.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will perform Wednesday (Oct. 15) at 8 PM at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Second and State streets, Troy). Tickets are $40 and $45. For reservations and info, call 273-0038.