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Andrew Bird,
Chicago Short Film Brigade Voices from the Warehouse District Friday, October 6, 10th & Jackson by Mike Ironside, Photo by Ellen Tunney Voices from the Warehouse District continues to challenge the local cultural landscape, not only with an amazing collection of artwork but also with a series of events through the duration of the exhibition. Next on tap for the Jackson Street warehouse space is a truly unique program, a screening by the Chicago Short Film Brigade followed by a performance by singer-songwriter and violin virtuoso Andrew Bird. Scheduled for Friday, October 6, the event will be a fundraiser for the Chicago Short Film Brigade. The program is part of a four-city Midwest tour by Bird and the Film Brigade to raise funds for the not-for-profit organization. Started by Bird’s girlfriend Xan Aranda, the Chicago Short Film Brigade was organized to present a variety of short films, from local to international, in open and alternative settings. Avoiding the usual academic and festival screening venues, each with their own particular set of pretensions, the Film Brigade aims “to side-step the usual,” offering film fans and casual observers alike the opportunity to see short films in a casual and fun setting. “I’ve always admired artists who don’t wait for museums or universities to validate their work and bring it to the people however they can,” explained Bird, a member of the Film Brigade board. “It’s refreshing to watch some crazy entertaining short films engaging different parts of your brain, all while enjoying popcorn and good company. You can spend a few comfortable hours out of the house, away from the telly with your fellow citizens.” Aranda will curate the screening, which will feature selections from Russia, Switzerland, Lebanon, and the United States, including films from Chicago and Seattle. Chosen from hundreds
of submitted films, the screening will feature work from directors of all ages, from beginners to experienced filmmakers. In addition to the Dubuque Voices show, the Andrew Bird / Chicago Short Film Brigade tour will visit Cedar Rapids, Minneapolis and Madison. Introducing the Film Brigade to Midwestern audiences, the fundraising tour will pave the way for future screenings on a quarterly basis in Chicago and Dubuque, starting in January 2007. Bird’s performance at theVoices warehouse will mark his first Dubuque show in two years. In the interim, he has been on tour promoting his critically acclaimed 2005 album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs, including notable performances at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and the Montréal Jazz Festival. Additionally, Bird has been recording tracks for his new album, scheduled to be released on the Fat Possum label in the spring. In the meantime, local fans can look forward to the release of Fingerlings 3 in September, which will feature live recordings of favorites and a few songs from the forthcoming album. For those who have not experienced Andrew Bird’s live show, it is truly a remarkable experience. Sampling violin and guitar phrases live and looping them, he creates lush, multilayered soundscapes over which he sings, whistles and plays glockenspiel. The effect is that of a full band or chamber ensemble performed by a soloist. A onetime member of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Bird has evolved through several solo albums, borrowing influences from the entire history of American music as well as classical, Latin, African and other “world music” to arrive at a unique and personal style. After the success of his 2003 album, Weather Systems, he was picked up by Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe record label, which released The Mysterious Production of Eggs. The album has received a groundswell of critical praise, scoring a ranking of number 7 in Paste magazine’s review of 2005 releases. Continued on page 22
The “World Famous”
Lipizzaner Stallions Sept. 24, 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
He Wears Black
A Tribute to Johnny Cash October 6, 2006 @ 8:00 p.m. Ticket Prices (advance): $29.75 & $26.75
WWE PRESENTS: RAW LIVE
October 28, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. Ticket Prices are: $40, $30, & $20 On Sale SATURDAY SEPT. 23 AT 10 A.M.
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