Here‘s Andrew Bird performing unplugged – and unstaged – in Paris. It’s part of La Blogotheque‘s Concert a Emporter (aka Take Away Shows) series, which asks musicians to strip their songs down and wander the streets playing them busker style.

Bird’s are some of my favourites videos on there, though I’d recommend that you check out Okkervil River’s Will Sheff being a hippy, Jens Lekman taking advantage of a gymnasium’s echo, Casiotone For the Painfully Alone in a phonebooth, Grizzly Bear in the bath, Sufjan Stevens on a windy rooftop, Dirty Projectors freaking people out, Of Montreal just being themselves, Beirut being very Gallic, Final Fantasy being elven and Herman Dune simply being the best.

Searching the archive soon becomes highly addictive… like YouTube for alternative music fans. And if after that lot you still need more, check out London’s Black Cab Sessions for a distinctly British take on things.

Andrew Bird plays at Academy 3 again on 13 May. Don’t miss him.

Each week we’ll be rounding up the gigs happening in Manchester. Here’s our first set of recommendations:

Humble Soul and Red Deer Club present Icelandic composer/producer Valgeir Sigurðsson at the much under-used Cross Street Chapel on Monday. Support comes from two of Manchester’s best folk acts in Nancy Elizabeth and Danny Saul. More info and tickets. NB: Now cancelled due to the snow!

Wot God Forgot bring Glissando to town (Retro Bar to be exact) on Wednesday… if you like Low, Stars of the Lid, Bat for Lashes etc, then give this Leeds-based band a try. Support from Fonix, A Middle Sex and Charlie’s Hero. More information.

Max Tundra plays a Bring on the Dancing Horses show at the Deaf Institute on Friday. Liverpool’s excellent Wave Machines join May 68 on this lineup. More information.

Finally, Peter Broderick – whose link with Horse Feathers we mentioned yesterday – plays his first headlining show, at Academy 3 on Sunday. Tickets.

Plus here are a couple of newly confirmed shows for later in the year:

Andrew Bird at Academy 3 on Wednesday 13 May

Deerhunter at the Deaf Institute on Tuesday 19 May