Singer/songwriter Andrew Bird [ tickets ] will support his forthcoming new album, "Noble Beast," with a headlining tour over the first two weeks of 2009.

The Chicago-based performer kicks off the outing Jan. 28 in New York City. Swedish singer Emil Svanangen, who performs and records under the name Loney Dear, will offer opening support throughout the 17-city trek, except for the NYC stop, where the opening act will be multi-instrumentalist Martin Dosh, who is also a member of Bird's backing band. Details for the tour are included below.

Bird previewed material from his "Noble Beast" while on tour this summer. The set, slated for a late January release date, will be Bird's fifth solo effort.

"It was recorded completely differently than I usually record," Bird said earlier this year during an interview with New York radio station WNEW. "There is a lot more finger style, acoustic guitar, delicate textures, more like [Bird's 2003 release] 'Weather Systems.' I recorded it all with two acoustic guitars and vocals, and tried to make it better from there. It's something very, very simple."

The opening track from the new album, "Oh No," is streaming at Bird's website.

"Noble Beast" follows last year's "Armchair Apocrypha," which debuted at No. 76 on The Billboard 200 album chart after selling more than 11,000 copies during its first week, according to Bird's publicist.

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