Longtime American songwriting legend Dan Bern and Canadian songstress Orit (pronounced O’reet) Shimoni have been joining forces over the last few years, creating new, gorgeous music by intertwining their voices on old songs and co-writing new ones. Together, they create memorable, dynamic shows that are not to be missed!

They are heading to Europe and the U.K. to share a brand-new, gorgeous EP called Birds.

The two met at a festival in 2019 and were immediately engaged in the kind of conversations about songwriting, art, and the meaning of being alive in this world that made them friends for life. But when they shared a microphone and sang harmonies for the first time, they knew they had to do it again—and again.

Since meeting (and despite the duress and separation of a global pandemic), the pair have written and recorded demos for nearly 100 songs together, have written a play, and have released one album as The Needles Pop Group (on Spanish label Lucinda Records), which they toured briefly in the U.S. in 2023.

They have since joined forces on two U.S. tours and one Canadian tour, and played a few shows in Spain together before the pandemic. Now, they return to the road with a brand-new EP of their latest collaborations.

DAN BERN

Dan Bern has been a captivating live performer, enthralling a loyal and ever-growing fan base in the U.S. and Europe since the mid-’90s. His songs range from deeply moving to wildly imaginative and, at times, downright hilarious—sometimes all within the same song.

He has been favorably compared to the great American masters of songwriting—Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello—and though he clearly draws from this tradition, there is something unique and compelling in Dan’s work that makes you want to know the man behind the songs.

He conjures incredibly specific imagery, like in a painting, and tells stories that unfold like entire movies. While he often turns to cynicism and witty political satire, the real beauty of his work lies in his ability to imagine better worlds, revealing a deep capacity for empathy and optimism.

Dan has released more than thirty albums. He has written songs for several Judd Apatow films (Walk Hard, Get Him to the Greek, This Is Forty, The Bubble), as well as for animated shows and many other films and TV projects. He has opened for The Who, played Carnegie Hall, and performed at scores of festivals across North America and Europe. His work has been featured on numerous podcasts and radio stations worldwide, and he has led songwriting workshops and retreats.

ORIT SHIMONI

Orit Shimoni released her first album in 2004 under the artist name Little Birdie and has been touring internationally and independently, full-time, since 2009, primarily as a solo act. She has released twelve albums to date, all of which have received wide praise and airplay. Her most recent release, Winnipeg, was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the category of Best Solo Artist.

Orit delivers engaging, emotionally riveting concerts, with a timeless, alluring voice and a gift for masterful storytelling.

“A wandering minstrel that shows great insight into the human condition and our collective conundrums.” – Lonesome Highway

“Shimoni approaches the visceral and spiritual appeal of Patti Smith at her most mystical.” – Blabber n’ Smoke