‘Father John’ performs at Bluebird tonight

He performed on “Conan” in November 2012. He carries a mystical moniker.
His name is “Father John Misty,” and he’s playing at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bluebird Nightclub.

The Bluebird has been known for its long-time dedication to live music, booking local acts such as Dot Dot Dot and The Main Squeeze. However, it was the venue’s partnership with Spirit of ’68 promotions, the brainchild-booking agency of IU graduate Dan Coleman, that brought Father John Misty to town.

Coleman started booking shows seven years ago and said the number of acts wanting to book shows with him has risen steadily during the past few years.

“(Father John Misty) came to me a couple months back about the show in the fall, and it actually happened now in the spring,” Coleman said. “I haven’t had to ask for a show in four years. The shows just come in waves.”

Dave Kubiak, owner and talent buyer of the Bluebird, said the partnership between the local venue and Spirit of ’68 goes back years before Coleman founded the company in 2006.

The two will bring a variety of acts — in addition to Father John Misty — to the venue’s stage this semester, including Future Rock on Jan. 17 and Lucero on Jan. 20. Misty released his newest album “Fear Fun” on May 1, 2012.

Coleman, owner of Spirit of ’68 Promotions, said he is happy to have Misty come to Bloomington because of the musician’s mix of national recognition and local
appeal.

“People are stoked,” Coleman said. “Now that people are back in town, and it’s the first real show of the semester, there’s been a lot of buzz.”

Tickets for the show are provided through the Spirit of ’68 Promotions’ Student Discount Program, which was started last semester as an effort to provide affordable concert prices to IU students.

Kubiak said the response has been enormous for Misty, although he cannot reveal the exact number of tickets sold.

“We are expecting a big crowd on Thursday,” Kubiak said. “Any time you get an artist like Father John Misty to come to ‘the Bird’ or Bloomington, it’s great for the music scene, great for the community, and people like shows like that. There’s always great interest in live music.”

Coleman said Misty’s visit will further establish Bloomington as the hub for great music in the Midwest.

“Bloomington has established a base where we’re a great place between Chicago and Nashville,” he said. “It’s like a really great gas stop between Chicago and the rest of the world.”

Guest artist Magic Trick will play before Misty. Tickets are available at the Bluebird Box Office online through Ticketmaster or directly from Spirit of ’68 Promotions at spiritof68promotions.com.