Described on his website as his "new baby bluegrass band," Lloyd Cole and his Small Ensemble bring acoustic instrumentation to Easthampton for a special warm-up show as part of the launch of a new world tour. Though not technically bluegrass performers, Cole and company play without drums or bass and use many of the same instruments as the aforementioned genre. The night also features Matt Cullen (The Sighs, Ware River Club, The Humming Field) on steel string guitar and banjo and Mark Schwaber (Hospital) on nylon and steel string guitar and mandolin. The trio focuses heavily on new songs, not attempting to "reproduce the youthful attitude of [Cole's] older material."

Jan. 21, 8 p.m., $10, The Brass Cat, 65 Cottage St., Easthampton, (413) 527-4085, www.myspace.com/thebrasscat.