FF XIV Bard ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6xpzPZRwdY

Thancred is indeed a Bard. Although he may not have shown his instrument of choice, he may just sing, like you could in XI, before you purchase a musical device. Also, he uses throwing daggers as a means of auto-attack or long ranged attack perhaps when he is not using TP weaponskills from his instrument of choice.

Other from Thancred, their are perhaps 3-4 other NPC Bards shown in the game through either cutscenes or approachable in cities or hamlets.

1) The little Lalafell Bard in Owl's Nest, Coerthas (hamlet)
2) In the Marauder's Guild in Limsa their is a female Elezeen Bard using a harp
3) A Mammot uses one briefly in the opening Ul'Dah cutscene during the parade
4) Corguevais, the Thaumaturge featured throughout the 3 starting quests in Ul'Dah, uses a horn to summon Coblyns to attack and also used it to control the Goobuue in the parade

Bards were also listed in the hacked file description for future classes leaked months back around release. With auto attack coming, giving them daggers or some meaningful way of auto-attack combined with sonnets and tunes to cast with TP buildup or magic would make sense to me with the new battle system layout.

Archer seems to be getting something for auto attack as well, which does not include using arrows or the bow it seems. So maybe they'll get treated a similar way?