Get to Know Josh Ritter: Master Storyteller, Backed by The Royal City Band
We’re thrilled to welcome Josh Ritter to the Lowell Summer Music Series on Sunday August 24, where he’ll be reuniting with his longtime collaborators, The Royal City Band, for a night of soaring melodies, poetic lyrics, and unforgettable storytelling.
This show will mark Josh’s return to Lowell Summer Music, and we couldn’t be more excited to have an artist who represents the Boston, Massachusetts, and New England music world with such depth, artistry, and pride. His voice and vision feel right at home on our stage, and we’re honored to finally welcome him to Boarding House Park.
Josh Ritter created his own major at Oberlin College: “American History Through Narrative Folk Music.” Raised in Moscow, Idaho by two neuroscientist parents, he bought his first guitar at a local K-Mart after hearing Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country.”
Praised for his vivid storytelling, Josh has drawn comparisons to literary greats and was named one of the “100 Greatest Living Songwriters” by Paste magazine. He’s also a published novelist. “Kathleen,” featured in this performance, highlights his lyrical warmth and the intimacy he brings to every show—no matter the venue.
Check out his performance of "Getting Ready to Get Down" with the Royal City Band
Hailed as one of today’s most thoughtful and prolific voices, Josh Ritter has built a career on crafting songs that are rich in imagery, emotion, and depth. Over the course of eleven studio albums—including the critically acclaimed Fever Breaks—he’s developed a devoted following that spans generations. NPR Music calls him “a hydrant of ideas” with an “endless capacity for empathy and indignation,” while The New York Times likens him to masters like Dylan and Springsteen, praising his lyrical ambition and timeless sound.
Beyond music, Ritter is also an accomplished novelist. His books Bright’s Passage and The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All were both met with critical acclaim, with Stephen King himself calling Bright’s Passage “the work of a gifted novelist” and comparing Ritter’s lyricism to Ray Bradbury in his prime. Whether on the page or on stage, Josh Ritter’s ability to weave narrative and emotion is second to none.
Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band perform their song "Kathleen" - taken from the new DVD/Double CD, "Live at The Iveagh Gardens". Filmed in Dublin in July 2010.
His return to the Boarding House Park stage with The Royal City Band is sure to be a standout moment in our 35th anniversary season. Don’t miss this special night under the stars with one of the most admired and enduring songwriters of his generation.
