The Lowell Summer Music Series has announced that acclaimed singer‑songwriter Josh Ritter will perform on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Boarding House Park. Accompanied by his longtime collaborators, The Royal City Band, Ritter returns to Lowell for an evening of narrative-rich songwriting, soaring melodies, and deeply expressive storytelling under the open sky.
Now in its 35th year, the Lowell Summer Music Series continues its tradition of presenting artists whose work combines exceptional musicianship with lyrical depth. Ritter—named one of Paste magazine’s “100 Greatest Living Songwriters”—embodies this legacy, bringing a blend of poetic insight and heartfelt musicality that resonates across generations.
Raised in Moscow, Idaho by a family of neuroscientists, Ritter’s fascination with narrative folk was sparked by early encounters with Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country.” At Oberlin College, he designed his own major, “American History Through Narrative Folk Music,” reflecting his commitment to song as a storytelling medium.
Over the course of eleven studio albums—including the critically lauded Fever Breaks—Ritter has amassed a devoted following. NPR Music praises him as “a hydrant of ideas” with an “endless capacity for empathy and indignation,” while The New York Times draws parallels between his lyrical ambition and that of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Highlights of the Lowell performance will include fan favorites such as “Kathleen,” a tender ballad noted for its emotional intimacy.
Beyond his musical achievements, Ritter is also an accomplished novelist. His debut, Bright’s Passage, earned Stephen King’s praise as “the work of a gifted novelist” and drew favorable comparisons to Ray Bradbury’s golden‑age prose. His follow‑up novel, The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All, further solidified his reputation as a storyteller capable of crafting vivid worlds both on stage and on the page.
A preview of Ritter’s dynamic stage presence can be seen in his performance of “Getting Ready to Get Down” with The Royal City Band:
Tickets for Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band at the Lowell Summer Music Series are now available at lowellsummermusic.org. This special engagement promises to be a highlight of the 2025 season.
