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This is ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew’ and it is out now! My band heard the songs for the first time the night before we recorded them. I wanted them to sound fresh, surprising, and blazing with first-life. To me, that’s how they came out, and for that I have deep gratitude to my amazing and talented friends. Like all of my records, I wrote it with the help of a mysterious, invisible other, that I’ve come to think of as my Muse. But with ‘Honeydew’, however, I wrote and recorded for the first time with the full recognition of this strange partner’s place in my life and creativity; I wrote this album so that my Muse might be able to experience the feeling of having a bonfire with friends under a vast, star-strewn sky, with a warm glow at the center of the circle, and mystery surrounding us like fields and forests. Life is a golden doorway, and we share our passage through it with many, both seen and unseen. I hope that these songs bring you, — and them — joy.

With Love and Thanks,

Josh

Brooklyn, NY

I wrote “I Carried the Flame” for @joancbaezofficial several years ago, but I didn’t have the words quite right and, as you might guess, when Joan Baez asks you for a protest song that she can sing at rallies and marches, standards are high. For whatever reason, it wasn’t the time for the song the way I’d had it.

But Joan wrote me about it again, a couple months back. I was sitting on a bench in a business plaza in Boise, Idaho. She thought the time for “I Carried the Flame” had come around. She wanted a song that she could sing wherever it was most useful. Not a song that educated, not something full of witty clap-backs. No gimmicks; just a song that could be sung by anyone, alone or along, a song with an easy chorus that could be remembered and passed around.

She’s just started singing it, and I wanted to share it with you. She wants me to remind everyone that this clip was the first time she performed it live and she’s still getting the lyrics down. (I told her not to worry because you guys are already very used to that from me.)

Of course, I’m very proud that Joan thinks “I Carried the Flame” is a song worth singing. Mostly, though, — and I’m being honest about this — I hope that this song is useful.

Thank you, Joan, and thank you all.

PS…I’m contributing to the Immigrant Defense Project (@immdefense), and I urge you to do the same.

A huge thanks to @brynnosborn for this incredible souvenir of my show with Sam Kassirer at the Ryman! If it looks fun, that’s because it was!

Portsmouth, New Hampshire! I’ll be playing at Prescott Park Arts Festival on August 3rd. The show is free, but donations are strongly encouraged so that the non-profit can continue to bring out great artists every year. Hope to see you there!

@hawriverballroom tonight!!! I’m so excited! See you soon! Pencil and planner with coffee.

I’ve been very lucky with mentors. Sometimes the mentor knows they are my mentor, sometimes they don’t. I don’t know if John Prine ever knew how much the shows we spent together meant to me, but I’ll be the first one to tell the world. I’ll be performing in tribute to him, alongside many of my peers, this October in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now.

Josh Ritter for Live From Relix

Josh Ritter stopped by Relix earlier this year to perform songs he co-wrote with Bob Weir and reflect on the creative bond they’ve shared over the years.

Here, Josh Ritter reflects on the winding journey of Only a River — a song Bob Weir carried with him for years before eventually bringing it to life in his own way, ultimately finding its place onstage alongside Bob Dylan. Watch the full session and interview now on the Relix YouTube channel.

Featuring @joshritter
Video @aricummings @chrisbavaro @katherineoconor
Audio @camshanken

Saxapahaw and Asheville! Can’t wait to be back in North Carolina next week for a few solo shows. Asheville Night One is SOLD OUT, but there are still some tickets for Night Two!

May 19 - Saxapahaw, NC - Haw River Ballroom
May 20 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel [SOLD OUT]
May 21 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel

📸 @brynnosborn

“Birds of the Meadow” from backstage in Basalt, CO.

🎥 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

I’m back home in Brooklyn, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee and thinking back on this incredible tour. It was truly magical being in rooms with so many kind people. I’m well aware that my dream has come true, many times over. Thank you to Travis Hendricks, Brynn Osborn and the mighty Sam Kassirer for an incredible run of shows. Thanks especially to all who came and took part. I love you guys. 

📸 @brynnosborn

Hell yeah! The Ryman tomorrow!

Hell yeah! The Ryman tomorrow!

Hell yeah! The Ryman tomorrow!