Peter and Paul (and Peter) to be Heard, Available Shortly

Jan. 23, 2006.   Just as we're still digesting the anthemic "Thin Blue Flame," Josh Ritter and Co. will be releasing another song from the record online (as an mp3 download, keep checking in for when!), as well as coupling it with a special "b-side" from The Animal Years recording sessions.

"Girl in the War" is the song that has been featured in Josh's live performances for some time now, and is arguably the most anticipated song from the new album. Folks, no matter how many times or different versions you've heard of this song, you've never heard it like this, as it has been recorded for The Animal Years: it is a STUNNING, jaw-dropping beauty of production, arrangement, and performance. It opens the new record, and a better opening there could not be.

Along with this song being made available online, it will be coupled on a 7" record release soon with a song recorded during The Animal Years sessions: "Peter Killed the Dragon." Only a few audiences have heard this Dylan-esqe finger-picker (think a more serious "You Don't Make it Easy, Babe"), which is a short, but oh-so-pretty ballad that truly lets characters and themes inhabiting this world inside The Animal Years live on.

Also -- Stay tuned for MUCH more news, including US tour dates, special small performances, and possible tv and radio appearances...!

The Animal Years are Coming - on Shelves and Live on Stages

Jan. 18, 2006.   They're here. Well, the DATES I mean: release dates, concert dates, and even a touring outlook for the Spring and early Summer.

The amazing record "The Animal Years" is scheduled to be released by V2 Records and Independent Records (Ireland) on these dates:

March 3rd:  Ireland   /   March 20th:  UK and Europe
 April 11th: USA and Canada   /   Australia and Japan to follow.

Ireland Shows.  Josh will also be touring Ireland in early March, hitting Galway, Letterkenney, Limerick, Dingle, Dublin, and Cork this time around. There may be a few nice little treats sprinkled in during this time (stay tuned). Check the tour page of joshritter.com for details on these shows here.

Touring Outlook.  Just to give you all an idea of what to expect, Josh will be playing the famous South By Southwest ("SXSW") festival in Austin, TX during the week of March 13 - 19. April and May find Josh and the band playing shows in the USA (midwest and east coast) and Canada; in May and June it'll be the UK and Europe; June is back in the USA (midwest and west coast) and Canada. And this is just to start...!

And excitingly, keep checking back on news that another song from The Animal Years will be released online and available for download before the album's release. You DON'T want to miss this one, folks.

More news coming soon...

Berlin, Germany Next Stop for Josh After London

Jan. 16, 2006.   Several days after the special London show, Josh will make his way over to Berlin, Germany for a solo acoustic show. For those of you nearby, or who have friends there, or who are just keeping score at home, the details are as follows: January 22nd at "Quasimodo" (Kantstr. 12a / 10623 Berlin / ph +49-30-3128086).

Showtime is 10 p.m., and tix are only availabe the night of the show. So spread the word...!

(More news about the album and tour coming shortly. Promise.)

Josh to Play Special Solo London Show - Next Week!

Jan. 10, 2006.   Next week, on January 19th, Josh will perform a special, solo acoustic show at the Boogaloo Club in London.

There aren't many tickets to be had, so be sure to jet over to Ticketweb to get yours!

News about "The Animal Years" and more concert dates are on their way -- so keep checking back...

Another Welcomed "Guest"...Before Animal Years News

Jan. 8, 2006.   Okay, I think we all know that "Royal City" is here...Now I can bring some news and updates. Often. I promise to update things here frequently - whether it's just a random quick thought or big announcements from headquarters about the upcoming album and tours. And there's plenty of that coming!

In the meantime, "The Doubtful Guest" continues to get some recognition they deserve - from us Josh fans. The Doubtful Guest are a few loyal Josh Ritter supporters in the UK, led by frontman Andy Hill. Their song "Moment of the Year" is an awesome song showcasing the band's talents, and they've been so pleased to hear from Josh's fans who have emailed and posted on the message boards that they've released a song EXCLUSIVELY to dougrice.net. It's a world premiere, and it's by popular demand; they'd like us to hear it first. And I'll speak for many of us when I say: we're honored. Because it's a beautiful, beautiful acoustic ballad where Hill's voice and songwriting shine through once again.

Stop over to the updated "Jukebox" page to listen to the song. Thank you, fellow music lovers. And thank you, Doubtful Guest... (Updated Jukebox >)

Welcome to "Royal City" - A New Place for Josh Fansite News and Information

Jan. 1, 2006.   Well (raises a pint), here's to trying to start '06 off on the right foot - a fresh foot, in anticipation of "The Animal Years" and a whole lot more for Josh Ritter this year.

As you can tell, the "News & Notes" page of the Fansite has a whole new look. Hell, it's a whole other website. But I realized that at least this "News" page of my site needed a change; it had to be easier on the eyes to read my ramblings, easier for me to update (I'm hoping to do more of that), and a fresh new look for the new year. The solution I found was a BLOG. I still don't really know what they are exactly, but I think it's working here. But I don't know - you tell me!

So welcome to the Royal City, the new home of Josh Ritter news and announcements from the Fansite. It will function exactly as the old "News and Notes" page, but just with the new look. And new attitude...

Happy Holidays & New Year from the Josh Ritter Fansite

Dec. 20, 2005.   Cheers to the everyone who visit this site and support not just the music of Josh Ritter, but this Fansite as well. Here's hoping for health and happiness this holiday season, and that it carries ya through 2006! You have no idea how excited we all are about the new year and what it will surely bring in Josh Ritter Land.

Some Christmas spirit: we all love traditional holiday songs, and of course we all love rock 'n roll (duh). So to further get you into the spirit of things, I'm offering - for a limited time here - an mp3 of one of Christmas time's all-time greatest carols, as performed by Rock 'N Roll's all time greatest. Turn it up, and get in the mood. Happy Holidays to you all...

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" as performed by Bruce Springsteen

Doug Surrenders to the MySpace Allure

Dec. 5, 2005.   Just a small note about the popular "myspace" website... I, finally, have joined many others in officially "surrendering" and setting up a personal page for myself, but much of it will be part Fansite (with Josh stuff to hear and videos to see). It IS a very resourceful site for discovering other musicians and connecting with other fans.

My page on myspace is here. And remember - Josh also has a page added recently, here. You know, for those of you addicted to that myspace thang, stop over...

New, Exciting Artist in the Fansite "Jukebox"

Nov. 28, 2005.   If you regularly check in on my mp3 "Jukebox" that offers up soundclips and mp3's of other artists I'm excited about, then you know that M. Ward has been in there for a looooong time. We'll, because he's that goooood. But it is time for a change, and I'm thrilled to hopefully introduce my fellow Josh Ritter fans to a very underexposed - and unsigned - band in England.

Check out the Jukebox. You won't regret meeting The Doubtful Guest.

Tons of New Videos, Live Mp3's (a complete show!), Professional Concert Photos, and More...

Nov. 1, 2005.   Well, Josh and the band may be taking a little break from the road, but there is no rest for the Fansite; this may be the largest single update since the Fansite was created.

First, thanks SO much to the Street Team and the rest of the fans here in the States who helped us make Josh's tour with The Frames a huuuuge success, ending with sold-out shows in NYC, Boston, and Chicago. I loved hearing from so many of you who sent comments, pics, and more, and really enjoyed meeting some of you at a couple of th e shows...

And now, the Fansite additions, for easy navigating:

+ New Concert Photo Collections. A page-full from yours truly and another from Boston photographer Mike Ritter, containing awesome pics from Josh's shows in NYC and Boston (respectively). Check 'em out in the Featured Photo Collections section on the photos page here.

+ New Video Clips. I'm psyched to be able to bring a handful of new video clips (12 to be exact) to my fellow die-hard fans. Three of them are great quality vids that come from Josh's old record label Signature Sounds, who donated Josh's performance at their Anniversary show last year. The rest are from fans, who have captured - from their seats - Josh and the band performing at recent shows. See 'em all on the video page.

+ Updated Concert Pics from Fans. Several fans have sent in their photos of Josh and the band performing at concerts from this recent tour with The Frames. See 'em here on the Concert Photos page here.

+ Live MP3's: a complete concert! The "Live Mp3's" page, for the first time, has an entire show available for download. It is the great, year-ending show at The Paradise in Boston last December. Enjoy live Josh here.

And there are several little changes here and there, scattered about. Hope you dig the new stuff...

Fall Tour with The Frames

Sept. 28, 2005.   Tonight, Josh and the band start a 18-show run across the U.S. (along with a couple over the border in Canada) with the amazing Irish rock band The Frames. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to get yours and be there for what is going to be an absolute treat for Josh fans, Frames fans, and anyone who digs artists at the top of their musical game. Dates and info can be found on the joshritter.com Concerts page.

And be sure to spread the word about the shows - whether you're on the Street Team or you do it in your own way! There are downloadable flyers and handbills for each show, available HERE. Thanks!

Song from New Album Available as Mp3 Download!

Sept. 26, 2005.   The new album is here! Well, a large piece of it, anyway. A centerpiece. Of the new songs to be released on the new record ("The Animal Years," coming in Spring 2006) that Josh has played in concert this summer, no song has caused such a stir as "Thin Blue Flame" has. It's a nearly 10 minute long, epic entry into Josh's catalogue - even a departure - and is now available as an mp3 download online! This is not a live bootleg, but an actual cut from the upcoming album.

Click HERE to download the song.

"Thin Blue Flame" will also be available on cd - along with Josh's cover of the Modest Mouse song "Blame it on the Tetons" - at shows and perhaps online. Pick one up at a show...

New Videos, Mp3's, Photos, Reviews and More from Recent Tour!

Aug. 15, 2005.   Whoa, I'm blurry eyed... After a lot of typing and editing and clicking and dragging and more, there's been a bunch of great additions to the Fansite. This is all in preparation of a busy Fall, when Josh and the band embark on some extensive touring. What an exciting time....

+ June Shows Section! It started with the historic "Southpaw" show when Josh plugged in for the first time, and ended at the world's biggest music festival, Bonnaroo. See my reviews, photos (50+), and even mp3's - in "The June 2005 Shows" Section, here.

+ New Videos. Two new videos have been addes: a clip of Josh singing a duet with Kathleen Edwards and a quickie of Josh and band at Oxegen - from the stage! Video page is here.

+ New Concert Photos. Two great fans up in Canada have sent in their photos of Josh and band performing at Hillside Festival in Ontario. Check 'em out here.