Getting Wristbands for HMV In-Store Show in Dublin

Feb. 27, 2006.   The wristbands (for admission to Josh's HMV in-store performance in Dublin on March 3rd) that were available to fans by emailing me are now ALL GONE. Sorry to those of you who missed this initial handout, and congratulations to about 125 of you who did successfully secure wristbands. They went very quickly!

Please keep in mind that the HMV will be handing out another 125 wristbands on the day of the show, starting at 8:30 a.m. and on a first-come first-served basis. Hope you can make it. It's going to be a fun, fun evening there on Grafton Street...

"Luck of the Irish"? No Kidding...

Feb. 21, 2006.   Exciting news for those of you in Ireland - and even for the rest of us who get to listen in, as if we were there...

- Free Dublin In-Store Show. On March 3rd, Josh and the band will perform at the HMV store in Dublin (on Grafton Street) at 5 p.m. The show is FREE. Space is limited, however. To go, please email me (doug@joshritter.com) and request a wristband for admission. At the time of this post's publishing here on Royal City, there are still many wristbands left. You may request 1 or 2 wristbands (2 is the maximum). Drop me a note!

- Galway Show Added. On March 6th, the day after the Black Box show, Josh and the band will perform a short set at Roisin Dubh. This will be a live radio broadcast on Tom Dunne's "Pet Sounds" show! Tickets are limited, and you need to be signed up on Roisin Dubh's mailing list (quick and easy) to purchase tix. You can do that here.

- Listen Online - Live - to Josh and Band. While Josh and the band perform at Roisin Dubh (above), the rest of us can listen to the show, live. Just tune in over at www.todayfm.com. Enjoy the show!

"Cheers."

New (and Old) Songs to Download

Feb. 21, 2006.   If you've been over to the Fansite recently, you may have realized that there are some new features. Among them is an "Audio" page that offers up the full mp3 downloads that Josh Ritter has made available online from his discography. The two new ones from "The Animal Years" are there, as is 'Kathleen' from "Hello Starling" (with another likely to come), two mp3's from "Golden Age of Radio," and JUST ADDED are two full mp3's from Josh's first album, the self-titled and self-released "Josh Ritter."

These are free downloads that are perfect for new fans to get their feet wet with Josh's music, so be sure to point potential fans here...

"Girl in the War," Opening Track from New Album: Now Available as MP3 Download!

Feb. 10, 2006.   Many fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of Josh's new album, "The Animal Years." While that release is still a handful of weeks away, this should hold many of you over for now...

"Girl in the War," one of Josh's most beloved songs over the past couple years in concert, is also the opening track on "The Animal Years." And it is now available for free mp3 download! Pitchforkmedia.com has the exclusive release of this song, along with a short "track review" from one of their writers. You can read the review and more importantly download the song HERE.

Folks, I personally have heard this song performed in countless ways in concert, during radio broadcasts, solo, with band, faster, slower... This rendition, as captured for "The Animal Years," is a STUNNER. Go grab it, enjoy it, and pass it along!

OTHER NEWS:

- Fansite Look. The Fansite has a slightly new look; it was time for a change and to give it a feel more appropriate for it's origins: directly from the frontlines in pubs, theaters, and even backstage. Hope you dig it (the Fansite is still a very modest little creation by yours truly).

- "Thin Blue Flame" Lyrics. I've seen many transcriptions online of this beautiful, anthemic masterpiece of lyricism. However, I've not yet seen a fully accurate one, and I personally think the meaning of the words should be interpreted - not the words. So I've put up Josh's official, copyrighted lyrics - which are included in the notes on "The Animal Years" cd. See them HERE.

Right on!
Doug

U.S. Tour Dates Announced; Josh Talks to Billboard.com

Feb. 7, 2006.   The dates/venues for Josh's Spring "US Tour I" have been officially announced ("US Tour II" will happen in June and consist of some midwest and west coast dates), through Billboard.com. They feature a couple familiar places, a few new ones, and for people in the New York area: an exciting two-night stand at the awesome Bowery Ballroom...

Spring U.S. "Tour I":
April 20: Detroit (Magic Stick)
April 21: Chicago (Double Door)
April 22: Indianapolis (Birdy's)
April 23: Cincinnati (Southgate House)
April 25: Annapolis, Md. (Ram's Head)
April 26: Washington, D.C. (Birchmere)
April 27: Philadelphia (World Cafe Live)
April 28: Providence, R.I. (Narrows Center)
April 29: Boston (Avalon)
May 2-3: New York (Tirbeca Film Festival)
May 4-5: New York (Bowery Ballroom)
May 6: Shelburn Falls, Mass. (Memorial Hall)

Josh Ritter Street Team: we will be very actively promoting these shows! So keep checking in, and I will surely be in touch...

Billboard.com Article: Along with these dates, Billboard.com has talked to Josh about the new album, and I must say - Josh is very candid about the tone and creative origins of this remarkable record "The Animal Years."

Check it out here: Billboard.com Article

More very exciting news in the days to come!

The Far Reach of Josh Ritter's Music, and its Fan Community

Feb. 6, 2006.   Hi folks, just a real quick post while we await an exciting upcoming week, which will include among other things the US Tour Dates and another mp3 download (the opening track of The Animal Years!)...

This site, "Royal City," is a new venture of the Josh Ritter Fansite; it has taken the place of the standard "News and Notes" page on my site - and already it has proven to be an easier and better way to get news about Josh's music, the fan community, the websites, and more. But what is really amazing about "Royal City" also says a LOT about Josh's music and the growing fan community. Using a basic site-traffic meter, I am able to view the general locations of the visitors here. In the past few weeks, fans of Josh Ritter have checked in from:

USA, UK, Ireland, Canada - of course, but how about: Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic, Egypt, Serbia, and Chile?

Isn't it awesome, how far and wide Josh's music is reaching... I think so.

More news coming this week. And THANK YOU, to those of you visiting here, supporting Josh's music, and spreading the word about it (wherever you are, around the world).