WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

Josh Ritter

  • Listen:
    Josh Ritter On World Cafe Hear the folk-rock singer-songwriter perform songs from his new album, The Beast in Its Tracks, and discuss finding universal themes in autobiographical work.
Josh Ritter Josh Ritter Photo by Laura Wilson
America’s best narrative songwriter has taken a turn toward the personal with songs coming in the aftermath of his divorce.

Known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics, it is no wonder that critics dub Idaho native Josh Ritter as one of the “100 Greatest Living Songwriters.” A natural narrator, Ritter uses his talent for words to tell stories in his music. In the past thirteen years, he has put six studio albums that have wowed listeners with their lyrical prowess. His most recent of the six, So Runs the World Away (2010), entered the Billboard Top 100 almost immediately after its release.

Ritter’s seventh and newest album, The Beast in Its Tracks, a very personal and sometimes raw album comes out today. Inspired by the prolonged struggles of his broken marriage, The Beast in Its Tracks displays an introspective view of Ritter and communicates to his listeners the hardships of his heartbreak.

In this World Cafe Session, you'll hear Josh discuss the tremendous influence the breakup of his marriage had on the writing of his album.

LISTEN AND WATCH LIVE CONCERT BROADCAST. This is a full performance from Josh Ritter, recorded live at Monday night's concert at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City!

Website | Facebook

World Cafe Session Setlist
Hopeful
A Certain Light
Joy To You Baby





Recent Release: The Beast in Its Tracks
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Read Mike V's Review
Label: Pytheas Recordings

Non-COMM Recap: Going introspective with John Murry (photos, audio, setlist)

With just his guitar and his voice, Bay Area by way of Mississippi songwriter John Murry played an emotional, powerful set Wednesday...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside dabble in retro rock (photos, audio, setlist)

Portland retro group Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside showed the Non-COMM crowd its rockability in a feisty set that closed out...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: The late night gets weird with Foxygen (photos, audio, setlist)

Quirky upstate New York four-piece Foxygen got crazy in a late-night Non-COMM set yesterday that blended Doors-esque poppy psychedelia...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Robert Randolph makes steel strings sing and the crowd dance (photos, audio)

Slide guitar wizard and XPN favorite Robert Randolph got the downstairs crowd at World Cafe Live dancing in his Non-COMM set....Read More

Watch Surgeon perform “Greed” at Garage Mahal (playing Johnny Brenda’s on Sunday)

Local thrash / metal band Surgeon has been readying its long-in-the-making new full-length Chemical Reign for the past couple years...Read More