An Evening with Josh Ritter: A Book of Gold Thrown Open

Josh Ritter is a renowned singer, songwriter, musician, artist and best-selling author. One of today’s most thoughtful and prolific voices, he has released eleven studio albums including 2019’s widely acclaimed ‘Fever Breaks’ of which NPR Music praised, “He remains a hydrant of ideas while embodying an endless capacity for empathy and indignation, often within a single song.”

His twelfth studio album ‘I Believe in You, My Honeydew’ is out now. Two-plus decades into his celebrated career, Ritter has written music that has transcended generations including luminaries such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Bob Weir covering his songs. 

The Book of Gold Thrown Open tour is meant to encompass the whole of Ritter’s career, versus focusing on any one studio album.

In addition to his work as a musician, Ritter is also a national best-selling author, having released two novels to date: 2021’s The Great Glorious Goddamn of It All and 2011’s Bright’s Passage. Released to critical attention, Stephen King wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Bright’s Passage “shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime…This is the work of a gifted novelist.”

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 60 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.

An Evening With Josh Joplin and Jeffrey Gaines

Josh Joplin

Josh Joplin isn’t one to dwell on past glories, but there was a time when he was chasing songs worldwide. In 2001, his breakout single “Camera One” became the first independently released song to hit #1 at Triple A Top 40, landing Josh Joplin Group on Artemis Records—a label that boasted acts as varied as J. Mascis, Warren Zevon, The Pretenders, and, yes, the “Who Let the Dogs Out” hitmakers, The Baha Men. (“Camera One” may not have unleashed any canines, but it did land a spot on the cult classic tv show Scrubs.)

Joplin followed with The Future That Was (2002), produced by Rob Gal (Magnapop, Rock-a-Teens), and later earned critical praise for Jaywalker, Among the Oak & Ash, and Devil Ship. Now, after years of collaborating with friends and fellow musicians, he returns with his latest album, GpYr (“gap year”). Spin Magazine says GpYr is “a collection of pop-infused gems that, with help of producer Lorenzo Wolff (Taylor Swift’s Midnights and Folklore), captures the raw energy of Joplin’s earlier works…but with the musical and lyrical layers of the older, wiser musician Joplin has become.” More than just a record, GpYr is a sonic scrapbook—a story of four friends who, over one unforgettable summer and autumn, came together for a mission: to rescue Seely from a therapeutic boarding facility in remote New England. In saving her, they saved each other.While the Josh Joplin Group will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Useful Music—the album some say started it all–it’s Joplin’s “new album that reminds us all of how far we’ve come.” (Spin Magazine)

Jeffrey Gaines

Jeffrey Gaines has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining his audiences worldwide.

Throughout his three-decade recording career, Gaines has maintained an impressive standard for soul-searching, introspective lyrics and catchy, uplifting melodies. Since bursting on the scene with his self-titled 1992 debut album, the charismatic singer-songwriter-guitarist has built a beloved body of recordings that’s won him a large and deeply devoted international fan base. He has sold out theaters and clubs throughout North America and Europe. With his compelling live performances gaining high respect, Gaines was asked to join tours as support act for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers in Europe, Tracy Chapman, and Stevie Nicks with Sheryl Crow, among others.

Gaines landed his first record deal shortly after graduating from high school, and in 1992 released his widely acclaimed debut album Jeffrey Gaines. The eponymous disc won massive amounts of critical and audience acclaim, spawning the hit “Hero in Me.” Somewhat Slightly Dazed (1994) and Galore (1998) further expanded his audience. Interview magazine described Gaines’ work as “soul-searching” and “refreshingly free of jargon, sentiment or cliché.”  

In 2001, Gaines’ release Always Be yielded a surprise hit in his deeply felt interpretation of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”; 2003’s Toward the Sun attracted even more critical accolades, with Mojo praising the “soul-folkie’s sexy growl” and The Boston Globe declaring that “Gaines’ soulful, wounded vocals make a case for his being one of pop’s finest singers.” Toward the Sun was followed by a pair of live albums, the 2004 CD/DVD Jeffrey Gaines Live and 2012’s Live in Europe, which reflected the deep and abiding rapport that Gaines has with his fans. In 2018, Gaines released his eighth studio album, Alright. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with Chris Price, Val McCallum and Elvis Costello’s Imposters, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher. 

“The biggest pleasure I derive from this is playing live,” Gaines notes. “There’s nothing more satisfying for me than a good live gig. I’m in control, but the audience can take it to a place that’s higher than I can imagine. When I show up for a live gig, I don’t need much, there’s no rider. It’s just, turn it on, let the audience in, and we’ll do the rest. It’s the best job anyone could ever have.”

With more than a quarter-century of recording and performing under his belt, Jeffrey Gaines is enjoying life and music more than ever. “Nowadays, I know what the job is about so there’s nothing to stress about,” he says. “I know that there’s people out there who want it, so I have the opportunity to extend their experience. I guess I could lay my albums all out and see that they tell a story, but personally I prefer to keep looking forward.”

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.

Vienna Teng

Songwriter Vienna Teng re-emerges this fall with her mashup song pair We’ve Got You – her first new music in over a decade – but her fans have been here the whole time. They’ve packed concert venues even in years between releases, crowdfunded an ambitious music video in hours, and joined by the hundreds when she launched her “music x climate action” Patreon in 2022.

That kind of devotion has poured forth since 2002’s Waking Hour, which landed her on NPR’s Weekend Edition, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the top of Amazon’s music charts. Across four more studio albums that followed – the chamber folk of Warm Strangers, the jazz-inflected Dreaming Through the Noise, the indie epic Inland Territory, the bright electro-pop in Aims – Vienna has paid homage to her genre-bending heroes like Paul Simon and Tori Amos, while carving a path all her own. Together with her captivating live performances and thoughtful online presence, her work has built a loyal following across generations and continents.

Vienna’s new mini-EP We’ve Got You reflects the complexity of her life over the past decade: climate change work, community building, parenthood. Two songs, each titled “We’ve Got You,” act like fraternal twins: one an indie-pop tribute to inspiring leaders, the other a chamber-folk paean to unsung caregivers. Played simultaneously, they reveal a new intricate whole: a mashup by design, and a love letter to social movements.

Appropriately, Vienna now also hosts climate action workshops on tour and online, which participants have described as “rocket fuel” and “the perfect antidote to despair.” It’s an exciting new chapter in the ever-evolving love story between an artist and her audience.

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.

RHETT MILLER OF OLD 97’S

The tenth solo album from Rhett Miller, A lifetime of riding by night is a study in surrender. Days before

undergoing potentially damaging surgery on his vocal cords, the Texas-born singer/songwriter headed into

the studio with his Old 97’s bandmate Murry Hammond and recorded a batch of songs, then handed them

off for Hammond to complete as he recovered. Threaded with his lived-in reflection on mortality and love

in all forms, the album contains some of Miller’s most unguarded material yet—an achievement he

attributes to revelations gleaned through his recent work in teaching songwriting at The New School in

Manhattan, as well as the open-hearted nature of his collaborations with an eclectic lineup of co-writers

(e.g., Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker, singer/songwriters Caitlin Rose and Nicole Atkins,

former New Yorker editor Ben Greenman). Rooted in Miller’s soul-baring vocal work, A lifetime of riding

by night ultimately proves the immense power in releasing all attempts to control the creative impulse.

While Miller has long embraced a certain candor in his songwriting, A lifetime of riding by night reaches

an entirely new level of emotional truth thanks to a deliberate shedding of self-consciousness. “Through

my experience in teaching, I’ve watched all these young songwriters feel scared to death about bringing

their songs in and sharing them with the class,” says Miller, who also leads songwriting retreats in upstate

New York. “It’s reminded me to forgive myself for my own anxieties about the vulnerability that’s required

for songwriting, and over time that’s made me less fearful.”

After recovering from surgery, Miller headed out on tour with Old 97’s and finally experienced his first

listen of A lifetime of riding by night in its completed form. “We were on the West Coast and I sat on a

bench looking out onto the ocean, put my headphones on and played the album from start to finish,” he

remembers. “It was very moving, partly because I could really feel that the songs were emotional in a way

that I might not usually have the bravery to go through with.” For Miller, that moment also brought a

heightened awareness of the rarity and magic of lasting creative connection. “It’s very much a love

relationship when people work together the way that Murry and I have since I was a teenager recording my

first demos,” he says. “So many people who were once our contemporaries are gone now or haven’t

survived this business, but we’re somehow still here and able to create something that feels new and vital

and unexpected. I think that’s an incredibly beautiful and special thing.”

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.

Willie Nile

The New York Times called Buffalo, NY born Willie Nile “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge from the New York scene in years.” Uncut Magazine called him “A one-man Clash” and “the unofficial poet laureate of New York City”. His album Streets Of New York was hailed as “a platter for the ages” by Uncut. Rolling Stone listed The Innocent Ones as one of the “Top Ten Best Under-The-Radar Albums of 2011” and BBC Radio called it “THE rock ‘n’ roll album of the year.” His single from that album, “One Guitar,” was the “Top Pick of the Week” in USA Today.

Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, Lou Reed, Lucinda Williams, Jim Jarmusch, and Little Steven are among those who have sung his praises. 

His album, American Ride, won “Best Rock Album of the Year” at the Independent Music Awards. It appeared on dozens of year-end Top Ten lists for 2013 and was voted “Album Of The Year” by Twangville Magazine. Bono called it, “One of the great guides to unraveling the mystery that is the troubled beauty of America.”  In November 2014 he released an album of piano-based songs, If I Was A River, to great critical acclaim. 

MOJO wrote about his 2016 album World War Willie, “Four Stars! The real thing…stomp-‘til-ready rock’n’roll…timeless fare.” It won Album of the Year Reader’s Poll from Twangville Magazine and made numerous top ten lists for Album of the Year. 

His album Positively Bob: Willie Nile Sings Bob Dylan from 2017 was hailed as “one of the best Dylan tribute albums ever made.” Powerpop Magazine wrote: “Astoundingly great…must be heard to be believed. If this doesn’t get your blood flowing, seek medical help.” And the Associated Press said his 2018 album Children Of Paradis, which also won Twangville’s Album of the Year Reader’s Poll, “Might be the best album of his career!” 

Willie has toured across the U.S. with The Who and has sung with Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr. As the induction program from the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame says: “His live performances are legendary.” His 2020 album New York At Night got rave reviews, with The Associated Press calling it: “As sharp and guitar-driven as ever…the fire within Nile, once a peer of The Replacements and The Clash, continues to light a similar torch…anthemic…custom made for these times.” Downbeat Magazine calling it a “sonic love letter to Gotham.” 

His recent studio album The Day The Earth Stood Still features a duet with Steve Earle on the song “Blood On Your Hands.” The London Times called him “A man who embodies the true spirit of rock n’ roll.” The New Yorker wrote that Willie Nile is “One of the most brilliant singer-songwriters of the past 30 years.”

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.

Livingston Taylor

Livingston Taylor’s career as a professional musician has spanned over 50 years, encompassing performance, songwriting, and teaching. Described as “equal parts Mark Twain, college professor, and musical icon, Livingston maintains a performance schedule of more than a hundred shows a year, delighting audiences with his charm and vast repertoire of his 22 albums and popular classics. Livingston has written top-40 hits recorded by his brother James Taylor and has appeared with Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffet. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres – folk, pop, gospel, jazz – and from upbeat storytelling and touching ballads to full orchestra performances. In addition to his performance schedule, Livingston has been a full professor at Berklee College of Music for 30 years, passing on the extensive knowledge gained from his long career on the road to the next generation of musicians. Liv is an airplane-flying, motorcycle-riding, singing storyteller, delighting audiences with his charm for over 50 years.

Pete Muller

“Sometimes less is more,” Pete Muller muses on his riveting new album, One Last Dance. It’s an idea Muller’s been thinking about a lot lately, a mantra that’s not only helped him find meaning and contentment, but also led to some of his most compelling work to date. “I’ve led a curiosity-driven life,” says Muller, a numbers whiz who helped transform Wall Street as we know it while simultaneously building a career as a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter. “I feel grateful to have had adventures that few get to experience.But recently, I’ve been finding more joy in the little things, in the small moments of beauty and wonder that only show themselves when you slow down and pay attention.” One Last Dance is full of just such moments. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath, England, and featuring guest appearances from Grammy-winner Allison Russell and genre-bending duo SistaStrings, the collection finds Muller producing himself and his band, The Kindred Souls, for the first time. The songs are rich and character-driven, full of subtle observations that manage to reveal fundamental truths about the human condition, and the performances are raw and powerful, fueled by the deep bonds between Muller and his bandmates, who captured the core of the album in just one week. The result is a lush, cinematic blend of roots, rock, pop, and soul, a poignant, deeply vulnerable exploration of what it takes to be present and love with your whole heart.

Policy For All Shows:

All sales are final—there are no refunds. Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which begins promptly at 8:00pm.

By visiting Outpost In The Burbs patrons voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to any infectious disease, including but not limited to COVID-19. Masks are not required, but always encouraged. The Outpost reserves the right to change policies at any time. Please refer to this show-specific event page or Outpostintheburbs.org for any changes.