Historic Downtown Lowell. Photo courtesy of The City of Lowell
The latest edition of Lowell’s The Town and The City Festival lands this weekend, April 8 and 9th. Named after the acclaimed first novel by the city’s native son Jack Kerouac, the year’s fest packs big headliners like Tanya Donnelly, Adam Ezra Group, Robyn Hitchcock, and Screaming Females alongside a slew of Pudding-approved local acts and spoken word artists, jazz improvisers and storytellers alike. Show-goers are also encouraged to check out Lowell’s robust art scene, one built on history (like the Kerouac exhibit at the Boott Cotton Mills Gallery) and contemporary expression (like Gallery Z downtown).
Flyer courtesy of The Town and The City Festival
The Town and The City’s main mission is to shine a light on the city of Lowell itself and its burgeoning arts and music scene, which is something that’s been on the mind of festival founder Chris Porter long before he first approached city officials in 2015. “I’ve been programming and working on festivals for over 20 years. It feels very special to me to take what I’ve learned at festivals in other cities and apply it to an event in the city I grew up in – a city that has become a more music and arts friendly city and a particularly culturally interesting one in recent years,” said Porter.
The Town and The City’s format runs something like SXSW (or for the New England heads, Waking Windows) in miniature, with a series of venues all littered through Lowell’s buzzing downtown hosting bills curated by local music publications and sponsors during each of its two nights. From bakeries and cafes to rock clubs and mill houses, these spaces will form a little constellation of sorts, and with just a short walk between them (for the most part) fans are encouraged to grab an inclusive festival pass to catch as much music as possible. Focusing especially on promoting local talent from Boston and Central Mass, The Town and The City boasts an eclectic lineup that has little bit for everyone.
We’ll be on site for the Saturday slate of shows, so keep your eyes peeled for our coverage some time next week. For those unfamiliar with the lineup or just looking to make the best of your time in Mill City, here’s a few of our can’t miss sets for both days:
FRIDAY Naomi Westwater at Smokehouse Tavern (8:15pm)
Singer-songwriter Naomi Westwater put out one of our favorite local releases last year, and her shows offer a cathartic release for those strained by the burdens of climate change, racial injustice and the general myopia of the world. Also, she was on the first season of the Puddcast!
FRIDAY Tanya Donnelly and The Parkington Sisters at 5th Floor at Mill No. 5 (8:30pm)
If you’re reading this publication we probably shouldn’t have to tell you to go see Tanya Donnelly. Her recent covers album in collaboration with Cape Cod’s The Parkington Sisters adds an Americana flare to hits from Echo and The Bunnymen and The Go Go’s among others.
FRIDAY Oldsoul at The Old Court (9:30pm)
This long-running (at least for a Massachusetts Emo band) trio is a fixture at O’Brien’s, go see them a little closer to home.
SATURDAY Colleen Green at The Worthen Cafe (7:30pm)
Colleen Green moved back to Lowell during the pandemic after a long stint in Los Angeles, making this something of a homecoming. Her latest record Cool is another winner in a strong run of acerbic indie rock.
SATURDAY Divine Sweater at The Purple Carrot Bread Co. (9:30pm)
Divine Sweater has made the digital pages of Allston Pudding frequently in the past year and for good reason, their tuneful indie pop blend is hard to deny.
SATURDAY Screaming Females at Taffeta at Western Ave Studios (10:30pm)
If you’re reading this publication we definitely shouldn’t have to tell you to go see Screaming Females. The New Jersey indie rock troupe has been banging out their brand of distortion-blasted punk-blues for well over a decade, and their notoriously chaotic live show is not to be missed.
SATURDAY layzi at The Old Court (11:15pm)
If your ears aren’t entirely blown out by Screaming Females riffs, this hazy psych-pop project should provide a nice come down to the weekend.
Lowell’s just a 45 minute drive (or commuter rail ride) away from Boston, and it’s quickly becoming an extremely welcoming place for artists, creators, and fans alike, so come on down.
“I hope that The Town and The City Festival can be one of a number of entities, events, and venues that help foster that growth even further and help make Lowell more of a destination for people outside the city,” said Porter. “I also hope that it enriches the lives of the people who already live in the area.”
More information about The Town and The City’s venues, set times, and the artists can be found here, while festival passes and/or individual show tickets can be found here.