Lowell’s The Town and The City Festival is Massachusetts’ ultimate music festival. I said so last year. I made a whole case for it being our best fest. You can go back and read my very-smart, very-heartfelt column, or you can just make a playlist of new songs from the acts playing the 2026 edition — April 30 – May 2 at venues around the city.
Or, even better, you can take this shortcut and check out this finely curated list of recent releases from the top artists taking the stages this week.
“Where Am I (To Call My Home),” Wolff Sisters
The Wolff Sisters are our great Americana band. What kind of Americana? Well, “Where Am I” sounds like a train trip through Appalachian roots music, Southern rock, Nashville outlaw county, and Laurel Canyon folk. Take the trip with the band May 1 at Warp & Weft.
“Peaceful Alibi,” Other Brother Darryl
Make it a trip there and back with Other Brother Darryl also on the May 1 Warp & Weft bill. Like the Wolff Sisters, this other great Americana act travels through half a dozen rootsy influences. And yet, this new single is so far from “Where Am I.” It’s more dreamy, hazy, and a touch sadder. All in all, this is an excellent one-two shot.
“Laurel,” The Far Out
We want the funk! Give up the funk! And while you’re giving out genres, we want the soul and the pop. The Far Out obliges our request on the bright, fun anthem “Laurel.” There will be a whole lot of rhythm going round when this North Shore band plays May 2 at the Old Court.
“Fake Punks,” D-Tension & the Secrets
When a band kicked D-Tension off a Lowell bill he’d set up because he wasn’t punk enough, he wrote this wonderfully cutting, wonderfully punk rock anthem asking who the true and fake punks are. D-Tension, basically the musically don of the city, came up as an ace hip hop producer but thrives in any style. See him in his element, which is any sonic element, May 2 at the Old Court.
The Ghouls do Black Sabbath
Put some Black Sabbath on the playlist. Put some Ghouls on the playlist. Imagine how Lowell’s most fun, most ferocious rock ‘n’ roll rapscallions will do Sabbath during their tribute set May 2 at the Smokehouse Tavern. May I be so bold as to suggest the Van-Halen-gone-hardcore “Hellbound” from the Ghouls and Sabbath’s “Children of the Grave” to get you in the mood.
“Fenway Punk – How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Biggest Rivalry,” Chris Wrenn
A book on a playlist? Sure, The Town and The City fest has music, comedy, author readings and more — let’s not forget the event is named after a Jack Kerouac novel. Stop by LaLa Books on May 2 to hear Wrenn read from his new book about how he funded his Boston punk label by selling “Yankees Suck” merchandise.
For tickets and details, visit thetownandthecityfestival.com
