Article Contributed by CK Communications Group
Published on 2026-02-26
ineteen different shows of music, spoken word, and comedy are planned for the 7th edition of The Town and The City Festival (TACF), Lowell MA’s beloved multi-day celebration of music and the arts April 30-May 2. The 2026 festival will present more than 50 musical acts, along with comedy and a reading by Chris Wrenn from his book Fenway Punk. Tickets are on sale now at TheTownandtheCityFestival.
The festival opens on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30pm with a kickoff concert and party at Taffeta Music Hall headlined by Boston’s alt-emo band Future Teens, with Lowell based rockers, the high-energy Western Education, and Toluca Lake.
“The Town and The City Festival is one of my favorite ways to showcase everything that makes my hometown of Lowell such a vibrant, creative place,” said Porter. “It’s a festival where music fans can hear incredible local and regional talent alongside some great national acts. The energy of moving from venue to venue—hearing new voices, meeting new people—really reflects the spirit of Lowell and the legacy of Jack Kerouac.”
On Friday, the music gets started at Merrimack Repertory Theatre with John Doe (from the band X) & David Lowery(from Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven) headlining, with singer-songwriter Kris Delmhorst opening the show at 7:15pm. At The Old Court, the show starts at 7:30 with a line-up that includes Marcy the Baptist, Krixus, Ruby Red,Weathermen, and the ethereal art-rock of Tysk, Tysk, Task.
On the bill at Thirsty First (starting at 8pm) are singer-songwriters Josh McElvie and Joshua Theodore, the playful pop sounds of Stay at Home Dads, and UMass Lowell alumni rockers Dead Vapor. Retro-glam band JVK headlines at The Worthen at 8pm, with blues rockers The Darlin, and the psych-rock, funk, and groove band, Your Friends opening.
The music at Tescobar starts at 9pm with acclaimed American Blues trio GA-20 and upstate New York country/folk rockers The Felice Brothers. Showtime is 9:30 at Warp & Weft with Boston Music Award-winning Country Artist of the Year Other Brother Darryl and Boston Music Award-winning Americana artist of the year, The Wolff Sisters. The 9:30pm show at The Lass Stop features Boston-based R&B singer-songwriter Ava Sophia opening for r&b/hip-hop faves The Evolutionists
Saturday, the music kicks-off at 2pm with a free show at Brew’d Awakening featuring Lowell native singer-songwriter Everly Estelle, Haitian-American jazz-influenced Dom the Composer, and the energetic alt-rock band Ron’s Car performing an acoustic set.
At 3pm on the outdoor Bicentennial Stage at Middle Street, another free show, co-presented with the City of Lowell as part of the city’s Bicentennial Celebration is the dynamically fun rock-pop band Copilot and indie-rock faves Vunderbar.
At 3pm at Thirsty First afternoon audiences can hear New England Music Awards Album of the Year winner Jennifer Tefft and the Strange, the melodic band Tell, and a rare reunion of The Deliriants, the Lowell-based power rock band of the ‘90s.
At 7pm, LaLa Books hosts author Chris Wrenn reading from his new book Fenway Punk-How a Boston Indie Label Scored Big on Baseball’s Biggest Rivalry, followed by a performance by folk singer-songwriter Grace Givertz. Comedy at Cobblestones at 8:30pm, hosted by Kristen O’Brien, features headliner Tony V. along with Patty Gould, Jacques Lambert, and James Hamilton.
The line-up at The Worthen opens at 7pm with the Poorhouse Record Allstars, the alt-pop sounds of Charming Arson, a punk-band with grumpy adults Losing Side, and the tasty indie-rock nuggets with bits of soul, surf, pop, and psychedelia – Sinnet.
The show begins at 7pm at Merrimack Repertory Theatre with Australian singer-songwriter Nigel Wearne, Steve Wynn (front man of iconic rock band The Dream Syndicate), and headlined by two of Boston’s most influential and enduring voices-Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses) and Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine, The Lemonheads) debuting their bold new project.
Burp. plays a Beatles tribute set, The Ghouls pay tribute to Black Sabbath, and emo-punk band Mallcops take over Smokehouse Tavern starting at 7:30pm. Indie-rock band Megan From Work headlines the 7:45pm show at The Old Court. Also on that bill will be new Lowell band Make it So, high-energy rockers D-Tension & the Secrets, and the alt-band Makeshift Kings.
Garage-rock band Beagle Dog, emo-indie group Mike’s Carwash and Phantom Ocean, a band with a vibe that blends the blues, pop-punk, & grunge into a winning sound, play a 9pm show at Thirsty First.
At Warp & Weft the music starts at 9:30pm with country-blues singer Cristina Vane and founding member of The Mekons and The Waco Brothers Jon Langford and Friends, bring their alt-country style to Lowell.
Inspired by the adventurous spirit of Lowell native Jack Kerouac, this annual spring celebration pays homage to the iconic Beat Generation writer with an eclectic mix of music, comedy, and literary arts. Praised by audiences for its thoughtfully curated blend of local and national performers, The Town and The City is designed as a venue-hopping festival, allowing attendees to explore multiple shows each night.
The Town and the City Festival is produced by Porter Productions and the Jack Kerouac Foundation with support from the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council, Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, and the Lowell Cultural Council.
The Town and the City Festival will take place Thursday, April 30, Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 at venues across Downtown Lowell. Tickets are on sale at TheTownandtheCityFestival. More information can be found at TheTownandtheCityFestival.
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