Lowell’s "The Town and The City Festival" Unveils Packed 2026 Schedule

The 7th edition of The Town and The City Festival (TACF) is set to transform Downtown Lowell into a hub of creative energy this spring. Running from Thursday, April 30, through Saturday, May 2, the festival will feature 19 different shows across various venues, offering a curated mix of music, spoken word, and comedy.

Inspired by the legacy of Lowell’s own Jack Kerouac, the event is designed as a venue-hopping experience. Attendees are encouraged to explore the city's vibrant spirit while catching more than 50 musical acts ranging from local talent to established national names.

Festival Highlights: Thursday and Friday

The festivities kick off on Thursday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Taffeta Music Hall. The opening night party features Boston alt-emo favorites Future Teens, joined by Lowell-based rockers Western Education and Toluca Lake.

The schedule ramps up on Friday, May 1, with high-profile performances across several local landmarks:

• Merrimack Repertory Theatre (7:15 p.m.): Headliners John Doe (of X) and David Lowery (of Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven) take the stage, with singer-songwriter Kris Delmhorst opening.
• Tescobar (9:00 p.m.): Blues trio GA-20 and country/folk outfit The Felice Brothers perform.
• Warp & Weft (9:30 p.m.): Award-winning artists Other Brother Darryl and The Wolff Sisters bring a night of country and Americana.

Saturday’s Performances and Special Events

Saturday, May 2, offers a full day of arts, starting with free community shows:

• Brew’d Awakening (2:00 p.m.): A free acoustic set by Lowell native Everly Estelle and alt-rockers Ron’s Car.
• Bicentennial Stage at Middle Street (3:00 p.m.): As part of the City of Lowell’s Bicentennial Celebration, Copilot and Vunderbar will perform a free outdoor show.
• Literary Arts (7:00 p.m.): At LaLa Books, Chris Wrenn will read from his book, Fenway Punk, followed by a performance from Grace Givertz.
• Comedy (8:30 p.m.): Cobblestones will host a night of laughs headlined by Tony V..

One of the weekend's most anticipated musical collaborations occurs Saturday night at the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, where Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses) and Chris Brokaw (Come, The Lemonheads) will debut their new joint project.

Tickets and Information

Produced by Porter Productions and the Jack Kerouac Foundation, the festival is supported by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the Lowell Cultural Council.

Tickets for all individual shows and festival passes are currently on sale. For the complete performance schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.TheTownandtheCityFestival.com.