Earlier this week we brought you the news that Josh Ritter was stepping away from the typewriter to return to the musical day job, releasing a new album The Beast In Its Tracks on March 1.

Given the Idaho artists' affinity for, and massive popularity in, Ireland, accompanying tour dates here were inevitable.

This morning we can reveal the first details of those planned summer shows. Just confirmed are two gigs in July.

First up, he plays in Limerick's Big Top on Thursday July 18. Tickets are priced at €30 and available through [link]www.dolans.ie[/link].

Then he heads north to Dongeal for a performance in An Grianan, Letterkenny, on Sunday July 21. Tickets for that date are priced at €35 and available from [link]www.angrianan.com[/link]

Josh Ritter - The Beast In Its Tracks Album Teaser from Josh Ritter on Vimeo.