James McMurtry is described by Rolling Stone as “one of America’s greatest living songwriters.” He is known for his sharp writing and precise sense of storytelling. McMurtry broke through in the late 1980s and early 1990s with albums such as Too Long in the Wasteland and Where’d You Hide the Body. From the outset, his work stood out for its restrained, observant lyrics, offering raw and unembellished portraits of everyday life.

Musically, McMurtry’s distinctly Texan melancholy places him somewhere between Bruce Springsteen, John Prine, and Steve Earle. Artists such as Jason Isbell, Patterson Hood, and Lucinda Williams count themselves among his most notable admirers.

His latest album, Dog and the Wandering Boy, further cements his reputation as a master storyteller. It has become his most successful release to date, reaching number one on the Euro Americana Chart year-end list and ranking highly in year-end lists by Mojo, No Depression, Spin, Pitchfork, and others.

McMurtry was one of the highlights of TakeRoot last year. That success led to a return engagement: during his European tour, he will once again perform in Groningen. It has been several years since his last full European tour, and this time he will be joined by BettySoo as guest musician and support act.