As part of Josh Ritter Week, hotpress.com has five exclusive Josh Ritter tracks available for free download. The tracks include 3 previously unreleased live recordings from a recent gig at Whelan's in Dublin and two specially selected tracks from Ritter’s acclaimed new album So Runs The World Away. Fans can log on to www.hotpress.com each weekday during Josh Ritter Week to download these exclusive tracks.

In addition to the exclusive download delights, available here on hotpress.com, in the new Hot Press, Ritter meets Peter Murphy and, in an extraordinary interview, discusses the personal and artistic crisis, that engulfed him at that very point when the increasing success and recognition that greeted him had made him financially secure for the first time.

In a superb and revealing exchange with the Hot Press writer - who himself is the author of the brilliant debut novel John The Revelator - Ritter explains how he regained inspiration from New York garbage trucks at 3am, one restless night! The star, for whom Ireland is like an adopted home, also discusses his new novel and how he deals with praise from seasoned pros, including Bruce Springsteen, Stephen King and Dennis Lehane.

Tracks available to download:

01. Rattling Locks - 4:25 - On hotpress.com: Fri, 23 April

02. Southern Pacifica (live)** - 4:32 - On hotpress.com: Mon, 26 April

03. The Curse (live)** - 5:10 - On hotpress.com: Tues, 27 April

04. Another New World (live)** 6:45 - On hotpress.com: Wed, 28 April

05. Change Of Time* - 4:04 - On hotpress.com: Thurs, 29 April

*From the album So Runs The World Away
**Live from Whelans, October 2009.

The new issue of Hot Press, and these exclusive Josh Ritter Hot Press downloads, coincide with the release of Josh's highly anticipated new album So Runs The World Away on April 23. The album has been almost two years in the making and follows the critically acclaimed The Animal Years and The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter.

Ritter's six-date nationwide tour kicks off in Galway on Saturday April 24. The tour includes a sold out gig in Dublin's new Grand Canal Theatre and an intimate literary discussion of his new novel in Galway's Druid Theatre as part of the Cuirt Festival.