Texas songwriter Joshua Ray Walker will return to the UK this July for a run of intimate headline shows, bringing his deeply personal new material across the Atlantic. The dates arrive in support of his forthcoming album ‘Ain’t Dead Yet,' set for release on May 29 via East Dallas Records and Thirty Tigers, and mark a significant moment in Walker’s journey back to the stage following a life-altering few years. Pre-order / pre-save right here.
UK fans will have the chance to experience these songs up close at the following venues:
July 28 – The Lower Third – London, ENG
July 29 – The Deaf Institute – Manchester, ENG
July 30 – The Hug and Pint – Glasgow, SCO
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 1 at 10am BST.
The new album carries extraordinary weight. When Walker first began writing ‘Ain’t Dead Yet' three years ago, he had not yet been diagnosed with cancer—a diagnosis that would later reshape his life entirely. Now, with a clean bill of health, revisiting those songs during and after treatment revealed an eerie sense of foreshadowing. He describes that earlier period as one filled with a persistent sense that something wasn’t right, both physically and mentally, long before he understood why.
That emotional undercurrent runs through the album, which now stands as both a document of that difficult period and a reflection on survival. Tracks like ‘Capital Letters' dig even deeper, paying tribute to two key figures in Walker’s life—his grandfather and mentor Trey Johnson—whose influence continues to guide him. The song speaks to the enduring presence of those we’ve lost, and the quiet ways they remain part of our creative and personal lives.
‘Ain’t Dead Yet' ultimately feels like more than just a record—it’s a time capsule of struggle, resilience and renewal. Having come through the other side, Walker approaches this next chapter with a renewed sense of perspective, shaped by the experience of confronting mortality and emerging with a second chance. That perspective, he suggests, is impossible to replicate without having lived it, and it gives these songs a depth and honesty that is likely to resonate powerfully on stage this summer.
For UK audiences, these shows offer a rare opportunity to witness an artist not just returning, but reintroducing himself—carrying the weight of everything he’s been through, and the gratitude of still being here to tell the story.
