Jesse Welles brings his traveling troubadour act to Lewis Ginter this summer

Jesse Welles doesn’t really do polish. He’s the kind of artist who can sell out a club one night and go viral the next day strumming alone somewhere in the Arkansas wilderness, his phone propped against a rock. Both versions hit just as hard.

Now Richmond gets its turn. Broadberry Entertainment Group and Bowery Presents announced today that Welles will play the Groovin’ in the Garden concert series at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden on July 29. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the show kicks off at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 27, at 10 a.m. through hive.co/l/jessewelles7-29.

Welles has built a following the old-fashioned way, writing songs that cut straight to the bone about a country that can’t quite get out of its own way. He tackles inequality, injustice, and the everyday absurdity of American life with a directness that’s earned him tens of millions of streams and attention from Rolling Stone, the New York Times, and beyond. His 2025 album Middle is the full-length version of everything that made people pay attention in the first place. “Breathe to write, write to breathe,” Welles has said. “Humans are meant to create, so I’m gonna create music and keep releasing it constantly.”

The July 29 show adds to an already strong Groovin’ in the Garden season at the Cochrane Rose Garden. St. Paul and The Broken Bones (April 21), Everclear (June 17), Straight No Chaser (July 9), and a co-headlining evening with Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr. (July 14) are all on the books, with more dates still to come.

A few things to know before you go: food and drink will be available on-site, but you can’t bring your own. Blankets, tents, and canopies aren’t allowed. Bags need to be clear and no larger than 16″ x 16″ x 8″. The show happens rain or shine with no refunds, so plan accordingly. Organizers are also encouraging carpooling and rideshare.

For full ticket pricing and concert details, visit thebroadberry.com/botanicalgarden.