On Saturday there will be a live online performance of SongWriter, the podcast of stories and answer songs. Bestselling author and MacArthur genius Jonathan Lethem will read a selection from his new novel The Arrest, and celebrated songwriter Tift Merritt and host Ben Arthur will perform brand new songs written in response.
In preparation for the show Tift, Jonathan, and Ben got together for a quick conversation about dystopian pastorals and the overlap of literature and music.
The show is free on December 19th at 8pm EDT, streaming on FB live from the pages of Tift and the SongWriter podcast.
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
THE VOICE — "Blind Auditions" Episode 3002 — Pictured: (l-r) Riley Green, Queen Latifah — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO STANDALONE PUBLICATION USE (NO SPECIAL INTEREST OR SINGLE ARTIST PUBLICATION USE; NO BOOK USE)) (L-R) Lainey Wilson and Taylor Swift attend the 56th Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Gala at Music City Center on October 26, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 27: Charles Kelley performs at EXIT/IN on August 27, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) -
Donnie Iris at the Aire Crown Theater in Chicago Illinois, March 20, 1982. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
