26 Typical set list “Moondance” – Van Morrison “Hard to Love” – Lee Brice mashup with “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty “I Don’t Care” – Ed Sheeran “Rhiannon” – Fleetwood Mac “Slow Burn” – Kacey Musgraves “Dancing in the Dark” – Bruce Springsteen “Delicate” – Taylor Swift “Faithfully” – Journey “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett mashup with “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by John Mayer “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
Maddi Ryan. Courtesy photo.
all kinds of genres … anything from Lee Brice country to Taylor Swift and Usher. Stuff that you wouldn’t expect to hear out of a solo guitarist. What did you do during quarantine? For the first couple weeks I just enjoyed not playing gigs all the time and kind of decompressed — I actually really liked that for a while. I started messing around with GarageBand, recording my original stuff, working on a range of different things trying to stay creative. I did a couple of online shows, which was really weird, because I’ve played at places where there are no people in the crowd, but this time there were definitely no people … but I got some good feedback on it. It was fun to try new stuff. That went on until the gigs came back. When did you start playing out again? End of May, at Backyard Brewery in Manchester.
Upcoming appearances Aug. 7 – Cactus Jack’s, Manchester Aug. 8 – Backyard Brewery, Manchester Aug. 11 – Murphy’s Taproom, Bedford Aug. 14 – WHYM Brewery, Hampton off chance that it’s raining, some places Aug. 15 – Cactus Jack’s, Manchester are still doing inside seating if people are Aug. 16 – KC’s Rib Shack, Manchester comfortable with that. Aug. 17 – Homestead, Merrimack Aug. 18 – Fratello’s, Nashua What are some of your favorite Aug. 20 – Firefly, Manchester venues? I love Backyard Brewery and little Maddi Ryan places like Firefly in Manchester. Maddi Ryan of Methuen, Mass., who Fratello’s in Nashua — the city has done has been performing since she was 16, a really good job opening up the Main just finished her senior year of college at Street area to have outdoor seating. Boston University and moved back to her You’re like hybrid busking out there. I’m home town. on the street corner playing to patrons of a restaurant and to anyone who’s walking What should people know about your down the streets. That’s a new experience music? for me. I always want to be genuine and honest with listeners and I want to do What’s the rest of your summer look something people resonate with, like, like? yeah, I’ve gone through that. I want to I’m going to be just playing gigs; I can’t connect with people and be that friend go anywhere. Normally my family and through my music. I usually lean toward I would go to our house in Canada, but more of the pop country realm, because we’re not allowed to go there, so I’m just I love the attitude behind it. Singers like going to be here playing gigs at various Maren Morris, Miranda Lambert, Carrie places around New Hampshire. Underwood — I feel the emotions.
How’s your summer going so far? The last couple of weeks I have been How can people keep up with your really busy, and the next couple of months shows and projects? are really busy too, so I don’t feel like I’m pretty bad at Facebook, but I I’ve lost a whole lot. A lot of places have try to keep my website up to date — done a really good job creating outdoor ryanwilliamson.com. seating areas for their patrons, and on the
What did you do during quarantine? I was finishing up my senior year of college, which was interesting, but I was also writing, writing, writing all the time. I annoyed my parents with the loud sounds coming out of my room. Me
and the drummer I play with, Charles Greenwood, we were playing some livestreams and writing, reflecting and thinking of the next steps of where I want to be when this is all over. When did you start playing out again? June 27 was my first gig, at Liberty & Union Ale House in Taunton. How’s your summer going so far? It’s going pretty well. Most of these gigs are outside so it’s very dependent on the weather, which luckily has been holding up. What are some of your favorite places to play? Bonfire in Manchester is always such a fun time. All the places I play are awesome; it’s hard to pick a favorite. What’s the rest of your summer look like? Playing shows of course, and it looks like a lot of recording — I’ve put all my energy into [working in] my basement, trying to get some writing done and make demos. Looking forward to putting out some music in the near future. How can people keep up with your shows and projects? My Maddi Ryan Music Facebook page and my website too. Typical set list “Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty “Stuck Like Glue” – Sugarland “Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash “Lonely” – Maddi Ryan “Come Together” – The Beatles “Hotel California” – Eagles “Chicken Fried” – Zac Brown Band “Tennessee Whiskey” – Chris Stapleton “Zombie” – The Cranberries “My Church” – Maren Morris Upcoming appearances Aug. 7 – Bonfire, Manchester Aug. 28 – Old School Bar & Grill, Windham
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