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Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Accordion Ryan perform at The Brass Monkey. Hailing from the U.S. but now based in Austria, this charismatic entertainer had us up and dancing in no time. Fresh off appearances on Britain’s Got Talent and a hit run at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe, he brought his signature mix of music and comedy to Perth—and what a show it was!
With his accordion in hand, Ryan puts a hilarious spin on popular hits like Get Low (as seen on Austria’s Got Talent) and …Baby One More Time. He’s more than just a talented musician. He’s a gifted comedian and cabaret artist, seamlessly blending humour and music. One of his original songs, a breakup anthem, was funnier than anything you’d hear from Adele or Taylor Swift. The chorus was so catchy it’s still stuck in my head:
“Our relationship was mediocre, thank goodness that it’s over, but there’s still so much I lost when you said that we were through, the saddest thing about you… was YOU!”
I never would have expected a one-man show with an accordion to be so theatrical, but Ryan owned the entire room. His audience interaction was spot-on, making everyone feel like part of the show. Even simple props like water bottles and an umbrella became hilarious tools, especially during his interactive performance of Rihanna’s Umbrella.
One of the biggest highlights was his introduction to My Neck, My Back. With a dead-serious tone, he shared a story about busking and being scolded by a mother for performing the song in front of her kids—only to follow up with his own version of WAP… If You Know, You Know!
Despite the intimate setting, Ryan delivered a high-energy performance, making the most of the space. I can only imagine how incredible he’d be in a bigger venue with a larger crowd.
If you get the chance, don’t miss this show! You’ll see him tackle all your favourite Australian classics in a seven minute mashup and even put his own spin on new pop hits like Hot To Go (Chappell Roan) and 360 (Charli XCX).
Accordion Ryan is playing right now, so go check him out!