Action-packed and high-energy. Just one man and his accordion, slaying the Ivy Bar stage. Accordion Ryan’s Pop Bangers, created and performed by Accordion Ryan himself, is an absolute whirlwind of cabaret fun. Hailing from the US and currently based in Vienna, Accordion Ryan graces the Ivy Bar stage with his impressive accordion playing, comedic chops, and of course – pop bangers!

Marvellously entertaining, the show is dynamic and fun. As a solo cabaret performance, Ryan impressively owns the stage, jumping around and belting out pop bangers from Rihanna to Chappell Roan to Queen. It isn’t all well-known songs, however; Ryan intersperses the pop hits with bangers of his own, singing originals about his life to hilarious yet meaningful effect.

Ryan’s extensive busking experience is on full display as he creates a real connection with the audience, masterfully utilising audience interaction and encouraging everyone to sing along. From kissing an audience member on the cheek (with consent, of course) to a brilliant moment where he and another audience member huddle together under an umbrella while an entire bottle of water is tipped over them – a very memorable moment.

Two burlesque dancer friends of Ryan’s from Europe also happen to be in the audience. In a magnificent turn, after a bit of encouragement, they spontaneously join him on stage for a burlesque-style dance, much the audience’s absolute delight! As such a veteran performer, Accordion Ryan seamlessly uses these hysterical interactive moments to creatively elevate the production value of a very simple setup in Ivy Bar.

One of the show’s biggest strengths is its flow. The best cabarets have a solid through-line that connects all the songs and separates the show from a straight concert. This is exactly what Ryan does. As a stand-up comic weaves jokes into stories, Ryan weaves songs – and jokes; he is very funny! – into stories that give real themes to his show. He injects various aspects of his life experiences into the performance, masterfully running the gauntlet between meaningful and funny.

At first, he talks about relationship woes, punctuated with a hilarious and clever song about how he misses aspects of a past relationship – if only it weren’t with that person! The show then moves on to his experience as a traveling musician and the challenges and sacrifices that come with it. He discusses his studies in Europe as a master’s student and how he uproots his entire life each semester to move to a new place.

The most vivid and beautiful picture he paints – and what connects with me the most – is his description of standing in a train station and the feeling of seeing his entire life in front of him: two bags and an accordion.

A particularly fun aspect of the show is the custom medley of songs he apparently crafts for each country he visits, capturing as many local bangers as possible into a seven-to-eight-minute number. This is a brilliant addition, with the audience singing along to his accordion-fuelled covers of iconic Kiwi songs, from Dave Dobbyn to Suzy Cato.

There is a slight hiccup when Ryan momentarily loses his place and struggles through a (still admirable) rendition of Poi E. He seems visibly shaken by the ordeal. However, he pushes through and regains his mojo a minute later. The reality of live theatre is that not everything goes perfectly every time, and the challenge is to move forward from any setback without letting it affect the rest of the show. My only note is that he could have transitioned to the next song with more grace rather than dwelling on the mistake. That said, he eventually regains his composure and moves forward, which I hugely respect.

Accordion Ryan’s Pop Bangers is an absolute treat to watch. Not only does Ryan belt out certified pop bangers with nothing but his voice and his impressive accordion skills, but the structure of the show is also brilliant. He weaves a story about his life throughout each song, peppering in hilarious originals that accentuate the narrative. I highly recommend catching an Accordion Ryan performance before he jets back off to Europe!

Accordion Ryan’s Pop Bangers is performing in the Wellington Fringe Festival at Ivy Bar until March 7th.

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