Ryley Walker – Bello Bar, Dublin – Live Review – 13/02/2025 
by Killian Laher

A freezing night was the backdrop for Ryley Walker’s visit to Dublin.  Walker is an interesting character.  He is undoubtedly a talented guitarist and a great performer, but his career hasn’t ignited in the way it could have, probably down to his tendency to avoid the obvious, both in his songwriting and media appearances.  In other words, not playing the game.  This is possibly why he’s not playing larger venues.

Support came from the Irish duo Anenome, who played a set of droning folk.  The pair played guitar and violin, before adding keyboard, a set of uneasy, spooked-out Lankum-esque tunes.  Swapping instruments, their last song picked up the pace, adding percussion.  The dark rocked-up tune was their most accomplished and a good way to round off their set.

Ryley Walker appeared, shorn of hair and played a long impressive solo on acoustic guitar, leading into The Roundabout.  The absence of a band didn’t hold him back one bit, if anything gave him the space to shine.  If anything, he has honed his guitar technique even more, Shaking Like The Others evoked the likes of John Martyn, while Rang Dizzy and On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee were enhanced by his dizzying fretwork.  With Ryley Walker, it’s never just about the music, he always has plenty to say for himself, and this night he had plenty on his mind.  On the eve of Valentine’s Day, he wished the audience a happy Valentine’s Day, while asking for a wife, before telling stories about buying sneakers in Temple Bar, the merits of cheese and onion Tayto and called himself the Gavin Rossdale of folk.

Keen to acknowledge his influences, he covered Magazine’s Back To Nature (“a deep cut, none of that Shot By Both Sides shit”) and a lovely version of Anne Briggs’ Go Your Way.  But it was his own material that stood out, incredible versions of The Halfwit In Me and Primrose Green gave him the platform to improvise on guitar to stunning effect, giving the nod to “Rory fucking Gallagher”.

Although the most impressive songs of his set were written nearly 10 years ago, the man is an undoubted talent and it will be interesting to see what he does next.