Ryley Walker
Illinois guitarist whose fingerpicked, British-folk-rooted songs stretch into loose, jazz-inflected improvisation. Primrose Green made his name, and he once covered Dave Matthews Band's shelved Lillywhite Sessions in full.
Festivals Ryley Walker is playing
About Ryley Walker
Ryley Walker grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and came up through Chicago's improvised and experimental music circles before signing to Dead Oceans. His early records drew on the acoustic guitar of Bert Jansch and John Fahey, with long, open-ended songs that owed something to Tim Buckley and Van Morrison's Astral Weeks.
Later albums moved away from that template. Golden Sings That Have Been Sung (2016) and Deafman Glance (2018) set his songs in looser, stranger arrangements, and Course in Fable (2021), produced by John McEntire of Tortoise, leaned toward prog and post-rock. Walker has also made duo guitar records with fellow Chicago player Bill MacKay and runs his own label, Husky Pants Records.
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Questions about Ryley Walker
What festivals is Ryley Walker playing in 2027?
Ryley Walker is booked at 1 festival we cover: Big Ears 2027.
Is Ryley Walker playing Big Ears 2027?
Yes, Ryley Walker is on the Big Ears 2027 lineup, April 1–4, 2027 at Downtown Knoxville, TN.
What kind of music does Ryley Walker play?
Ryley Walker plays alternative.