"...have you ever thought to yourself—“are there any artists who exist today, that exemplify the brilliance of Dylan, the story telling of Jim Croce, the organics of Gordon Lightfoot, the spirit of Cat Stevens and the songwriting magic of Simon & Garfunkel?” … yeah, me too. Enter Ryan David Orr."
_edited.jpg)
Blending his many musical influences, from folk to hip-hop, jazz to rock 'n' roll, classical to alt-country, RDO's style of song crafting is at once original and authentic, unique in the modern musical landscape. Critics and audience members often compare his sound to that of Cat Stevens, Chris Cornell, and Eddie Vedder. Whether performed solo or with accompaniment, his songs are captivating, engaging, and thoughtful..
​
Over the years he has toured extensively, performing over 1,000 shows on stages of all sizes across the US and abroad. In addition, he has had the opportunity to share the stage with some great acts like Vanessa Carlton, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. Orr writes and sings for the folk/Americana band The Secret Trails and indie/alt-rock band The Brighter Still, and also performs many solo shows.
​
Click here to listen to a radio interview with RDO on KNAU in Flagstaff, AZ - Eats and Beats
Listen
Videos
(live and official music vids)
Reviews
"Great, distinctive voice...worthy of top marks"
-Stuart Epps, producer (Oasis, Elton John, Led Zeppelin)
"Tender, powerful songwriting...."
-John Popper, Blues Traveler
"Ryan David Orr has a warm, beautiful voice with which he intimates feelings
of sorrow or joy..."
-Rootstime Magazine (Belgium)
"...a force to be reckoned with in this music world"
-Skope Magazine
"Ryan David Orr is a lyricist of the highest order"
-ComeHereFloyd (music blog)
"Orr is undoubtedly an artist worth paying attention to"
-EDM Rekords
"Orr's weathered voice is a cross between Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder."
-Mac McDonald, Monterey County Weekly GO!
Some past performance venues:
The Bitter End - NY, NY; The Pig n' Whistle - Hollywood, CA; Seamonster Lounge - Seattle, WA; CBGB's - NY, NY; Alberta Street Public House - Portland, OR; Antique Archaeology - Nashville, TN; LiveWire - Scottsdale, AZ; Mesa Arts Center SPARK! Festival - Mesa, AZ; Pianos - NY, NY; The Grey Eagle - Black Mountain, NC; Oberon's Tavern - Ashland, OR; WDVX Blue Plate Special - Knoxville, TN; Mesa Music Festival - Mesa, AZ; KPIG Radio - Santa Cruz, CA; High Mountain Music Festival - Pinetop, AZ; First Night Monterey Festival - Monterey, CA; The Red Victorian Hotel - San Francisco, CA; Borderlands Brewing Company - Tucson, AZ; Kulturpalast - Hannover, DE; Tucson Folk Festival - Tucson, AZ; Spielbudenplatz - Hamburg, DE; Tempe Center for the Arts - Tempe, AZ; KNAU Radio - Flagstaff, AZ
Awards and Recognition:
- Best Folk Album International/Toronto Exclusive Magazine (2007)
- Finalist/Song of the Year songwriting competition
- Runner-up/Song of the Year songwriting competition
- Best Music Video/Show Low Film Festival (2018)
- 3rd place in the Show Low Battle of the Bands and Vans w/The Brighter Still (2018)
- Best Music Video/White Mountains Film Festival (2022)
- Best Music Video/Switzerland International Film Festival
- 2nd place in the Show Low Battle of the Bands and Vans w/The Brighter Still (2024)
- Honorable Mention/American Songwriter Magazine Lyric Competition (2024)
- Finalist in the Songwriting Competition at the Tucson Folk Festival (2024)
- 1st place in the Show Low Battle of the Bands and Vans w/The Brighter Still (2025)
- Finalist in the folk category for the 30th annual USA Songwriting Competition (2025)