Ryan Beatty is One of One
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - October 1: Ryan Beatty makes his Ryman debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Singer, songwriter, and all-around musical talent Ryan Beatty is fresh off the release of his fourth studio album, 2026’s Sweet Fortune, and his path has never been more clear. Breaking through as a young up and comer in the early 2010’s, Beatty’s career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster as he looked to pave his own way. Type cast as a teen heartthrob, Beatty would break in and out of hiatus until his 2018 debut, waiting for his perfect moment.
Beatty’s last headline show in Nashville came in early 2024 when he played The Basement East, a small club across the Cumberland River. Since then, he’s returned to open for three nights at Bridgestone Arena, two with Noah Kahan and another with Maggie Rogers, as well as a slot at the nearby Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Even with the cosigns, his jump to Ryman Auditorium was a hefty one, but it certainly paid off as the legendary acoustics in the room were a match made in heaven for the vocalist.
Walking out to Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” an obvious nod to the late country legend as he enters the genre’s sacred home, Beatty pulls no punches with his opening bout. He immediately launches into “Secret Language,” one of his top streaming songs and the lead single from Sweet Fortune. It is a folk-tinged and soft ballad, complete with an ever so gentle guitar lick and delicate pitter-patter coming from the snare. It feels like an apt introduction given the history of Ryman Auditorium, a weight that is not lost on Beatty as he is dress to the nines. Vocally Beatty is stunning here, with his natural tenor cutting through the crowd like a 1,000° knife. While Beatty is renowned for his singing, his songwriting résumé should not overlooked, having penned numerous tracks for Miley Cyrus, Bleachers, and even Beyoncé. Beatty has also been a longtime collaborator of both BROKHAMPTON and Tyler, The Creator, the former of which he worked with extensively and continues to do so through member Kevin Abstract.
Keeping with his bold introduction, Beatty shifts into “Cinnamon Bread,” a longtime fan-favorite from 2023’s Calico. Similarly warm and inviting, “Cinnamon Bread” adds a bit more pep into Beatty’s step, with his lively delivery cruising across the song’s feature guitar riff. Despite the rather low-tempo nature of his music, Beatty seems to have an omnipresent swagger about him, gliding effortlessly across the stage and taking full control. Crowds in Nashville are notoriously hard to please, often filled to the brim with music snobs and industry elitists who’d rather sit on their hands. These hurdles do not bother Ryan Beatty in the slightest and based on the swift positive reaction of the audience after each song it was clear he had already won them over.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - October 1: Ryan Beatty makes his Ryman debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Beatty rounds out his first three songs with “White Lightning,” another top performer from Sweet Fortune. This track sees Beatty leaning more heavily into his R’n’B side, with a deep bass line and spacier percussion backing him. Once again, Beatty’s vocals are simply magical. He has such a masterful ability to draw in the audience, turning the massive auditorium into an intimate setting more akin to a confessional than a massive touring operation. That is a feat that very few artists can successfully pull off in a live concert; it truly is mesmerizing to witness in person.
Setlist
Secret Language
Cinnamon Bread
White Lightning
Bright Red
Sweet Fortune
Summer of Roses (Willia Nelson cover)
Too Many Ways
Delancey
Ribbons
Little Faith
Virtuoso
Annie, Anything
Andromeda
White Teeth
Phantom
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Dust
JUST FOR FUN (Beyoncé song)
Bruises Off The Peach
Fleur de Lis
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - October 1: Ryan Beatty makes his Ryman debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Ryan Beatty is currently knee-deep in his North American tour, with two appearances at Austin City Limits and a sold-out show in New York City ahead of him. After he wraps his domestic leg, he’ll break for just a week before jumping the pond for a bulky European leg.
You can find tickets to all of Ryan Beatty’s upcoming tour dates here.
Oct 3 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026
Oct 4 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
Oct 7 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Oct 8 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
Oct 10 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival 2026
Oct 12 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
Oct 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
Oct 16 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
Oct 17 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Paramount [SOLD OUT]
Oct 25 – Dublin, IR – Green Room at The Academy
Oct 28 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
Oct 29 – Berlin, DE – Lido
Oct 30 – Copenhagen, DK – Koncerthuset, Studie 2
Nov 1 – Antwerp, BE – Trix Club
Nov 2 – Cologne, DE – CBE
Nov 3 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
Nov 5 – Glasgow, UK – Saint Luke’s
Nov 6 – Manchester, UK – Academy 2
Nov 7 – London, UK – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - October 1: Ryan Beatty makes his Ryman debut. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)
Ryan Beatty is one of the most exciting voices emerging in the indie pop and alternative R’n’B worlds today. Music can often feel like it is vying for your attention, with the loudness war often overtaking the sonic depth of a song and completely sidelining its lyricism. Ryan Beatty doesn’t fall for that trap, certainly not in the live setting; his music is freeing, with tons of space to move and roam. Beatty employs an incredibly talented backing band who are experts in their craft. Equally so, Beatty himself is a vocal virtuoso, allowing his controlled, methodical approach to singing to capture the hearts and minds of his audience. I truly believe there is not an artist out there today quite like Ryan Beatty, he is one of one.