Ryan McMahon at the Festival of the Written Arts

Engaging and honest, Ryan McMahon’s music is written from the heart and sung from the soul, following the lead of his peers Jason Isbell, Nathaniel Rateliff and Warren Zevon. With six releases under his name and two with his side project, the acclaimed trio Lion Bear Fox, McMahon has established himself as one of western Canada’s most prolific singer-songwriters, leading to multiple Vancouver Island Music Awards and supporting slots for Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane, Mother Mother, Lee Harvey Osmond and others. On his latest album, Live Now, Ryan’s storytelling remains deeply personal, drawing on real-life stories. While firmly rooted in folk and roots, the album also explores hints of rock and Americana, creating a dynamic range to his music that makes each song an individual journey.