Interview with Accordion Ryan: Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers at Edinburgh Fringe 2025
- Lisa in the theatre
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
Accordion Ryan's upbeat musical cabaret show has had audiences singing and dancing in the aisles at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2022. Ahead of the 2025 festival, the joyful Britain's Got Talent star talks about bringing his fun-filled show 'Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers' to the iconic Gilded Balloon venue for the first time.
Accordion Ryan, Edinburgh Fringe interview
What is your show about?
The show is pretty self-explanatory! It's an hour of pop bangers sung and played on the accordion by me (Accordion Ryan)!
But beyond that, there's loads of dancing, audience participation, and good vibes! It's the kind of show to just have fun singing along without thinking too much about the outside world!
You've performed at Edinburgh Fringe before. What makes you come back again year after year?
Edinburgh has brought me some of my biggest opportunities year after year, and is where I first realized that I could actually pursue my wacky art as a career! The Edinburgh Fringe is also where my act has slowly developed over the years. I started out as just a guy running around on the streets with an accordion, and now I feel I've built a bit of a name for myself and have toured the world! So I come back each year to keep building on that, and to keep making connections to see what opportunities there are outside of the festival!
Is there anything different about this year for you? Anything you're more nervous for, or more excited for?
One of the biggest changes for me this year is the venue! The last three years I ran a free show, but this year I'm at a paid venue (Gilded Balloon)! I'm very thankful for the Free Festival and the start I got there, but I'm also excited to try something a bit different! It's a bit scary to have to sell tickets – I'm used to being able to advertise that people can just show up and take a punt on the show for free. But now there's an upfront cost, so I'll really have to up my marketing game!
I've also got a new part of my show I'm excited to add! The last few years I've always played at least one Scottish tune for the local crowds, but this year I've taken it a step further and will be playing "the entirety of Scottish music in 8 minutes", so I can't wait to show that off!
OK, that sounds amazing! Who is your show aimed at / for?
Of course, I have my "target demographics", but really, my show is for people who aren't afraid to let their hair down and just sing loud for an hour. The people who enjoy my show are the people who go to the Fringe to see things that are truly "fringe", the kinds of shows you only find at festivals like this one.
What do you hope audiences will take away from 'Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers"?
I hope they'll just leave with a smile on their face! And maybe a bit of shock at the wild things that can be played on the accordion!
What is your current favourite pop banger?
It's not a current song by any stretch, but my favorite pop banger will always be "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus, which you'll definitely be able to hear in the show :)
Where can we find you at the fringe?
You can find me at the Appleton Tower with Gilded Balloon at 10:20 PM from 30 July – 24 August (not 6, 12, 19)!
About Accordion Ryan and Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers
Britain's Got Talent star plays your favorite songs like you've never heard them before!
Coming off an appearance on Britain's Got Talent in 2023, hit runs at the 2022-2024 Edinburgh Fringe, and an award-winning tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2025, Accordion Ryan is taking his talents back to the Edinburgh Fringe.
Accordion Ryan's Pop Bangers is a fun-packed hour of popular tunes, played live as you've never heard them before - on the accordion. With a few original musical comedy songs mixed in, you're surely in for a night of fun!
It is an interactive experience that beautifully combines elements of music, comedy, and cabaret, and always has audiences singing along and dancing in the aisles - you're guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face and a tune in your head.
Accordion Ryan (Ryan Simpson) is a cabaret artist and musical comedian. Originally from the USA, he currently lives in Vienna, Austria and has performed all over the world. In addition to his appearance on Britain's Got Talent, he has also been on Germany’s Das Supertalent and the Austrian talent show Die Große Chance, and made his debut at Glastonbury Festival in 2025.
His performances have been featured in various media publications, including the BBC, ITV, RTL, ORF, Edinburgh Live, The Scotsman, and FM4, and he has performed with well-known names such as Kate Nash and Greg McHugh (Gary: Tank Commander). Clips of him performing have also gone viral in Denmark, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Lithuania, Estonia, and many other countries.
WINNER – Overall Award for Best Cabaret & Variety – FRINGE WORLD Perth 2025
WINNER – Weekly Award for Best Cabaret – Adelaide Fringe 2025
WINNER – Spirit of the Fringe – Reykjavík Fringe Festival 2025
NOMINEE – Best of Fest & Best Cabaret or Musical – Nelson Fringe 2025
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