Ian Ridenhour writes smart, piano-driven alternative rock music with pop sensibilities and a dark streak, or as Sav Buist of The Accidentals puts it: “like Jack White and Ben Folds had a baby.”

Ian began building a devoted following in Asheville, NC with 2016’s Cry About It, a dark pop-rock tour de force that juxtaposes infectious hooks and complex arrangements with raw, real-life lyrics that engage with the psyche’s shadowy side. The video for “Dancing Children,” one of the two vanguard singles from Cry About It, won top honors at the 2017 Music Video Asheville Awards. Cry About It was followed by the Ribcage EP in 2018. Recorded at Echo Mountain Studios and produced by Nomatic Studio, the album features the talents of Jacob Rodriguez and Justin Ray (of Michael Buble), Asheville natives Brie Capone and James Kylen, and others. “You Help Me Fall Asleep,” the first single off the album, was released with an accompanying video produced by All Around Artsy.

After Ribcage’s success, Ian moved to Boston to pursue a songwriting degree at Berklee College of Music. During this time, he continued to perform in the immediate area, frequenting popular local venues and working as a session musician. Ian found a true love in teaching music after taking an instructor position in the wake of the pandemic. Now, with several years of teaching under his belt, he’s relocated to NYC to return to his original music with renewed vigor.

Bolstered by his powerhouse band, Ian’s performances are, as the Mountain Xpress says, “dynamic, with hooky melodies, frenzied riffs, and kinetic, danceable energy.” As well as playing festivals across the southeast and headlining listening rooms in western North Carolina and New England, Ian has shared the stage with The Accidentals, BJ Leiderman, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Third Eye Blind, among others. He’s been described by former music manager Bob Hinkle as “[…] a 21st century Billy Joel.”

PopMatters says that Ian is “easily one of the more diverse piano-centered rock acts of modern times,” which is perhaps what jazz legend Jimmy Cobb meant when he said of Ian, “in a couple of minutes, he’s gonna be a monster.”

For business inquiries, reach out directly to Ian’s booking team at booking@ianridenhour.com or the Booking tab.