Welcome to Torch Music

Torch Music is the website for LIAM RYAN - New Zealand based keyboardist, producer/composer and arts educator.

ABOUT

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Christchurch born, Liam Ryan made his name as keyboardist and songwriter with Kiwi band The Narcs in the 1980s - (You Took Me) Heart and Soul, Diamonds On China.. He has featured as a session player on many New Zealand recordings and has toured as a sideman with international artists including Charlie Musselwhite, Long John Baldry and Robben Ford and is a long-standing collaborator with many international musicians working remotely from his Anam Cara studio in Waihi New Zealand.

Liam has released 3 solo albums on his label: Torch Music: Mississippi To Mauao (2007), Pacific Riviera (2010) and Woven Not Stranded (2021). He has won Tui Music Awards with The Narcs ( 1984) and for The Present (2002) - a collaboration involving 200 Waikato student writers, artists and musicians.

He currently performs with The Midge Marsden Band, The Flaming Mudcats, The Action (with Evan Silva), Spicer & Ryan, numerous jazz line-ups including Lucky Strike and The Blue Riders. He recently composed and produced commissioned works for the Rodger Fox Hone Tuwhare Project and the Creative Waikato Creative Acts of Kindness Project.

After 35 years Liam stopped touring with The Narcs in 2022 to pursue other musical projects closer to home. He produced two collections of groove based pieces with Sarah Spicer -"The Affirmations"- in 2023..In 2024 he helped produce albums for The Flaming Mudcats ('Black Limousine) and Noel Couttes and is in demand as a collaborator, arranger and composer.

Since 2002 Liam has been involved with the National Jazz Festival Tauranga as a Director, Artistic Director and since 2015 as Manager of the NZ National Youth Jazz Competition. In August 2017 he was awarded Life Membership of the Tauranga Jazz Society.

Liam has had a long and successful career as an academic researcher in the field of arts education. He is a former member of both the New Zealand Music Commission and currently sits on the SAE NZ Academic Board.His Masters Degree researched The Rise of Rhythm and Blues in Christchurch 1960 -1970. He is a former columnist and reviewer for Fairfax Media and currently writes for various magazines about music and culture. You will find articles he has written here.

BREAKING NEWS!

AIR SCULPTURES -2025 SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS

Beginning February 13th 2025 in WAIHI - facilitator LIAM RYAN

[email protected] for more information

About the WOVEN NOT STRANDED Album Project :

"Woven Not Stranded is the third and final in the M2M album trilogy and a homage to my musical roots - from playing disco in Auckland clubs six nights a week, years of touring playing rhythm and blues and jazz and, before all of that my love of classical music and my early days playing violin in orchestras. It's eclectic; it's all here. The title, Woven Not Stranded, is a nod to my inspiring grandmother Elsie who was a weaver and poet. She practised her art in the middle of nowhere up the Awatere Valley in the South Island NZ. I often feel the same solitude working on my music in the provinces - especially so in The Time of Covid. And yet we all remain connected. By the strands of whanau and aroha that bind us. Woven Not Stranded."

Digital release December 2021

CD release July 2023

I am grateful for the generosity of spirit of the many musicians on this project. All phenomenal people, great players and exceptional ambassadors for music, every one. Thank you:
Guitar: Nick Granville, Dean Hetherington, Chet O'Connell, Regan Perry.
Bass: Peter Stroud, Liam Ryan
Saxophone: Alex Nyman, Hayden Baird
Horns: Rodger Fox, Jack Harre, Mike Booth
Drums: Steve Garden, Josh Sorenson
Hammond, pianos, synth and strings: Liam Ryan
Harp: Midge Marsden, Haggis Macguiness
Vocals: Sarah Spicer, Liam Ryan
Percussion and voice Artist: Amir Yussof
Flute: Greg Latham

Producer: Liam Ryan
Mastering: Mike Bloemendal
Photography: Harry Harrison
Artwork: Mike Dunn/Tribal Brands

You can find more information about Liam's music and purchase tracks from:

https://liamryan1.bandcamp.com

TORCH MUSIC STUDIO PROJECTS 2023/24:

Hamin Derus & Bamboo (6-track EP mix)
Noel Coutts & Dean Hetherington - The Empire Sessions (12-track Album mix)
The Flaming Mudcats (11-track 'Til The Money's All Gone album mix)
Amir Yussof (Singles - keyboards and production)
Sarah Spicer (6-track EP - The Affirmations)
Evan Silva (Singles - co-writes, pre production keyboards and arrangements)
Rodger Fox (Bird of Prayer - Big Band composition & arrangement)
Chet O' Connell (Single - keyboards)
The Flaming Mudcats (Till The Money's All Gone - album mix and master).
Fraser Coombes (single - Crazy - keyboards)
Evan Silva (string arrangements and production for 2 singles - Getting Late & Just Us Two)
Ian Thomson & Pete Parnham - cowrite songwriting sessions
Composition & arrangement for orchestral self project - Blue Threnody (The Long Goodbye).
Noel Coutts tracks remix, mastering and compiltaion project
The Flaming Mudcats - mastering Black Limousine vinyl album release
Evan Silva - production, mix and master Anya & master Xmas single
Lucky Strke remix and electro-jazz production on Monticello project.

VIDEOS

All
The Blue Riders w Sarah Spicer
The Narcs
The Ryan Dickson Line
Liam Ryan
Mudshark Monday Mix
Liam Ryan & Sarah Spicer

MUSIC

LIAM RYAN UPCOMING GIGS

For up to the minute details on appearances and ticketing information please go to Liam's Torch Music NZ page on Face Book.

LIVE GIGS 2024 & 2025

GIG DIARY 2024

- December 31/January1 - NYE The Barrel Room w The Flaming Mudcats
- January 3,5,7 - Historic Village Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- January 11- Maketu Beach Cafe w Leith Milson
- January 20 -Davys Cottage Blues Day -w The Flaming Mudcats
- January 27th - Thames - Wheels & Wings - with The Action
- February 2nd - Blockhouse Bay - with The Midge Marsden Band
- February 10th - Paeroa Highland Tattoo with Sarah Spicer and The Blue Riders
- February 17th - The Monkey House, Whitianga with The Flaming Mudcats
- February 22nd Historic Village Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- February 23rd - GLRSC with The Flaming Mudcats
- February 26th Historic Village Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- March 14th & 15th Historic Village Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- March 16th The Barrel Room Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- March 22nd and 23rd Beach Hop, Whangamata with The Flaming Mudcats
- March 23rd Katch Katikati with Lucky Strike
- March 29th & 30th - Tauranga National Jazz Festival with The Flaming Mudcats
- March 31st -Mount Maunganui Market 10:45am with Lucky Strike
- April 16th Historic Village Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- April 6th - The Barrel Room with Torch Songs Trio
- April 27th - The Barrelroom with Lucky Strike
- May 10th & 11th - Empire Hotel, Ross, West Coast w Noel Coutts and The Hetheringtons
- May 25th - The Barrelroom with Lucky Strike
- May 31st - Manawatu Jazz Festival with The Midge Marsden and Rodger Fox
- June 14th - Waihi Jazz @ The WELL - Tandoori Chambers with Lucky Strike
- June 15th - Howick Hysteria with The Flaming Mudcats
- June 22nd Waiheke w The Flaming Mudcats
- June 29th - Fourth Wall New Plymouth with The Flaming Mudcats
- August 23rd - Grey Lynn RSC w The Flaming Mudcats
- August 31st - w Lucky Strike at The Barrelroom, Tauranga
- September 28th - w Lucky Strike at The Barrelroom, Tauranga
- October 6th - Thames Working Men's Club with The Action
- October 12th - Waiheke Heke Blues w The Flaming Mudcats
- October 27th - Raglan Harbour View Hotel w Midge Marsden Band
- October 30th - TJS Jazz Jam Mount Social Club
- November 8th - The Village Mt Eden with The Flaming Mudcats
- November 15 - Grey Lynn Social Club w The Flaming Mudcats
- November 16 - Tauranga Garden & Arts Festival w Lucky Strike
- November 17th - Waihi Theatre w The Flaming Mudcats and Sarah Spicer
- November 23rd - Waihi Beach Summer Kickoff
- December 1st - Waihi Xmas at The Lake - w The Action
- December 5th - Harmony Hall Devonport w The Flaming Mudcats & Sarah Spicer
- December 8th - Biddy Mulligans Hamilton w The Mods
- December 27th - Whangamata Summer Festival w Sarah Spicer and The Blue Riders

GIG DIARY 2025

- January 17th - Empire Hotel, Ross w The Hetheringtons
- January 24th - Waihi Market w Lucky Strike
- January 31st - Blockhouse Bay w The Midge Marsden Band
- February 1st - Nelson w The Flaming Mudcats
- February 8th - Katikati Twilight Concert w Sarah Spicer and The Blue Riders
- March 8th - Whangaparoa Blues Festival w The Flaming Mudcats & Midge Marsden
- March 26th -28th - Whangamata Beach Hop w The Flaming Mudcats
- April 6th - 9th National Youth Jazz Competition
- April 12th - Katikati Jazz Festival w Lucky Strike and The Blue Riders
- April 13th - Jazz at The Jam Factory w Lucky Strike
- April 18th & 19th - Easter Jazz Festival Tauranga w The Torch Songs Band
- April 21st - Mount Maunganui - w The Flaming Mudcats
- June 14th - The Barrelroom Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- August 9th - The Barrelroom Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- October 11th - The Barrelroonm Tauranga w Lucky Strike
- December 13th - The Barrelroom Tauranga w Lucky Strike

ARCHIVED GIGS 2023

Sunday Jan 8th -Waihi Beach Hotel with The Flaming Mudcats and Elles Bailey (UK) and the NZ Blues All -Star
Friday Jan 13th - The Monkey House Whitianga with The Flaming Mudcats
Sunday January 21st The Harlequin Point Chevaliar with Elles Bailey and The Flaming Mudcats
Wednesday January 25th - TJS Jazz Jam, Mount Social Club with Lucky Strike
Sunday March 5th - Rotorua jazz Club with Lucky Strike
Saturday March 11th - Anthems: Music in Parks with Midge Marsden Band
March 24th & 25th - Beach Hop, Whangamata - with The Flaming Mudcats.
March 26th - Paeroa Maritime Park with Sarah Spicer, Amir Yussof and Lucky Strike
April 8th - National Jazz Festival with The Torch Songs Band
April 9th - National Jazz Festival with Sarah Spicer and the Blue Riders
April 15th 11am - Paeroa Domain - with The Action
April 15 - Ponsonby Social Club Auckland - with The Flaming Mudcats
April 21 - Baycourt Theatre 40th Celebrations w Carol Storey
April 22 - The Monkey House, Whitianga with The Flaming Mudcats
April 29 - Tauranga ( private) with Lucky Strike
May 13 - The Barrel Room Tauranga with Lucky Strike
May 25-27 Recording with Dean Hetherington and Noel Couttes, Anam Cara Studio, Waihi
June 3rd - Waihi Beach Hotel
June 5th - Kings Birthday Weekend Totara Street Tauranga - with The Flaming Mudcats & Petra Rijnbeek
June 11th - Paeroa Theatre with Evan Silva and The Action
June 17th - New Plymouth - Four Walls - with The Flaming Mudcats
June 18th - Hamilton with The Flaming Mudcats
August 5th - Barrel Room, Tauranga with Lucky Strike
August 25-27 - Recording with Flaming Mudcats at Studio 11B Mauao
August 30th - TJS Jazz Jam, Mount Social Club
September 2nd - Barrel Room, Tauranga with Lucky Strike
September 8th - Jazz@ The WELL, Tandoori Chamber, Waihi
September 23rd - Barrel Room, Tauranga with Lucky Strike
October 21st - The Black Barn with Hello Sailor
October 25th - TJS Jazz Jam, Mount Social Club
October 28th - Te Aroha with The Flaming Mudcats
November 11th - Dire Straits Tribute Show, Hamilton
November 24-26 BOP Blues & BBQ Festival - with Midge Marsden, The Flaming Mudcats and Petra Rijnbeek
December 2nd - ANZAC Bay Summer Kick Off Festival
December 10th - Waihi Xmas in The Park with Lucky Strike.
December 31st - ( NYE) at The Barrel Room with The Flaming Mudcats

ARCHIVED GIGS 2022

June 2-5 – The Narcs National Tour with Jon Stevens Band
· July 3 – Paeroa Community Theatre (with Evan Silva)
· July 30 – Ponsonby Social Club (with The Flaming Mudcats)

·      October 14 – WELL, Waihi (with Lucky Strike)
·      October 22&23 – Butlers Reef (with The Flaming Mudcats)
·      October 29 – Waihi Drama Soc Theatre – Spicer & Ryan Concert
·      November 18 – Tauranga garden and Arts Festival (with Lucky Strike)
·      November 25&26 – Beach Hop, Whangamata ( with The Flaming Mudcats)
·      December 3 – Taranaki (Private) ( with The Flaming Mudcats)

2021

·      February 7 – Rotorua Jazz Club (with The Torch Songs Band)
·      February 20 – The Barrel Room, Tauranga (with The Jeff baker Band)
·      March 19-21 – Island View Jazz Festival (with the Rodger Fox Funkbone Experience)
·      April 1- 4 – National Jazz Festival Tauranga (with Rodger Fox, The Torch Songs Band and Collision)
·      April 17 – Mapua Wharf, Nelson ( with The Lizard Kings)
·      May 14 – Mount Maunganui (with the Mandy Meadows band)
·      June 2-5 – National Tour (With The Jon Stevens Band and The Narcs)
·      July 4 – Rotorua Jazz Club (with Rodger Fox and Erna Ferry)
·      July 23 – Waihi Beach Hotel (with Amir Yussof)
·      August 6 – Nelson Blues Festival (with The Boogie Train and The Flaming Mudcats)
·      August 13 – Bay of Islands Jazz Festival (with The Midge Marsden Band)
·      September/October/ – National Tour with the Narcs (cancelled due to Covid)
·      November 21 – Martinborough Wine Festival with The Midge Marsden Band ( cancelled due to Covid)

2020

·      January 5 – Omokaroa Boat Club (The Blue Riders)
·      January 9 - The Jam Factory Tauranga (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      January 10 - The Waihi Beach Hotel (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      January 11 - Two Mile Bay Taupo (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      January 12 - Nirvana Lounge Hamilton(The Narcs Unplugged)
·      January 29 - Mount Social Club (TJS jazz jam)
·      February 1 - Acid Daze Nelson (The Lizard Kings)
·      February 7 - Blockhouse Bay (The Midge Marsden band)
·      February 21 - Brisbane (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      February 26 - Mount Social Club ( TJS jazz jam)
·      March 14 - Auckland (The Narcs w Icehouse)
·      March 25 - Mount Social Club (TJS jazz jam)
·      April 11 & 12 - Tauranga National Jazz Festival
·      May 23 - Christchurch Jazz Festival (The Lizard Kings)
·      June 2 – Rotorua, BOP Blues Festival (with The Midge Marsden Band)
·      June 27 – Howick Club (with The Narcs Unplugged)
·      June 28 – Taupo, Two Mile Bay (with The Narcs Unplugged)
·      June 29 – Tauranga, Jam Factory (with The Narcs Unplugged)
·      June 30 – Thames, Lotus Realm (with The Narcs Unplugged)
·      August 28 - Mount Social Club (TJS jazz jam)
·      October 12 – Tauranga, The Jam Factory (with Sarah Spicer and The Blue Riders)
·      October 30 – Tauranga Arts Festival (with John Wright and The Sou’Westers)
·      October 31 – Auckland (with John Wright and The Sou’Westers)
·      November 1 – Rangiora Town Hall (with John Wright and The Sou’Westers)
·      November 2- Christchurch (with John Wright and The Sou’Westers)
·      November 17 – Taste Martinborough (with The Midge Marsden Band)
·      December 5 - 15 - South Island Tour (The Narcs)

2019

·      November 27 - Mount Social Club (TJS jazz jam)
·      November 30 - Paeroa Refinery guest w The Remnants (Hello Sailor)
·      December 11 - Wanaka (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      December 12 – Invercargill (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      December 13 – Oamaru (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      December 12 – Lyttleton (The Narcs Unplugged)
·      December 17 – Waihi Beach Hotel Xmas Party (with Tim Armstrong)
·      December 18 –   Mount Social Club ( TJS Xmas Party/jam)
·      March 25 - Mount Social Club ( TJS jazz jam)
·      April 11 & 12 - Tauranga National Jazz Festival
·      May 23 - Christchurch (The Lizard Kings)