“To say that Ryan Spearman is a talented musician would be like saying that Michael Schumacher is a good driver. Fact is, Spearman can play pretty much anything he touches and play it incredibly well. In fact, he can even make glorious music on instruments that weren’t meant to be instruments at all. He’s also an accomplished composer and teacher.”

“The best word I can think of to describe Ryan and his music is authentic. Every note from his many instruments and his beautiful voice rings so true, and he is a truly talented songwriter. I was absolutely mesmerized during his performance and I think mostly everyone in the house was too. I get chills remembering how wonderfully, perfectly silent it was as Ryan played, and then how loud and appreciative the applause was as soon as each song was done.”

“Consider Ryan Spearman the jujitsu master of folk music. Whether selling out listening rooms as a solo artist or performing around St. Louis with formal and informal blues and old-time groups, he uses his considerable knowledge of folk material and unassailable skill on guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and fiddle to disarm any attempt to fix tradition in history books or on wax cylinders. Spearman's 2010 album Live at the Chapel is no less than a clinic on how to update tradition without losing what makes mastering the old language worthwhile. His music speaks to the old spirits and teaches them a thing or two about contemporary life and song as well.”

“...The musicianship is good, especially Ryan Spearman's fiddle work. --JL, Sing Out!”

“ "Hauntingly beautiful ... gets better with each listen." --Brian F. Johnson, The Marquee ”