Maine Musician Hannah Risley
Hannah Risley is a singer and guitarist originally from Arizona who has become a popular performer in Maine’s live music scene. She began gigging as a teenager at a Scottsdale restaurant and developed a love
for connecting with audiences through intimate live shows. Her style blends folk, country, soulful acoustic songs, alternative music, and classic rock, with a song selection designed to appeal to all ages. Now a regular at the Ivy Manor Inn, she is known for her calm stage presence, authentic performances, and the sentimental guitar passed down from her grandfather, who first taught her to play.
Hannah Risley is a singer and guitarist whose warm, understated performances have made her a favorite on Mount Desert Island’s live music scene. Originally from Arizona, Hannah now performs regularly in Maine, where she has become a familiar presence at the Ivy Manor Inn and other local venues. With nearly a decade of gigging experience, she typically plays several shows each week, bringing a calm confidence and wide-ranging songbook to every performance.
Her start in live music came in a humble and organic way. As a teenager in Arizona, Hannah was invited to perform at a restaurant owned by a friend’s mother called The Herb Box. At first, she played as part of a duo with her friend—Hannah on guitar, her friend singing lead, with both of them performing mainly for tips. They quickly discovered they loved playing live, but when her friend became too busy to continue, Hannah asked if she could keep performing solo. The answer was yes, and soon she was being paid officially while continuing to earn tips. She went on to play weekly gigs at the restaurant for five years, often performing brunches or Friday and Saturday evening sets. That experience helped shape her love for restaurant performances and the unique connection they create between musician and audience.
Music had already been part of Hannah’s life long before those early gigs. Her grandfather, a talented singer, guitarist, and songwriter, was the person who first taught her how to play. He showed her the basic chords and introduced her to songs like “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” whose dramatic storytelling and memorable guitar parts left a lasting impression on her as a 12-year-old. From there, Hannah taught herself more through determination and curiosity, using YouTube to learn additional chords and techniques. One of her early goals was mastering “Dust in the Wind,” a song she loved for its challenging fingerpicking pattern. She eventually learned it, and it remains one of her favorites to sing.
Her grandfather’s influence is still central to her music today. After he passed away, his guitar was passed down to Hannah, and it has become her constant companion onstage. Though she jokes that it is large and bulky—built for a full-grown man rather than her smaller frame—she refuses to play anything else. To her, the instrument carries both a rich sound and a personal connection, something that keeps her grandfather’s presence close whenever she performs.
After moving to Maine, Hannah’s next chapter began through chance. While working at a luxury glamping resort, she met Brian, who was bartending an event there. He invited her to perform at the Ivy Manor Inn, even though she had never heard of it before. She accepted, and what followed became one of the most rewarding parts of her career. She is now in her fourth season performing there, where the outdoor setting, ivy-covered building, passing dogs, and crowds of visitors from around the world make each show feel lively and inspiring.
Hannah describes herself as a quiet performer, someone who prefers to let the songs speak rather than fill the space between them with chatter. She is not shy—she simply believes the music should be the focus. Her style spans folk, country, soulful acoustic songs, alternative favorites, and classic rock, with a setlist designed to connect with listeners of all ages. She balances older classics with newer songs, constantly adding to binders full of material collected over the years.
Now in her mid-twenties, Hannah performs with the ease of someone who has truly found her place onstage. She says she never gets nervous singing for strangers anymore, only occasionally when loved ones are in the crowd. That steady confidence, combined with her authenticity and heartfelt style, is what makes Hannah Risley such a memorable performer.
More on Hannah Risley
Instagram: @hannahrisleymusic
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Ivy Afternoons
Every afternoon from May through October, musicians from Mount Desert Island and abroad gather at the Ivy Manor Inn’s garden in Bar Harbor, Maine for good drinks, great music, and some outside goodness.
Ivy Afternoons is a 6 part documentary series.
Leirigh Films LLC
A small film and video production studio focused on creating inspiring, meaningful, and enlightening films and stories.