Five Minutes With: Calgary Americana Musician T. Buckley

Award-winning songwriter T. Buckley is a rare craftsman in today’s musical landscape—quietly steadfast, steeped in tradition, and fiercely dedicated to the art of storytelling. Grounded in his Western roots, Buckley’s voice carries a soulful authenticity, the kind that feels timeless and hard-earned. His songs evoke a class of songwriting that is both deeply personal and universally resonant—long revered, yet rarely achieved.

Drawing influence from the Laurel Canyon and New York café scenes of the 1960s, Buckley writes with empathy, nuance, and an eye for evocative detail. His commitment to his craft has led him to showcase and festival stages across North America, earning accolades and a growing reputation as a singular voice in Canadian roots music.

His most recent album, Frame by Frame, has garnered widespread acclaim, earning nominations from the Canadian Folk Music Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards, as well as a Calgary Music Award for Best Folk Recording.

A versatile performer, Buckley tours in several configurations: solo, as part of The Woodshed duo with fellow Albertan John Wort Hannam, and alongside his sister, acclaimed songwriter Mariel Buckley. But it’s with his acoustic trio—known for its rich harmonies and delicate arrangements—that Buckley’s storytelling truly shines, delivering unforgettable live performances.

T. Buckley

Name:

T. Buckley

Genre:

Americana

Founded:

2010

# of Albums:

5

Latest Album:

Frame by Frame

Latest Single:

Dust Down a Country Road (John Hiatt)

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

The Tragically Hip

Favourite musician now:

James McMurtry, Bruce Springsteen, Sarah Jarosz

Guilty pleasure song:

Angel, Aerosmith – admittedly cheesy, but I think it’s one of the best of the 80s power ballads

Live show ritual:

I’m not a real superstitious gu,y so I don’t know that I have any one thing I have to do before performing – a whiskey to calm the nerves a bit, maybe?

Favourite local musician:

There are so many great ones out here these days. Wyatt C. Louis is really great. I just did a songwriter round with Morgan Klaiber and really enjoyed hearing her songs.

EP or LP:

LP

Early bird or night owl:

Early bird for sure

Road or studio:

I love both; they’re very different spaces, and the creative thrill the studio can bring you is quite special. I love playing live as well…I don’t think I can pick one, sorry

Where can we follow you?

WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

There are a lot of really great ones….DOPO maybe?

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

I’m gonna say 2nd Ave NE, cause we just moved into that area of town and we’re just really loving it.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Rotary Park is stunning and close to home for us now. Late May and early June are so beautiful here.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Ironwood Stage and Grill has been putting on great music for a long time now, and Pat and the staff there have always been so good to me

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Probably Blackbyrd Myoozik.

 

About Emilea Semancik 234 Articles
Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: