As blues takes over Broadbeach, Australian music legend Sam Buckley is preparing for his big show at Miami Marketta on May 18.

Sam will play a two-hour set to coincide with Blues on Broadbeach, which runs from May 16-19 on the Gold Coast.

One of the country’s best blues acts, Sam recently released three singles with Memphis blues legend Lester Snell.

Lester has worked with the likes of B.B. King, Eddie Floyd, David Porter, and Isaac Hayes. 

Sam’s sound offers deep, southern, face-melting twangs and cosmically-charged grooves, taking his audience on a sonically-beautiful blues journey.

“I do blues in my own way, I’m very particular,” he says.

“I’ve got my own groove and sound. I’m expressing more of myself, rather than regurgitating what others do. I’m very passionate about trying not to be like that and give it my own.”

Sam says to play the blues you must be comfortable within yourself.

“There’s a level of depth you need to go to if you want to play it, and there’s a commitment to telling a story as openly as possible, and as honestly.”

The former Melbourne high school teacher, who escaped Covid lockdowns to embrace a full-time career as a musician, is prolific on the road, playing 250 gigs in under two years, between Brisbane and Lorne. 

Catch him on the ABC Gold Coast Morning Show for a live acoustic performance on May 17 at 10am.

Gold Coast a “vibe” for original live music

Sam says the Gold Coast and Byron Bay regions are thirsty for original and diverse music.

“There’s an energy in the air up there,” he says.

“It’s so culturally rich, and they are both attractive places to write poetry.

“They tend to draw people in and there’s more work for artists there. They cater to a more touristy destination, and musicians, actors, and people tend to gravitate to them.

“A lot of revellers come through looking for a bigger variety of music and the venues are more open-minded.”

Sam says new gen less likely to see live music

With music festivals being cancelled across the country, there’s mounting pressure to keep music and cultural experiences alive in communities.

The Covid lockdowns and a new “online generation” have also seen less young people seeing live music, Sam says.

“We have a new online generation from the pandemic, and we need to educate them to experience real life.”

Blues on Broadbeach is a free event, with more than 65 international and homegrown artists, plus 16 indoor and outdoor stages.

Blues on Broadbeach bigger than ever

“Blues on Broadbeach is an amazing festival. It’s free and put on by the venues,” Sam says.

“They have 100,000 people expected this year. It’s going to be a big one.

“People come from all over Australia and a lot of Melbourne blues lovers fly up for it.

“There’s a big blues community in Sydney too, and all that crew travels up to Broadbeach. It really draws the purest blues lovers from the capital cities.”

Working with Memphis legend Lester Snell

While on the road as a working musician, Sam struck a deal with Memphis mainstay Lester Snell.

“It was incredible to even find Lester because he’s almost impossible to reach him.

“He’s not on social media or anything.” 

Sam found Lester’s email through a working connection and threw caution to the wind.

“I emailed him a couple of tracks and asked if he could do an album for me. He wrote back within a few days and said: ‘hell yeah, Sam what a groove’.

“It was amazing.”

The email landed Sam a 10-track record at Lester’s Royal Studios, where Al Green famously recorded his much-revered songs.

With Lester’s expertise, Sam released two songs “Rock Me Baby” and “Blue Ocean” last year, and “The Great Escape” earlier this year.

The first two songs reached number six and seven on the AMRAP charts consecutively.

“Every person playing on that album is a bona fide music legend.”

Sam’s upcoming gigs

The Big Chill, Armidale, May 18-19

ABC Gold Coast Morning Show (live acoustic performance), May 17 @ 10am

Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, May 18

The Lawrence Lantern Festival, May 25

Fed Blues Fest, Bellingen, New South Wales, May 27

Cronulla Blues and Jazz Festival Festival, C.C. Babcoq Cronulla, June 1

For bookings and more on Sam Buckley head to his website: https://www.sambuckleymusic.com.

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