Former Melbourne music teacher Sam Buckley ditched the nine-to-five after Covid infamously shut down his state. He set off in a motorhome to realise his dream as a full-time professional musician. As one of Australia’s best blues acts, Sam recently released two singles with Memphis blues legend Lester Snell. Yelo music editor Penny Brand chatted with him about his painful past and life on the road.

Music is about survival for many of us. 

Australian blues musician Sam Buckley can attest to this.

Like the African-American cotton pickers who used traditional folk and gospel to soothe their souls after back-breaking days, Sam sings and strums through his own pain.

“Blues originally came from a lot of suffering and field hollering in the deep Mississippi,” Sam says.

“The music came out of their torture and challenges, mixed in with hope that came from the church. That got them through.

“Blues is an expression of the all-encompassing experience – all emotions – sad, happiness, peace, fear, torture, agony – it’s all in there.”

Sam says to play the blues you have to be comfortable with expressing yourself.

“There’s a level of depth you need to go to if you want to play it.”

The true essence of music

He says music is about connection.

“It’s essentially what musicians do and why I play music. It’s not just about me displaying my skills. To me the audience comes first.

“I try to take the listeners on a journey, and find that groove orientation which allows people to latch onto the music.

“Musicians are expressing their life’s experience and allowing people to process what they are hearing in a safe way. I’ve been through a lot, but I’m always finding a positive outlook.

“I guess it’s by necessity. If I wasn’t positive, I wouldn’t have survived what I’ve been through.” 

Sam fell deeply in love with music at the age of 12 at his faraway home on the family’s 100-acre rural property at Barraganyatti, between Kempsey and Macksville, New South Wales.

“I got my love of my music from my dad. I played at church every week – gospel and folky tunes from Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Bread. Dad played me a lot of old-school 60s stuff like Cream, Blind Faith, Mountain, and ‘Caravanserai’ by Santana.”

A lonely childhood for Sam Buckley

The eldest of four, Sam was home-schooled until grade 10.

“There was a lot anxiety in the house, but music helped me manage my soul. It soothed me and came naturally. I could hear a melody and just play it.

“I used the unusualness of my childhood to motivate me to be the musician I am. It became the fuel I needed to get on stage and play with fire and intensity; giving me the extra mile.”

Escaping pandemic lockdowns

The 43-year-old left his professional music teaching career to escape the savage Covid-lockdowns and economic squeeze in 2021.

He now lives a free life with partner Amelia, touring the country’s east coast, and performing and recording.

Sam’s music offers deep, southern twangs and feel-good grooves, taking his audience through a sonically-beautifully, blues wonderland.

He is prolific on the road, playing 250 gigs in under two years, between Brisbane and Lorne. 

Sam has a solo live looping show, but also plays in a duo with drummer Grant Gerathy (pictured) who has played with John Butler and Pete Murray. 

“Gran’t a great drummer and he’s a lovely guy as well.” 

The pair are top-level instrumentalists and no strangers to touring.

A life of touring with Sam Buckley

Sam has played at 100 music festivals world-wide.

Before taking on his nomadic life, he was head of instrumental music at Prahran State High School, where he started the school’s music program.

Sam toured with Melbourne band Dreamboogie for nine years from 2012, winning Band of the Year in 2018.

He’s supported major Aussie acts Ash Grunwald, Katie Noonan and Ray Beadle, and performed at Sunshine Coast’s Woodford Folk Festival and Gold Coast’s Broadbeach Blues Festival.

His band even competed at the International Blues Competition in Memphis in 2016, playing at the famous B.B. King’s Blues Club.

A serendipitous moment with a blues legend

While on the road, Sam struck a deal with legendary Memphis mainstay Lester Snell.

An organ and keyboard player, Snell has worked extensively with blues greats B.B. King, Eddie Floyd, David Porter, and Isaac Hayes. 

“I was lucky to even get him to do it. A friend of mine gave me his email. It was incredible to even find Lester because he’s almost impossible to reach him. He’s not on social media or anything.” 

Sam’s dedication and stroke of luck landed him a 10-track record at Snell’s Royal Studios.

It’s where Al Green famously recorded his much-revered songs.

“I emailed (Lester) a couple of tracks and asked him 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.”

With Snell’s expertise, Sam has released two singles, “Rock Me Baby” and “Blue Ocean” since last year.

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

“I recorded all the tracks at my home studio, with vocals, and bass, rhythm, and lead guitars, then sent it to Lester in a digital format.

“He used that as a template and he could hear what I wanted. He then arranged the tracks with his players, an organ, drums, and rhythm guitar.

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

Finding a sound

Sam says to stand out as a musician is to create something different.

“If you compare say Ash Grunwald to someone who can play just as well, but isn’t as popular, you can see he’s found his own unique sound.

“Ash is someone who has really done that so well. And he is blessed with that beautiful big voice, of course. But he’s got that groove, and deep, rock rhythm that he has developed himself.

“The people who are going to get the gigs, engineer a sound that people can appreciate, and they have a commitment to telling a story as open as possible, and as honestly.

“Ash is untouchable in that way.

“My stuff is heart-orientated, and refined it in lots of parts. I don’t think there’s anyone really doing what I’m doing in the live looping blues scene.”

Sam Buckley’s third single, “The Great Escape”, is out later this month.

Catch Sam Buckley in 2024

Jetty Beach House, Coffs Harbour, February 11, 12.30pm-3.30pm 

The Irish Club Hotel, Toowoomba, March 22

Dungowan Day Out, Dungowan, April 6 (SOLD OUT)

The Big Chill, Armidale, May 18-19

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

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

This is a sponsored story.