Mariel Buckley’s path from the barrooms of Calgary to concert halls across Canada has seen an exponential growth and maturity as a songwriter and performer. While she now splits her time between Edmonton and Nashville, Calgary is the city where she learned to express herself, and the city that witnessed the first steps of her career. She now takes her place among nationally revered performers with her first Juno win – 2026 Contemporary Roots – for her third full-length record, 2025’s Strange Trip Ahead.

The album finds Buckley leaning into vulnerable feelings of nostalgia for lost loves and old times, with a lush and clean production that accents the raw emotion of her performances and leaves Buckley’s songs room to breathe as they take centre stage. Strange Trip Ahead pulls the reins back a touch from its more deliberately atmospheric predecessor, Everywhere I Used To Be, and Buckley takes advantage of the wider spaces with her clever melodies and evocative lyrics standing at the fore of the mix. The anthemic, adventurous sonic abandon remains a big part of her sound, adding to the experience, but never overshadowing the potency of her songwriting.

Given the time and dedication required to establish yourself as a national touring artist, it’s important to enjoy the journey. For all the heartaching songs and hard miles travelled, Mariel Buckley has earned every handshake, hug, high five — and this celebratory homecoming — the old-fashioned way, and it all began right here in the dimly lit joints of Calgary.

- Mike Dunn