Chris Buck's passion for music begins with his songwriting.
"I like doing my own writing. I tend to co-write with people but I don't tend to use songs I haven't written. It's just a fine thing to give yourself over to an idea, work it until you find a story. It's a real craft," says the British Columbian country star, a four-time BC Music Awards winner.
The frontman for the Chris Buck Band adds he spent years honing his craft, which was most recently put to work in the creation of the band's self-titled album. It's the band's first.
"It was one of the cool things about the album. It meant a lot to co-write all the songs on it, very often that doesn't happen in recording country music these days," Buck says.
"It has been a long time coming. The album took about two years to make."
The Chris Buck Band album comes out on April 21.
Its first single, released earlier this year, is "Giddy Up," which is like a missing link between country rock and a Top-40 friendly pop, with great, danceable playing by the rest of the band, Michael Vanderlans, Taylor Allum and Paul Kinman. Buck calls "Giddy Up" his favourite song.
"It's a good time, party time kind of anthem," he says.
"We wanted it to be the first release because I think it really connects with people and what we try to do as a band."
The Chris Buck Band is performing on the Free Fido Outdoor Concert Series on Wednesday, April 12, during the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. The series is located on the main stage at Skier's Plaza in the village.
The band is backed up for the show by Pemberton country rockers Dakota Pearl, which is first on stage at 2 p.m.
The origins of Buck's commitment to a future in music came in when he was just 13 years old in Vancouver and he lost his best friend Tevin Kohler to cancer.
"He was always my biggest supporter. I started playing more after that and tried to follow my dreams," Buck recalls.
This profound personal loss then led to years on the road as a teenager and in his early 20s, playing around B.C. — he played bars, clubs and festivals, and performing on albums for other country musicians.
By the time he formed his own band and they released their first single, "Caribbean Dream" in 2013, he was ready for more.
In 2016, the track "Keep Your Light On" won Best Country Song at the prestigious Unsigned Only Music Competition in Nashville. Not a bad accolade, Buck agrees.
"The band has been together now for a decade and we played the bar scene together for seven or eight years," Buck says.
"We're now at the point where we are fine tuned, can pick up anywhere in a song together and get the room jumping."
The first week of the WSSF concert series offers 15 acts, including local musicians and those from further afield. There is something every day.
Friday, April 7: Virginia To Vegas, with Jon Shrier opening, kicks off at 7 p.m.;
Saturday, April 8: Walk Off the Earth, with Willa and JennaMae and the Groove Section opening, starts at 1 p.m.;
Sunday, April 9: Busty and the Bass, with Grandson opening, starts at 2 p.m.;
Monday, April 10: Northern Ignition and The Funky Snow Monkeys perform, starting at 2 p.m.;
Tuesday, April 11: Brother Twang and Red Chair perform, starting at 2 p.m.;
Wednesday, April 12: Chris Buck, with Dakota Pearl opening; and
Thursday, April 13: Swollen Members with Kyprios perform, starting at 7 p.m.
For more information on WSSF music, visit www.wssf.com.
