Taking the catchy classic rock sound he was raised on and adding his own honest tales of memories and misdemeanors, Garrett Barbuto has released his solo debut album Growing Wild & Old. Strikingly autobiographical, Growing Wild & Old is the best kind of freewheeling Canadiana that possesses a universal appeal that connects to anyone who has made mistakes and has the good grace (or fortune) to look back on them with a maturing perspective.
Set against the backdrop of the vast, and mostly untamed terrain of Canada are countless stories from individuals spanning centuries. Every kilometer of paved or foot-trodden routes bears significance to someone who may be running away, exploring, or looking for a place to put down roots. This feeling of movement without destination permeates the entirety of Growing Wild & Old. Released in its entirety on June 5 via Bandcamp, the album blends the intimate storytelling of classic 70s singer-songwriter vulnerability, classic rock energy, and a Chicago blues slickness.
Barbuto delivers each line with the effortless cool of someone who knows they have a great story to tell, and remembers something new every time they tell it. Based on his travels that started in a small Northern Ontario town to the culture-shocking rues of Montreal and finally across to the wild west of Alberta, Barbuto’s words are road-worn and genuine. Preceded by dramatically different singles “Lasting On” and “Rouyn-Noranda”, Growing Wild & Old takes on the traits of the surroundings that inspired each track. Barbuto’s choice to switch between acoustic and electric throughout the album adds a dynamic and driving element to the reflective nature of the lyrics. Supported by a tight back up band including saxophones, trumpet, and keyboards, Growing Wild & Old captures the essence of jubilance and hopefulness (“Sunshine Coast”) as well as the pain of longing (“Next Time I’m Home”).
Marking a strong solo debut by Garrett Barbuto, Growing Wild & Old is just that – it’s about growth and the influence your surroundings have on you. From the hometown that raised you to the far off places that ultimately shape you, this album is a love letter to the distances you travel and what brings you back to whatever feels like home.
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Bio:
Garrett Barbuto is a Calgary-based rock ‘n’ roll artist originally from South Porcupine, Ontario. After teaching himself guitar at 20 and cutting his teeth in Southern Ontario bars, Barbuto moved west to Calgary in 2018 with a suitcase and no connections, building a reputation in Alberta’s live music bar scene with his band The Hot Pursuit. Drawing inspiration from many 70s singer-songwriters’ vulnerable lyricism and Bruce Springsteen’s working-class storytelling, Barbuto writes straight-ahead rock anthems that explore Canadian identity through the lens of East-meets-West experience. His debut solo LP captures stories of province-hopping, Prairie mythology, and the quiet pride of a second-generation Canadian finding his voice in the foothills. A Milwaukee Tool rep by day and bar band leader by night, Barbuto has played venues from Banff’s Rose & Crown to Calgary’s downtown circuit, always prioritizing tight musicianship and songs that let Canadians see themselves reflected back.
