| | June 5, 2026 (Calgary, AB) // Calgary-based rock artist Garrett Barbuto opens the next chapter of his debut solo album, Growing Wild & Old, today with the release of double singles “Rouyn-Noranda” and “Lasting On.” In addition to the double single, Barbuto has released the entire album on Bandcamp for those who would like to listen to it in its entirety before it becomes widely available on other streaming services over the coming year. It is only fitting that this album by an artist whose lyrics focus more on the story than on a single instance should be released in this way.
Of the two tracks, “Rouyn-Noranda” is immediately striking. It’s a slick and sweat-drenched song that draws on the attitude of old-school blues rock, yet incorporates surprises that prevent the song from becoming anything but a knock-off. An unexpected falsetto injects tension into a song about youthful indiscretion and hazy concepts of adulthood. The song has been crafted around a certain ritual unique to young Ontarians coming to Quebec to experience their first moment of adulthood in years of bad decisions. |
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“Lasting On” is different from this. The song features free flowing verses and an upbeat chorus. Instead of the passionate vibe of the night, the listener hears a relaxed, reflective feel. The acoustic guitar is replaced by powerful beats and electric guitars, making the track flow smoothly. Unlike Rouyn-Noranda, which explores the thrill of experiences, Lasting On seems more concerned about what’s left behind.
The songs serve as a double portrait of Barbuto’s songwriting. On one hand, there is a focus on mythology and movement; on the other, patience and introspection, all linked back to an approach to rock that prizes character over polish. To a generation of listeners coming around to the appeal of classic rock via reissues and playlists, Barbuto provides something more down-to-earth than revivalism. His songs do not mimic the past but rather embody it, imperfections and all. |
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Garrett Barbuto // Credit: Mike Maciaszek |
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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. |
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