Artist Spotlight: Old Bones Buffalo

Singer/songwriter Martin Finnie first fell in love with music when he began playing in a cover band in his teens. Shortly after, he got his first guitar and has never looked back. 

Although he’s played in several local groups throughout the years including with The Farmers and The Route 10 Collective, he now plays under the moniker of Old Bones Buffalo and serves his audience, a multi-genre and awe-inspiring blend of folk, rock, indie, and country.

Finnie spoke with us about getting his start and how his fellow Manitoban songwriters and the gorgeous landscape of our province has helped shaped his music. 

Can you take me through your musical journey? How did you get started in music?
I first started singing in a local cover band when I was about 17 years old, and then I got a guitar for my graduation and began writing songs and fell in love with that. I think the first place I started recording was with Del Clark at Studio 1 in Brandon. It was a very awesome experience. I was in there doing some recording, and Murray Pulver was around and started inspiring me, and I just kept with writing and composing songs. 

How have you seen yourself grow since you first started writing?
I think I have seen myself smoothing out the edges I guess; finding better ways to communicate the things I’m inspired by. I’m also an organic farmer, and I’ve been continually inspired by living on the land, being in nature, and watching and listening to my surroundings, seeing all the plants grow and I’ve always just drawn from big skies and open spaces. I’ve been able to branch out to some different genres; some of my songs span from reggae to country to more folk-rock.

I guess it helps too that, as you mentioned, you’ve worked with other artists in the past, and have become inspired by them along the way.
Absolutely. The Farmers was the first original music band I was in with Thomas Matthews who plays the fiddle, Jody Weeger and Patrick Sullivan. I’ve really drawn a lot of inspiration from those players; as well as Logan McKillop. 

You’re a farmer, and a musician and this festival is very much dedicated to celebrating both of those industries. From both your perspectives, why is Harvest Sun so essential to have in Manitoba?
For me, it’s really about that celebration of the land and our connection with it. We all eat food, we all enjoy clean water if we’re lucky. To celebrate that with music, I find that it draws a strong connection and is very nourishing for the soul. It truly builds a community around food, song, and people together perfectly. 
It’s also nice to recognize that there are people who still get their hands in the dirt, put their love, their care, their time, their sweat, and their tears into how we live. It’s nice to see people reunited with that spirit. 

Catch at Old Bones Buffalo at The Harvest Sun Music Festival in Kelwood, MB - August 16 -18th.​
Be sure to check out @harvestsunmusicfest on Instagram on July 4th, as Martin takes over our account for the day!

---

Interview by Janet Adamana
Janet Adamana is the Founder/Editor-In-Chief of Sound, Phrase & Fury Magazine - a Winnipeg-based digital publication dedicated to promoting independent artists and industry professionals from all over the world. More than just about inciting hype, she interviews/writes to capture an artists’ essence and their greatest passions to ignite meaningful connections between fans and really great bands.