Spotlight on Mark Wallney for the Buddy Holly Summer Showcase

This week's Summer Showcase presents Mark Wallney, whose biography states he was born in Chicago, Illinois and was raised in a few other states before his family ultimately settled in Lubbock during his junior high and high school years.

Wallney started playing guitar at the age of 8. After moving to Las Vegas, he studied guitar with Jimmy Kaye, a graduate of the Juliard School of Music. Wallney has been performing for 40 years and does so locally with a band called The Hat Trick, which blends together the sounds of classic, rock and folk music to create their unique calming sound.

I obviously couldn't write about Wallney without giving his music a listen and seeing where it would transport me. I was impressed to where I theoretically traveled.

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Wallney's music sounds is a lazy August Sunday right before the first day of school. It's calming and brings a last day of swimming at the pool for the summer vibe. When I dived deeper into Wallney's music, there's also a rustic small-town vibe that I wholeheartedly love. I was transported to Lysha's Handcrafted Food in Shallowater, enjoying a fresh made hamburger with a cold Dr Pepper under the string lights while the sun is more than halfway set. As someone who loves to see where music can transport me, this was the most relaxing trip I could possible have taken.

Mark Wallney will play The Buddy Holly Summer Showcase at the Meadows Courtyard at the Buddy Holly Center on Thursday, July 21st, 2022 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Admission is free to the public. Outside food and beverages, chairs, picnic blankets and pets are not allowed. Wallney's music can be found on YouTube or Spotify to help you enjoy those lingering bits of summer and warm sunsets.