Kingston singer-songwriter, Jay Smith, built his career as a working musician regularly playing local venues, festivals, weddings, parties, and whatever other opportunities his efforts earned him. It's no surprise that "Smitty" also earned his reputation as one of Kingston's most beloved, respected and in-demand musical performers, whose recorded releases put him on a trajectory most songwriters would aspire to. Following the COVID-19 lockdowns that saw the shut-down of many Canadian live music venues, Jay Smith—with the clarity of over a decade of sobriety—chose to pursue his dream of opening his own music venue. On this episode, we explore how Smith's venue, The Buckle, brought to life Smith's vision for a Nashville-inspired Kingston music venue, and how it's transcended an initial reputation as a "country bar" to become a hub for both emerging local and touring musicians looking to catch their break. Posted: Nov 29, 2024 Originally Published: Nov 29, 2024