Greg Klyma

Vagabond. Drifter. Vagrant. No matter what you call him, Klyma is proud to be it. After 10 years of traveling the nation, playing his brand of country, folk and roots rock, Klyma is back on tour to support his upcoming album, Rust Belt Vagabond. Klyma is well known on the festival circuit, and fans have fallen in love with his sincere, expressive acoustic songs. As he writes in the album’s liner notes, he’s been everywhere from Boston to Austin, and his music reflects his travels. The sad violin track “Roll Me Away” reveals Klyma’s desire to move on and never get too comfortable in one place. Still, no matter how many cities Klyma visits, his heart belongs to Buffalo. He even makes the ridiculous amount of snow the city is famous for sound appealing on the nostalgic “Two Degrees in Buffalo.” On Rust Belt Vagabond, Klyma combines homesickness, drinking stories and comical anecdotes, turning it into a reflective album that celebrates his 10-year anniversary. The Finer Things, Trailer Trash Band, Sick and Tom Bianchi open at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124). Tickets: $8. — Brittany Moseley

Ten years ago this week, Greg Klyma was fired from his last straight job. Born and bred in Buffalo, Klyma nonetheless hit the road to try his luck as a traveling musician, and that’s the only job he’s had since. This weekend, Klyma celebrates at least two landmarks: 10 years as a professional musician and the release of Rust Belt Vagabond, his fifth full-length recording. The 10 songs on Rust Belt Vagabond evince maturity not only in the lyrics but in Klyma’s presentation of his work. His vocals and his instrumentation—always strong—have become deeply nuanced and, well, professional. I guess that’s what 10 years on the road making music for a living will do for you. Broadway Joe’s open mic night was the site of Klyma’s amateur debut in 1992, and soon the club became his home away from home. Now Klyma’s homes away from home are in Austin, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts, and he’s bringing some friends from both cities to town for this show: Austin’s the Finer Things will open, and Klyma will be joined by Boston’s Tom Bianchi on bass and Austin’s Sick on fiddle. Buffalo’s Ookla the Mok will play the final set of the night.

—geoff kelly

Klyma has been traveling the country like a man hellbent on becoming Buffalo’s own Woody Guthrie for more than a decade now. He’s truly an independent artist — Klyma is on the road most of the year, and he goes it alone, slowly but surely building up a following in the cities he frequents. “Rust Belt Vagabond” — apt title, that — is Klyma’s strongest effort yet, a collection of the songwriter’s wry insights and winsome chord structures, with a wonderful take on the traditional “Erie Canal” sealing the deal. Catch him live next Friday night in Broadway Joe’s, 3051 Main St. - Jeff Miers

For fans of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Bob Dylan, Dave Van Ronk.