Cross-Canada trabadour helps Maple Creek’s market end season on a high note

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Marcus Day

Maple Creek News

Hayden Goss is a travelling one-man band, a multi-instrumentalist who uses a loop pedal to create a full sound, sleeps in his car while touring, spends all his tips on gas money and food, and will go wherever there is a gig.

He was in Brooks on Thursday, in Maple Creek on Friday, and in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba on Saturday. On Wednesday, he will be in Nova Scotia, and the next day in Halifax.

When he arrives in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on Saturday, September 19, his focus will switch from touring to studying at Memorial University.

By then he will have performed 40 times this summer in 25 cities throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

“I have been performing a number of years; as long as I can remember,” he said. “But I’ve only been doing this full-time since June 20. Before that I worked as a restaurant manager.

“At the moment this is my only source of income.”

Sometimes he won’t make enough in a day to cover expenses, with less than $30 ending up in his tips container, sometimes he will easily clear three figures. Once, a passer-by left a $100 bill.

“A lot of days I lose money, but there are enough good days to outweigh the bad. I feel if you love doing what you do, you can figure it all out.”

Last week, Goss appeared at the last Maple Creek Farmers’ Market of the season in Hawrylak Park. How did it go?

“It went really well,” he said. “People were very generous. I hope to come back to Maple Creek.”

It was a day of firsts for Goss and the market: he had never been to Maple Creek before, and the market had never hosted a busker before.

“Getting gigs is easy for me right now. I can play somewhere every day. Come fall and winter, there won’t be as many options.”

After arriving at about 9am, he got under way at 9.15am, playing music from different decades, ranging from covers of U2 and Fleetwood Mac to Bon Iver and Jason Mraz. Three of the biggest crowdpleasers were included:  With Or Without You (U2), I’m Yours (Jason Mraz), and Sign of Times (Harry Stiles).

He also played Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You as a tribute to the “Queen of Country”, who died on August 25 at the age of 80.

“I sing a song that you recognize, and then put it into my own style,” he said. “I build each song layer by layer in real time. That is all part of the show.”

Goss is always willing to take requests, which means he might perform a song unfamiliar to him.

“I like to challenge myself, and learn a song on the spot. For the most part, it is easy. I Google the lyrics and read them off my phone.”

Goss is also starting to explore composition.

“I’ve only written two songs. I performed one yesterday, Some Day. It’s a ballad and only has two chords. The song creates a sense of tension because it never really resolves.

“The lyrics are about loving somebody, but the relationship is not going anywhere. You are longing for something more and have different plans. “

Goss took piano lessons a child, and later learned to play the trumpet. He got a diploma at Langley, British Columbia, before upgrading  his qualification to a Bachelor of Music at Vancouver Community College.

His next goal is to complete a Bachelor of Education.

“I would like teach band class at high school,” he said. “I can always continue to busk on the side.”