Chris Buckley is best know in Texas as the powerful fiddle player with Cluan and the Tea Merchants. He has studied and performed music from a very young age. His introduction into the tradition of Irish fiddle came when he was 14 years old under the teaching and influences of the renowned Irish fiddler, Martin Dowling. Chris has also studied under the direction of world-class fiddle players Liz Carroll, Brendan Mulvihill, and James Kelly. Since that time Chris himself has gone on to become an accomplished performer in the tradition. He was the recipient of the 1996 Ed Ward Scholarship, awarded annually at the Milwaukee Irish Festival. He has won first place awards in the Midwestern Fleadh Cheoil, allowing him to compete in two All-Ireland world competitions. While in Ireland, Chris appeared on Radio Kerry as well as RTE, the National Irish Broadcasting Company, participating in a special featuring American performers of Irish music. At the All-Ireland competition Chris was invited to perform on the "Guinness Big Rig." In 1996 he was named National Senior Fiddling Champion at the Fleadh Cheoil in Chicago. Chris comes to Austin by way of Minneapolis, MN, where he was a regular performer in local Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis pubs. He also has multiple performances at Milwaukee's Irish Fest and Summerfest to his credit, and performed for the first time this past March at the North Texas Irish Festival. He is an original member of the Milwaukee based Irish group, 180 and the Letter G. A highlight of his performing career came when he was invited to perform alongside James Kelley, Charlie Mulvihill, and Zan McCleod at the 1997 Milwaukee Irish Fest.