Local Spotlight: Thomas Clukey

For singer/songwriter Thomas Clukey, 2025 is turning out to be a banner year.

The 36-year-old Saco resident is originally from the small town of St. Albans. He was introduced to music at an early age, when his musician grandfather gave him a trumpet. Clukey played in band through elementary school, high school and college. While he once aspired to be a music teacher, he realized teaching wasn’t for him. He works as a software tester, but music is still very much in the forefront.

About a decade ago, Clukey won a karaoke contest at Spare Time Entertainment in Portland.  

“I never fancied myself a singer,” but the win sparked a confidence and a new interest in singing, and with the prize money he purchased a guitar.

He started performing in local venues, and then a few years ago decided to take making music more seriously and began writing songs. As the winner of the Wildwood Studio Songwriting Contest, he was awarded $500 in studio time, and as the winner of The Studio Portland Singer/Songwriter Contest he was awarded a live recording session.

His style is rooted in country and folk, with relatable lyrics that reflect working through the struggles and challenges of everyday life. Among his musical influences are Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers and John Denver.

Clukey released his first single, “Freedom’s Calling (Shovel),” locally in February, and the song has had airtime on WCLZ and Maine Music TV.

“This one’s about digging your way out—whatever that means to you,” said Clukey. “Sometimes you’ve got to work your way to freedom, and sometimes that work is the story itself.”

He’s collaborating with Plaid Dog Studio in Boston on his debut album, which he plans to release this summer pending the completion of a crowdfunding campaign. He is also working on a singer-songwriter project at Frog Hollow Studio.

Clukey is now host of a monthly open mic at One Longfellow Square in Portland. He said the first night, April 2, was “a smashing success.”

 “I’m trying to make it more about community and a place where artists play and grow and audience members find their next favorite Maine artist,” he said.

Clukey’s music can be found on YouTube, and he’s hoping to get his single released on Spotify later this year. On July 11, Clukey will play his first ticketed event at Capital Center for the Arts in Concord, New Hampshire, and he’s scheduled to perform at an upcoming music festival. He will also continue to perform at local venues and events.

“This is all amazing momentum. I think it’s only the beginning. I’ve had such amazing acceptance here locally. I think everyone is pulling for the home team locally,” he said.

For more information on Clukey and his music, go to https://www.thomascharlesclukey.com/ .

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.