String Bone

Canadiana / Americana best describes the music of Canadian singer-songwriter Barry James Payne. A mix of folk, blues, country, rock and other contemporary and traditional elements harder to pin-point.

When performing with his band String Bone, Payne brings his true life narratives close to the ear with tender arrangements supporting his gruff sincerity, well worn by the rumble of the road.

Payne also performs and records with other musical projects including Celtic powerhouse ‘Rant Maggie Rant’ and with bluesman Rick Taylor (Willie P. Bennett, Stan Rogers, Colleen Peterson) in their roots duo, ‘Payne & Taylor’.

Payne’s dedication to music sparked his 9-year running concert series ‘String Bone Presents!’ bringing the best of Canadian folkroots to the stage at various venues in his home-town of Stratford, ON. Artists such as Danny Michel, Mary Gauthier, Madison Violet, Luke Doucet, Bill Bourne, Lynn Miles and Romi Mayes, among many others.

In 2018, Payne along with Taylor, co-produced a series of shows across Southern Ontario & Toronto as a tribute to Payne’s song-writing idol and Taylor’s long-time good friend, Willie P. Bennett. Guests included Russell deCarle, Tannis Slimmon, Linda McRae, Deni Gauthier, Paul Langille, Lynne Hanson and many more. His latest record, ’Love & Highways’ (2016) drives through darkness, betrayal and remorse towards love, light, escape and freedom on the road ahead with Payne at the wheel.

“…on his new album Love & Highways he’s managed to capture the often elusive mysterious country/roots music vibe that’s been mined to great effect by T Bone Burnett…..these songs are honest and telling due to a total lack of pretension or insincerity.”
~ Rod Nicholson, Scene Magazine (London, ON, Canada).