Barry James Payne & String Bone

Barry James Payne & String Bone is a multi-award nominated original Alt-country/Blues Rock band with a dash of Folk and Singer-songwriter. During their performance you will hear well-written songs performed by 5 professional musicians ranging from uptempo 2-steps to ballads, 12-bar blues songs to straight-ahead rockers. Payne will tell stories about his life and the songs shaped by his experiences. This show is for engaged listening audiences, an intimate performer to audience dialogue. Well, you can party too! Get to know the music at the String Bone web-site or on your favourite streaming service before booking.

What we are NOT: A Cover band. We know a few obscure covers. Nothing wrong with cover bands, it's just not what we do. Thanks for your understanding.

Americana to the bone, Canadiana in the heart & soul

String Bone is the vehicle for singer-songwriter Barry James Payne. Born in London, Ontario, he moved to Vancouver at the age of 21, where he immersed himself in the music business, before moving to Toronto, Montreal and finally Stratford, Ontario where he is currently based.

The new lineup is comprised of Barry (guitar & vocals), Eric Lundgren (Electric guitar) from Wisconsin, USA, Geoff Jarvis (bass) and Craig Sharp (drums).

His writing incorporates Folk, Alt-Country, Blues and Rock, maybe better categorized as Americana or Canadiana. With a rock-blues stomp or a two-step Alt-country shuffle String Bone's music is infectious for tapping feet. A passionate vocalist, Payne’s songs reflect on social issues railing about racism, gun control, the equity gap, global warming, the refugee crisis, those that slip through the cracks of society or a bleak future for a down and outer.

Along with these very pertinent messages, Payne also writes compelling story vignettes of love’s regrets and sweet memories of past relationships, and then will tell you a story when he attended several smokey bar-room shows by the likes of  Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Luther Allison, Long John Baldry, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and others between the ages of 16 -19.

Payne was a core member of popular Canadian Celtic-Roots supergroup Rant Maggie Rant for over 12 years, during which time he performed with several orchestras and in many theatres and festivals across Canada and the US. His songs have been featured on three of their recordings and he produced their last two albums.

He has shared the stage with Juno (Canada's Grammy) nominees and winners and some among them include the late Bill Bourne, Danny Michel, Rick Taylor, Emm Gryner, Luke Doucet, Loreena McKennitt, Linda McRae, Jenny Whitely and he has collaborated with the likes of Ginger St. James, Sarah Jane Scouten, Shannon Lyon, Larry Treadwell (Cindi Lauper), Bob Egan (ex-Blue Rodeo, ex-Wilco), Allison Brown and many more.



Reviews:
"The creativity in making this track ('Wow! Oh Yeah') is so huge, .....on the same level of inventiveness as names like Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart without a shadow of a doubt." ~ (link hidden) (Brazil)

“...'Wow! Oh Yeah' is awesome. Total departure from the country sound… like, Talking Heads meets Nashville….. love it. It feels like Once in a Lifetime (which is a good thing) and attempts to answer the same questions… decades later, as nothing changes.” ~ Matt Wannan, Aeolian Hall (Canada)

The outback, isolated swagger of this one immediately fills the room with a sense of drama and depth. Feeling like a freshly composed addition to the Sons Of Anarchy soundtrack, Waitin’ For My Dyin’ Day has the workings of a timeless classic. - StereoStickman/Rebecca Cullen (UK)

“...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...” — Rod Nicholson, Scene Magazine (Canada)

“...'nadir' is truly a masterpiece” ~ Music Star (Germany)

''...'nadir' is an album that will 'grow' on you each time you listen to the songs because of the high quality of each individual song on the album, the superb vocals of Barry James Payne and the musical contributions of some undeniably professional musicians." ~ RootsTime (Belgium)



"...'nadir' is a richly decorated composition. Payne scores big as a lyrical talent because of his depth and a focused, refined approach that isn't over-produced and this effort heralds the arrival of a major songwriter." ~ JiveWired (USA)



"The strength of singer/songwriter String Bone is both in the lyrics and the melody of these folk/Americana songs which, on 'nadir' he lays out for you on a platter. If you can put out such terrific songs on a debut CD categorized as great, you must be a very gifted lyricist and songwriter. ‘nadir’ from String Bone is of an excellent high quality." ~ Alt-Country Forum (Holland)



"Payne is a talented songwriter with a vocal style recalling Elvis Costello." ~ K-W Record (Canada)

Pretty straight ahead 5-piece.
Barry - Vocals & electric/acoustic guitars
Eric - Electric guitars
Andy - Electric guitars & BGs
Geoff - Electric bass & BGs
Craig - Drums & BGs

Depending on the venue, we can go lean or full throttle, but basically drums and bass rig backline is preferred, but not necessary. Usually 16 inputs needed, but for smaller venues, can get away with 8.