Barry James Payne & String Bone

Barry James Payne & STRING BONE

Americana to the bone, Canadiana in the heart & soul

Barry James Payne is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose career spans more than 40 years across stages, studios, and the inner workings of the music industry. Based in Stratford, Ontario, Payne is best known as the driving force behind String Bone, an Americana-rooted project that blends folk, blues, and roots rock into a distinctly Canadian perspective.

Payne’s musical journey began early, first behind a drum kit before moving to guitar and songwriting as a teenager. Like many artists of his era, his formative years were shaped not just by records, but by live music—absorbing everything from classic rock to blues and folk traditions.

In those early years, he performed in a range of bands, including London's Everest and Vancouver's Linear-B, a project that played a key role in developing his identity as both a songwriter and bandleader. These experiences gave him his first real taste of the struggles and realities of being a fulltime musician.

Payne’s path would take a significant turn. Stepping away from performing for a time, he moved into the business side of music, working in promtion and record distribution across Western Canada and later running his own publicity company and independent label, BangOn Press Relief and BangOn Records, respectively. This chapter gave him a rare, inside-out understanding of the industry—how music is not only created, but positioned, promoted, and sustained.

When he returned to songwriting and performance, it wasn’t a reinvention—it was a continuation, informed by years of perspective. His work with String Bone reflects that depth, combining storytelling with themes that range from personal relationships to broader social issues.

Releases such as nadir and Love & Highways showcase a writer unafraid to explore darker corners—loss, regret, and resilience—while still searching for light. Newer singles such as ‘Wow! Oh Yeah!’ and ‘Waiting For My Dying Day’ describe the world as a burned-out car, the first song, sarcastically, the second one, in desperation.

In addition to his solo work, Payne spent 12 years as a core member of the now-defunct Celtic fusion group Rant Maggie Rant. During that time, he performed across Canada and in orchestral settings, while also writing much of the band’s original material and producing their final two albums.

As a performer, Payne brings a lived-in authenticity to the stage. Whether in intimate rooms or larger venues, his shows are grounded in experience—songs delivered with the weight of someone who has seen the industry from every angle.

At its core, Barry James Payne’s music is about truth—the kind that only comes with time, detours, and the long road back.

Reviews:

“...'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)
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." ~ Roadie-Music.com (Brazil)