We have a well know folk song from James Findlay as our Song of the Day. Folk songs abound with jilted lovers although the next steps vary, from comical to the grim – revenge, pregnancy or in the case of Barbara Allen, death. There are apparently hundreds of versions of the song and the characters have befuddled many – the hard-hearted Barbara and her supposed wimpish lover who gives up the fight for her heart on the grandest scale possible has led to wide speculation that Barbara may have been a witch, prostitute or even a poisoner (The New Penguin Book of Folk Song – Julia Bishop and Steve Roud). Whatever the reasons for this ill-fated match (mis-match), you can’t beat a good folk song about love and death on a Friday.
2015 saw James team up as a trio with Double Bassist and flautist Jon Dyer and Mandolin and Guitarist Alfie Gidley and a new album is arriving soon according to his website. In the meantime catch him on tour, he’s a superb folksinger, guitarist and fiddle player and he always goes down a treat with his audience. He’s also a very good photographer…
Photo credit: James Findlay