A (rave) review of Kowetha! “Jim Wearne has produced a CD that captures a wonderful sense of Cornwall – he is melancholy, aggressive, witty and lyrical.  This is a singer whose resonant voice expresses the complex perspective of the Cornish descendant – he is increasingly confident of his cultural references, and he has found a group of friends whose arrangements are an enigmatic blend of America, Cornwall and the Celtic tradition.  It is exciting to see Jim slowly but surely gathering together the lone voices of the Cornish Diaspora into a musical community – There’s Heather Dale of Toronto flying a wild harmony on The Oggy man, and the best recording I’ve ever heard of Marion Howard duetting on Johnny Groat.  Kowetha is an accomplished, confident collection. It is a well-balanced set that explores Jim Wearne’s range. Mushy Peas and This Isn’t England are well observed, witty and literate hits.  Throughout, there is the deep, amused, passionate, resonant, and jolly, country, Cornish and accomplished voice of Jim Wearne. It is a voice that takes up the Cornish cudgel, and which has joyously found its cultural roots. The whole emotional experience of the émigré feels as if it’s woven into this voice, the sadness of the exile, the joy of the discoverer, and the confidence of a singer growing in stature and tone.  I find this collection deeply moving, and an excellent evocation of the enigmatic and complicated thing that is modern Kernow. I only wish that Jim would sing more of his own work – he is an imaginative, passionate and literate writer.” Bert Biscoe – review of Koetha, Cornish World #52, June/July 2007, p90 "Sings Cornish songs (and his own) with conviction and quiet passion" (Kernow Sound) "A most enjoyable selection, and a pretty useful general introduction to Cornish folk song"(Cyril Tawney) "A remarkable combination of American Culture superimposed upon familiar Cornish music. The evolution of Cornish folk music beyond the threshold over which so many are feared to tread. A rich fusion" (Cornish World) "For some years Jim has been ploughing a lonely furrow singing Cornish songs some 3,000 miles from their source - and a very sound job he does too. It is a cause for celebration that Cornish songs have travelled so well across the Atlantic and that Jim is not only a faithful performer of this traditional material, but also has real concern for Cornish issues. This album is not just about traditional Cornish Material. It also has a number of tracks by Jim. Some show a wicked sense of humour!" (Cornish World) My name is Jim Wearne, and I am a Cornish-American folk singer. That is, I perform songs from and about Cornwall. The songs I perform consist largely of traditional songs of Cornwall. I also include some that are not traditional, but celebrate some aspect of Cornwall from a contemporary viewpoint. For those unfamiliar with Cornwall, a bit of background: there are six Celtic kingdoms - Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Brittany and Cornwall. Cornwall occupies the far southwestern corner of the island of Britain. Cornwall was once a separate land with its own king. There is a Cornish language similar to Welsh. There are many aspects of Cornwall that to this day mark it as an entity distinct from England. It is nearly an island. It is a long peninsula, which is cut off almost entirely from the mainland by the river Tamar at the east. The western end of Cornwall is Land's End, with the Isles of Scilly just off the coast. There is much more to discover about Cornwall, and I try to include in my performances material that will fascinate audiences with the history, traditions, and living appeal of this enchanted and enchanting place. In May of 2002, I received the great honor of being made a Bard of the Cornish Gorseth. The Gorseth is an organization dedicated to the revival and advancement of Cornish language and culture. Potential Bards are nominated by current Bards, and then their nomination must be ratified by the membership of the Gorseth. Men and women are made Bards for many reasons: scholarship in language, art or history, service to Cornish cultural institutions, creative activities in the arts, and other reasons. There are Gorseths in all three of the Brythonic Celtic nations: Cornwall, Wales and Brittany. Bards traditionally take a Bardic name in the Cornish language. Mine is “Canor Gwanethtyr” or “Singer of the Prairie,” in honor of my strong roots in the American Midwest. "I have had the opportunity to meet this folk singer in America and discover his commitment to his music, his Cornish background and his ability to produce professional performances everywhere he went." (P.M.H.- Cornish World)