A YOUNG Dorchester musician is in the running for a top award.

Self employed James Findlay is through to the semi-finals of the BBC Young Folk Awards 2010, which is designed to showcase the country’s young talent in traditional and folk music.

James, 21, began his musical career at the age of eight when he learnt to play the fiddle.

He said: “My parents, and step-dad are all singers. I was not pushed into it, I enjoy it and decided to carry it on.”

In 2008 James won the New Roots national competition for young musicians and his prize was a session in a professional recording studio.

He said: “I recorded my album As I Carelessly Did Stray in the session. They thought I would only get two tracks done but in fact I managed 14.”

James said his friends had always supported him in his musical endeavours.

He said: “Folk music is something my mates wouldn’t really go out and buy but when they hear it they’re really interested and get into the music.”

James has been compared in the press to rising folk star Seth Lakeman, a comparison that he isn’t very fond of.

He said: “The only reason we are compared is because we’re both young, sing and play the fiddle. I’m more traditional, whereas his music crosses over to the pop genre.

“I think he is good but very different to me.”

The semi-finals of the Folk Awards, which are being presented by BBC Radio Two’s Mike Harding, began this week and James has been working on what song he is going to perform in hope to get to the final.

He said: “I have some ideas of concepts, but I’m not sure what to do yet. “Getting through to the semi-finals looks great on my CV but I would love to get to the final. The winner will be sorted and this is really what I want do to.

“This year I’ve had lots of great opportunities – it really feels like it’s all coming together.”

James has been playing in the duo Fingerz ’n’ Fretz with Jerry Bird for over a year and a half. He said: “I like going solo but playing in a duo adds more texture and you get the opportunity to play different things that you wouldn’t do on your own.”

James will be heading up to Stratford-upon-Avon this weekend for the next stage of the BBC Young Folk Awards.

He will take part in a workshops and other activities to prepare for a concert on the Sunday, after which he will find out whether he has made it through to the final.

You can listen to some of James’s songs at his My Space page at www.myspace.com/jfindlay