I am a fancier of the beard. An admirer of the moustache. A lover of the hirsute. Through this blog I wish to celebrate and share the greatest examples of facial hair that I encounter or recall.

My first subject is American singer and songwriter Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Oldham has performed country tinged folk music through a career that has spanned sixteen albums in as many years under a variety of monikers.

In this picture, taken from the cover of the 'Master and Everyone' album (twenty-five minutes of melancholy folk and well worth adding to your record collection), Oldham apppears to be sporting a Garibaldi*.

I'm sure that we can all agree that Mr Oldham wears his beard off with aplomb. His is an assured demonstration of a truly handsome beard and he is thoroughly deserving of being the first focus of 'The Pursuit Of Hirsute'.

*The World Beard & Moustache Championship category guide (the credentials of which are not to be quibbled with) defines the Garibaldi as 'Broad, full and round. Length not to exceed 20cm. Moustache integrated. Aids not allowed'.