Info/Songs: David Francey

Subject: David Francey
From: Den
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 06:24 PM

If you haven't seen David Francey, do yourself a favour and go see him if he is ever within range. I caught him last night at my favourite watering hole, "Celtic Corner" here in sunny Dartmouth Nova Scotia. Great show, very entertaining performer and a nice guy to boot. As an added bonus I met Mudcat's own George Seto in the flesh. It was nice to meet George after talking with him on here over the years.

https://www.davidfrancey.com/

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 07:54 PM

Thanks for the recommendation. I found several videos of him on youtube. I really like his voice! Here's the one I listened to first: Broken Glass. Beautiful. He's also got some mp3 samples on his website. Just listening to him introducing Ashtabula...love his speaking voice and the storytelling!

Hi, George! Good to *see* you, too, Den!

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Hamish
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 04:01 AM

He's touring the UK soon, too. Catch him at Twickenham on 2nd November. More at this thread

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Mrs_Annie
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 07:22 AM

Enjoyed him at Towersey a couple of years ago. He has also done some work with Karine Polwart.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: JohnB
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 07:34 AM

He has written some GREAT songs and is a good performer, he has a really relaxed style.
He is a Scottish Canadian if that is really an appropriate thing to say, if not, he's a Manchester United supporter.
Torn screen door, is one of my favourites.
JohnB

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: CupOfTea
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 07:33 PM

I had the chance to see him for the first time this summer at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights Ohio, as part of a celebration of WKSU's 5th anniversary of Folk Alley web radio. I'd been hearing raves about him from my favorite Chicago folk connections, who'd recorded one of his songs, "Saints and Sinners."

Though I'd heard the WKSU version of a song he'd written about Ashtabula, Ohio, I hadn't realized how completely his work is about his travels. The story introductions to the songs are every bit as entertaing as the songs, and puts them into much sharper focus. I know I'll be remembering the stories every time I hear the songs now.

His delivery of stories reminded me very much of Andy M. Stewart in the dry, self deprecating wit. He's worth a much longer hike to see him perform than I had to make.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 10:20 PM

He's most certainly is worth seeing and hearing. We did a ten hour drive to see some Canadian friends and were dragged out to hear him after we'd arrived. We were glad we did.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: CupOfTea
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 01:21 AM

(and there's the Chicago area splendidness heard from!)

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Peace
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 02:02 AM

David is great. Period.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Oct 08 - 06:23 AM

Good songwriting, nice stage presence.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From:
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 08:32 PM

Thanks, Den. Nice to meet you last week. It was such a magical night to listen to 2 hours of David Francey. I've heard most of the stories before from previous concerts he's done here in Dartmouth through the auspices of The Celtic Corner.

AND I get to see him again, in abbreviated mode, at Celtic Colours which starts at the end of this week!!!!

I was also lucky to be among about 40 people at a concert with Tommy Sands 2 days later. Will start a new thread on that later. - Whet your appetites by looking up Tommy Sands in the Mudcat. He did a lot of his favourites, There Were Roses, and Let the Circle Be Wide.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Beer
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 08:37 PM

David is a person that you can become instant friends with. A gifted person in writing , singing and a people person.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Beer
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 08:38 PM

Oh!, And his wife Beth is a gem as well.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: black walnut
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 09:02 AM

And did you know that Beth and David are both artists? We have an original watercolour (Beth) and an oil (David)! Yes, both of them are sweeties.

David did a house concert for us and later down the road he sang harmony on Red-Winged Blackbird on one of my children's CDs. He is a lot of fun to work with!

I love his story-telling between songs, which are often quite a bit longer than the song itself. One of his CDs is a live concert - the one he did for Folk Alley - and that's where you hear the story-telling if you can't get somewhere to hear him live. But if he's ever in your neck of the woods, don't miss him. He's a national Canadian treasure!

It's maybe to early to say this, but.....jingle jingle....if you want to get yourself a lovely recording of familiar Christmas carols, David made a beautiful simple one called Carols for a Christmas Eve with just voice (his) and piano (Kathryn Briggs).

Kat - you named a couple of my favourite D.F. songs - but if I was forced to name my #1 fav - I'd say Highwire. But we have all of his CDS and don't tire of listening to them again and again. There are very few people who are wordsmiths like David - who can make every line sound so natural but pack so much imagery, meaning and emotion.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Johnny J
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 04:45 AM

Appearing at Edinburgh Folk Club TONIGHT

Venue: Pleasance Cabaret Bar - 8:00pm
Admission: £7.00 (£6.00 concession)

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 04:50 AM

he's a Manchester United supporter.

That's unusual for a Canadian - they usually live in Surrey.

Great songwriter though despite that.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: quokka
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:29 AM

BUt when is he coming back to Australia? I missed him last time he came. Would love to see him in concert. Have only heard a couple of songs on the radio. I guess I'll have to go on Youtube and just have patience while it takes forever to load...

cheers

Quokka

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: GUEST,Anne Price
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 07:38 AM

I noticed that David Francey was scheduled to appear at the Black Swan in York the week after Steve Suffet and I played there. We're back home in NY now, so I won't get to hear him there. I've heard his recordings, and hope to hear him in the US some time.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: quokka
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 10:05 PM

Good news - David Francey is coming to Perth in a couple of weeks!

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 10:28 PM

Kewl! Thanks for refreshing this. I need to listen, again!

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: Mark Ross
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 10:37 PM

Got to meet him in Vancouver at the Festival in 2001, great fellow, and great songwriter!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: topical tom
Date: 03 Feb 09 - 11:12 PM

A very engaging person with a great voice.

Subject: RE: David Francey
From: quokka
Date: 04 Feb 09 - 11:17 AM

It's mid April actually, at our Fairbridge Festival. Can't wait!

Subject: ADD: Morning Train (David Francey)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 23 - 05:35 PM

Here's an interesting David Francey song:

https://salthouse.bandcamp.com/track/morning-train

MORNING TRAIN
(David Francey)

I met Jesus in the morning,
He was waiting for a train.
He said he thought it might be time,
To come down and explain
How wrong it was to do some things
And do them in his name.
He said, "After all, everybody's
Riding on this train".

I met Buddha on the subway,
On the subway underground,
Saw his smile slowly fade,
I saw him look around.
He said he wished we'd understand,
And do so in his name.
He said, "After all, everybody's
Riding on this train".

Met Allah on the El train,
Above the city streets.
We rattled down the railway line,
And we looked down on the meek.
He said he wondered why it was
Some never feel the pain.
He said, "After all, everybody's
Riding on this train".

I saw the Devil standing
At the station in the rain.
He had a smile upon his face,
Self-satisfied and vain.
Said, "Heaven is its own reward,
I don't have to explain".
He said, "After all, everybody's
Riding on this train".

credits
from Lay Your Dark Low, released November 11, 2013
license
all rights reserved