David Francey

About: David Francey

From carpenter to songwriter – Since leaving construction and recording Torn Screen Door in 1999, Scottish-born Canadian, David Franceyis recognized as one of today’s finest singer-songwriters.

Francey has released 9 CDs to date. His most recent, Late Edition, has garnered much praise and two Canadian Folk Music nominations. Francey is a three time JUNO award winner and also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award. In the last few years he took home the Grand Prize in both the International Acoustic Music Award and in the Folk category for the John Lennon Songwriting Award.

Francey has released 9 CDs to date. His most recent, "Late Edition" has garnered much praise - "it’s a corker" Penguin Eggs Magazine - and two Canadian Folk Music nominations. With Right of Passage Francey earned his third JUNO(Canada’s top music award) in less than 5 years. Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award.

"David’s straightforward songs tell honest stories of real people and real places. Poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music. His songs and stories are a direct connection for audiences seeking depth and meaning in the day-to-day." Shelter Valley Folk Festival

David Francey was born in Ayrshire, Scotland where he got his first taste of the working life as a paperboy. At age 10 he was devouring the newspapers he delivered, establishing a life-long interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.

He was twelve when his family immigrated to Toronto. He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. Dad and sister Muriel sang melody, while mother and David sang harmonies.

His attachment to Canada grew with travel. He hitched across the country three times, then thumbed his way to the Yukon. This attachment surfaces in his songs of rail lines, farms, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He grew to understand the people while working in Toronto train yards, the Yukon bush, and as a carpenter in the Eastern Townships. These experiences colour his first CD, Torn Screen Door, with songs like Hard Steel Mill, Gypsy Boys, and Working Poor and his second, Far End of Summer, with Highway, Flowers of Saskatchewan and February Morning Drive.

In concert David is a singer and a storyteller. His wry humour and astute observations combined with his openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following.

David lives with his wife, artist Beth Girdlerand their and their son Colin in the quiet but charming Lanark Highlands in southern Ontario. They are visited often by their daughters Amy and Julia and grandson Tristan.

Band Members: I am happy to be accompanied by Craig Werth from Newmarket, New Hampshire. (www.craigwerth.com)

Influences: Joni Mitchell, John Prine, Bruce Cockburn, Planxty, Willie P. Bennett

Management

Mark Watson: mark@watsonentertainment.com

WATSON ENTERTAINMENT
6337 - 2100 Bloor St. W
Toronto ON Canada M6S 5A5
Direct: +1.905.637.8188
www.watsonentertainment.com

Booking: Canada and the US:
Ryan Heerschap
Toll Free: 1-866-966-9040
Cell: 1-416-788-1475
Fax: 1-866-955-9992
ryan@ibookshows.com
www.ibookshows.com

Booking: UK and Europe
Bob Gilchrist
Oscar Music Agency
Phone: 0141 634 1095
oscarsfolk@aol.com
www.oscarmusic.co.uk

David Francey – Official Website

http://www.davidfrancey.com/
David Francey - MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/davidfrancey
David Francey - Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/davidfranceysongs
David Francey - Twitter
http://twitter.com/DavidFrancey
David Francey - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Francey
David Francey - World United Music
http://worldunitedmusic.blogspot.com/2010/10/david-francey.html
Videos!
David Francey - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/franceyvideos
David Francey – YouTube (David Francey Movie Channel)
http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidFranceyMovie
Buy Music!
David Francey – Official Store
http://www.davidfrancey.com/order.html
David Francey - eMusic
http://www.emusic.com/artist/11685/11685011.html
David Francey - iTunes
http://itunes.apple.com/artist/david-francey/id64821287
David Francey - Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/David-Francey/e/B001LHHOWS
David Francey - Rhapsody
http://www.rhapsody.com/#artist/david-francey-folk?&_suid=135773396100105288954752308022
David Francey - Spotify
http://open.spotify.com/artist/11NyMIq0N1ozgqhwdAdWIK?ref=atw
David Francey – Last FM
http://www.last.fm/music/David+Francey

Selected Quotes

"A Francey record is best served with a pint over a few moments to yourself to sit back and enjoy" View

"Francey's clear, simple songs speak volumes to his followers. After a decade in music, David Francey is known as one of Canada's finest tunesmiths and a champion of the Everyman, admired for his less-is-more approach to writing. It's amazing how he manages to address deep stuff with such spare ingredients" The Edmonton Journal

"Scottish born, Francey is a two-time Juno Award winner whose straightforward songs tell honest stories of real people and real places. Poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music. His songs and stories are a direct connection for audiences seeking depth and meaning in the day-to-day" Shelter Valley Folk Festival

"Francey writes songs that feel like they've been sung a million times in a million places by a million voices" Judith Edelman in Puremusic.com

"Francey has made a reputation for himself as one of Canada's most revered folk poets and singers… [His songs] are small and beautifully crafted pieces of work that have made Francey both a folk festival favourite and something of a latter-day Canadian poet laureate."
Greg Quill, the Toronto Star

"Francey has been bringing an acute eye to penning image-laden lyrics for years" The Edmonton Journal

"One of Canada's outstanding poets, songwriters, storytellers. That's David Francey with a lovely little tribute to tonight." Ron MacLean, Hockey Night in Canada. November 22/03 Following the Canadian Heritage Classic Hockey Game

"Without a doubt, David Francey is the BEST folk singer/songwriter going in Canada today" Fred's Records, Newfoundland

"Hands-down the best songwriter working in Canada today." the Times Colonist, Victoria

"he's the closest thing this country has to Woody Guthrie" the Georgia Strait, Vancouver

"one of today's finest folk-based singer-songwriters" "a working man's poetry" Sing Out

"David Francey is coming into his own in middle age as one of Canada's best songsmiths - and that's not damning him with faint praise." Daniel Gewertz, The Boston Herald

"[Francey's] observations pack an emotional wallop… [His] songs connect because they reflect common responses to life's journeys in a wry, poetic way." The San Diego Union - Tribune

"the likeliest candidate for all-Canadian folk singer" …" Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen

"David Francey's songs are lean, whippet-like creations, a bit like the man himself. With not one wasted word or superfluous line he takes the everyday, often mundane business of living and elevates it into something infinitely more noble and memorable, the mark of a truly gifted songwriter." Eric Bogle, Australia

"David is the most exciting new narrative songwriter to emerge in many years"
Brian McNeill, Head of Scottish Music. Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

"David Francey's voice is a revelation, full and melodious, not to be missed"
The Berlingske Tidende, Denmark

"One of the best shows in our 32 year history! His CDs are great, but he's truly incredible on stage. " Dave Humphreys, Two Way Street Coffee House, Chicago Illinois

"David Francey is the best Canadian folk writer that I have heard in 20 years. I think that he is going to be a voice in this country for a long time and that his songs will be sung by my great, great, great grandchildren." James Keelaghan, Winnipeg, Manitoba

"words of eloquence, beauty .and charm, hung on a jewel of a voice"
Kieran Kane, Nashville Tennessee

"David's songs are meant to be sung, and the more voices there are singing them, the better they sound. They are also built to last - so well put together that they are rich in that beauty which is perhaps the most elusive of all, simplicity ... that kind of economy of expression where the line between craft and art is crossed. " Dugg Simpson, Vancouver Folk Music Festival

"Francey has emerged as one of Canada's most gifted songwriters." The Montreal Gazette

"Francey is indeed a unique songwriting voice with few peers"Mike Devlin, Times Colonist