The Broken Heart of Everything 2018 Release

David Francey’s new album showcases his extraordinary skill as a lyricist. His so-good-they-could-be-traditional melodies, and themes of the camaraderie of small-town life, the drudgery of the daily grind, the pride in an honest day’s work, the sadness of losing loved ones, the joy of close family connections, and the quiet strength of mature love have struck a chord with audiences around the world.

“Come Sunday” is a song about the tragic death of Tim Annesley, who played hockey with David on his Sunday night team in the Eastern Townships in the late ‘90s.  It is both a touching account of the emptiness a community feels when one of its own is taken without warning and a celebration of small-town hockey culture – a topic David also feted on the Juno-winning Skating Rink.

“Blue Sorrow and Then Some” is a tribute to Hank Williams –  inspired by a teenage memory of playing Hank’s “Greatest Hits” endlessly after salvaging the record from his aunt’s junk pile. Ivan Rosenberg’s dobro and John Showman’s sweet violin give the song a classic country flavor without departing from David’s trademark acoustic folk sound.

“Only Love”, featuring fiddle player James McKie, is the kind of song that stirs up good-natured envy in other songwriters, for few can take as common a muse as love, write verses comprised of little more than metaphors, and end up with a powerful, moving piece, totally free of clichés, about the only thing in life that really matters.  It’s the sort of heartfelt song with a stick-in-your-head chorus that has won David fans in everyone from John-Angus MacDonald of the Trews to Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada. Lyrics from “Only Love” lend themselves to the title of this album.

“I Know It Won’t” was written in a hotel room in Grande Prairie about the exasperation of an artist who has been on the road too long. It is the kind of song about working life on which David has built his reputation.  Having long ago traded his tool belt for the touring life, David now brings the same rawness and sincerity to the realities of a working artist as he has to those of being a lake boat captain, a miner, or a farmer.

David recorded the songs with his long-time band-mates Mark Westberg (guitar), Chris Coole (banjo), and Darren McMullen (mandolin, etc.) at Coole’s family cabin on Belmont Lake, a rustic setting that gives the album its intimate sound. David’s delivery is soft, smooth and emotive, a beautiful, gentle timbre.

Available from Laker Music April 20th

Empty Train 2016 Release

Laker Music is pleased to announce the February 26th, 2016 International release of David Francey’s new album Empty Train. This will be the 11th album for this three-time Juno Award winner.
David Francey populates Empty Train with captivating cast of characters

Colin and John-Angus MacDonald of the Trews contribute a co-write

People watching.

It’s the ultimate pastime of the introvert:  spending time alone in a crowd, contemplating the dynamics of the characters around you, reflecting on their emotional lives, reflecting on your emotional life.

On Empty Train, three-time Juno winner David Francey elevates the practice to high art.

The long-time manual labourer-turned-revered singer-songwriter populates Empty Train with the lonely, faceless patrons of a Yukon night club (“Mirror Ball”); hospital patients who “might get home but you never know” (“Hospital”); working class heroes in the form of sailors, signalers and stokers (“Crucible”); and women seeking to escape their circumstances through the sex trade (“Blue Girl”).

And then there’s the man who struck up a conversation with Francey on a flight in California:  a real life California football coach heading to the Holy Land, hoping to cheer up Palestinian children for a moment with his handful of magic tricks (“Holy Land”).

Francey contemplates each of their circumstances, singing with sensitive, weathered vocals, accompanied by beautifully spare acoustic arrangements, courtesy of long-time collaborators Mark Westberg (guitars), Chris Coole (banjo and guitar), and Darren McMullen (mandolin, bouzouki, etc.).  Fiddlers John Showman (New Country Rehab) and Rachel Davis (Còig) guest, along with Francey’s son, Colin, who contributes some guitar and backing vocals.

As he has for eleven straight albums now, David draws listeners into the emotional power of his stories using nothing but his incisive way with language, his ear for a catchy melody, and his deep and obvious empathy for people who are struggling – no fancy production or orchestration required.

In fact, the album was recorded in a rustic cabin North of Havelock, Ont.

Francey, as many by now know, has been documenting the lives of the poor and working class almost his entire life.

A proud physical labourer from a proud working class Scottish immigrant family, he spent more than 30 years toiling in the Toronto rail yards, the Yukon bush and the Eastern Townships’ construction sites – hitchhiking across Canada at least three times in the process – all the while quietly chronicling in song the triumphs and hardships of life in the trenches.

He played no instruments, never aspired to a career in music, and only reluctantly took to the stage at the age of 45 under pressure from friends and family.

The reaction was instant.

Within two years, he’d won his first Juno, was touring internationally, and got to thinking that perhaps he should quit his construction job and try this music thing full time for a while.

Since then, he’s won two more Junos and been nominated a total of five times.  His songs have been covered by the Del McCoury Band, the Rankins, the Barra McNeils and Tracy Grammer – among countless others – and his “Skating Rink” video aired several times on Hockey Day in Canada, earning Francey the fandom of host Ron MacLean.   He performs regularly at some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals – Tonder in Denmark, Port Fairy in Australia – and he’s been the subject of a nationally-televised feature documentary (Burning Bright).

He has also won the respect of songwriters across the musical spectrum for his seemingly effortless ability to turn out songs that seem destined to become classics.  “Junkie’s Heart” on Empty Train is a co-write with two such fans:  Colin and John-Angus MacDonald of the roots rock outfit the Trews.

Long ago, the Georgia Straight called Francey “The closest thing Canada has to Woody Guthrie.”

More recently, Exclaim wrote, “It can be argued that David Francey has had more impact than any old-school Canadian folk songsmith since the late great Stan Rogers.”

Now more than 15 years into his career, with not a miss among his eleven albums, it won’t be long before Francey himself becomes a standard-bearer for the next generation of promising songwriters.

In support of his new album, David Francey will be touring Canada and United States throughout 2016. For his full schedule, please visit http://www.davidfrancey.com

David Francey Nominated for a JUNO Award

Great News!

Already a three time winner, David Francey is nominated for a JUNO Award in the Roots and Traditional category for his latest CD, So Say we All.
David will be in Winnipeg, MB for the awards
(held March 24-30).
Once again David will be taking part in the
JUNO Cup. What Fun!

David makes a save

A Game Going ON by Dave Gunning and David Francey wins Song Quest

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada ran a contest in a search of “Canada’s next great hockey song” and the winner is “A Game Going ON” written by David Francey and Dave Gunning.  Dave’s wonderful recording of the song can be heard at CBC.ca

“The original idea for this song came from David Francey and he asked me to co-write it with him,” Gunning wrote.  “Last year during the NHL lockout we finished the song. I was certainly frustrated along with so many other hockey fans and felt it was good timing to release a song that encapsulated the old fashioned love of the game, the real reason why so many of us play hockey either professionally or for fun.”

So Say We All – top folk album on Galaxie Radio

Thank you Galaxie! and Ashley Condon’s “This Great Compromise” also on the Laker Music label took the 5th spot!

“Top 50 most played Canadian albums airing on Galaxie Folk-Roots in 2013 Galaxie’s Folk-Roots (Canada) channel broadcasts uninterrupted 24/7 and is available from virtually all digital cable providers throughout Canada (over 9 million homes).”

Rank — Artist — Album Title — Label

1 — David Francey — So Say We All — Laker Music
2 — Pharis & Jason Romero — Long Gone Out West Blues — Lula Records
3 — Jadea Kelly — Clover — Divergent/True North
4 — Ruth Moody — These Wilder Things — Red House
5 — Keith Glass — Bad Dog — keithglassmusic.com
6 — Lynn Miles — Downpour — Lynn Miles Music
7 — Ashley Condon — This Great Compromise — Laker Music

“So Say We All” wins 4th Penguin Eggs Magazine “Album of the Year”

The critics have spoken and David’s album “So Say We All” got top pick!

“David Francey’s latest album So Say We All has earned him an unprecedented fourth Penguin Eggs critics annual Album of the Year Award. His last came in 2004 with The Waking Hour. “
Penguin Eggs

David wins First Place in USA Songwriting Competition

Just announced, David won first place in the Folk Category at the USA Songwriting Competition for his song “Broken Glass” off the “Skating Rink” CD!

Francey wins Canadian Folk Music Award for So Say We All

“Much-lauded carpenter-turned-singer David Francey, known for his poetic lyrics won English Songwriter of the Year for his record So Say We All. ” CFMA

On Sunday, November 10th David was honoured at the 2013 Canadian Folk Music Awards. He is thrilled to be chosen by his peers for this award. Go To the CFMA website for more on the event

David Francey Receives Four Canadian Folk Music Award Nominations

“From the scenic hamlet of McDonalds Corners, Ontario, multiple Juno award-­winning artist David Francey also received nominations for his album So Say We All released via Laker Music. The former carpenter turned much-­lauded songwriter picks up nominations for Contemporary Album of the Year, English Songwriter of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year and Producer of the Year.” (CFMA)

to read more go to Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominees

Go Jane Go – CD by David Francey, Kieran Kane and Lucas Kane

Go Jane Go, the self-titled release from the group made up of Kieran Kane, David Francey and Lucas Kane, is now available on CD or as a download from CD Baby! Recorded in the living room of an Australian farmhouse, the CD is a natural, organic blend of the three musicians’ talents. The resulting sound lets you feel like you are sitting around the coffee table with them at a living room jam. Released on the heels of a successful Australian tour by the group, the album is a wonderful blend of three brilliant musicians’ work. The cover art is a portrait of the band by Kieran.

Songs on Go Jane Go:

1. Somewhere Beyond the Roses, 2. When I’m Not Thinking About You, 3. Solitary Wave, 4. Go Jane Go, 5. Pretty Jackals, 6. Anybody’s Game, 7. My Blue Ridge Cabin Home, 8. I Live in Fear , 9. I’m Going Home, 10. Wonder, 11. Tell Me Mama, 12. Blue Heart of Texas, 13. Moon Over Melbourne.

Go Jane Go is on Dead Reckoning Records