Locals seeking an intimate concert performance with a renowned songwriter and storyteller should find what it at the Elora Centre for the Arts on March 23, when three-time Juno award winner David Francey takes the to the small stage.
Fans of roots and traditional music will know Francey from CBC Radio and music festivals across the country. He is admired by many for his mild Scottish brogue and his outlook on the world.
Event organizer Claire McElhinney said it was an easy decision to invite Francey to play in Elora.
“I saw David Francey perform at a music festival in Owen Sound last summer and I was so enthralled with his authenticity and his songs,” said McElhinney.
“His storytelling between songs was so riveting and made for very intimate performances. His songs are about love, birds, … simple things made rich with words and melody.”
Francey said his latest album, Late Edition, reflects his views of the world around him.
“The songs I write all come from somewhere in me … It’s a concrete place,” he said.
“I have been touring so hard these last few years. I haven’t had a lot of time to write it all down, but I found myself getting obsessed with the News and observing what’s going on around me.”
Late Edition earned Francey a fifth Juno award nomination in his short career, an honour that never gets old for the singer.
“It’s fantastic. I am still flabbergasted,” Francey said. “It’s the best thing to be recognized by your peers, to have the recognition of your work by the people you admire.”
“Winning a Juno isn’t just about a statue,” he said, admitting he is awe struck when he thinks of meeting Bruce Cockburn or Joni Mitchell, two of his musical mentors. “It’s great company to keep.”
Francey is also subject of the Juno-nominated Music DVD of the Year, David Francey: Burning Bright, a documentary by filmmaker Tony Girardin. The film follows Francey’s life on tour and off the road and looks at his late career start at age 45, after more than 20 years as a carpenter and labourer in Quebec.
Francey plans to be an active part of Juno events, including the Songwriter’s Circle and playing goal for Jim Cuddy’s Juno Cup hockey game, a fundraiser for music in Canadian schools.
But first, Francey is heading to Elora for his first time, in a venue that is perfect for his music, according to McElhinney.
“The Elora Centre for the Arts is a terrific venue because the old school rooms have amazing acoustics and such a cozy atmosphere,” she explains.
Francey added, “I’ve made my mark by doing shows like this. I enjoy myself and, generally, audiences are receptive to having a story and a song. We’ll introduce the songs, where they’ve come from, and hopefully get the crowd singing along.”
McElhinney said the appeal of folk or roots music like Francey’s is that it emphasizes what is really important in life.
“David will be accompanied by Mark Westberg at this show, an extraordinary guitarist with some alternate musical tricks up his sleeve,” she added.
Francey plays the Elora Centre for the Arts on March 23 at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm). Tickets are $25 and are available at Box Social restaurant in Elora, the Elora Centre for the Arts, Ground Floor Music in Guelph or directly from McElhinney at 519-846-2172. For more information, call 519-846-9698.
