2024 Festival Dates June 7-9

Three-time JUNO winner David Francey ‘The Breath Between Tour’ with Terra Spencer.
Presented by The Seaside FolkN’Fiddle Festival

Mary Winspear Centre

Saturday January 27th, 7:00pm
"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
David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become
known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in
Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was
twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon
bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as
he worked.
A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never
imagined earning a living from his music. But when he was in his 40s, his wife, artist Beth
Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public. The reaction was instant. His first
album Torn Screen Door came out in 1999 and was a hit in Canada. Since then, he has released
eleven albums, won three Juno Awards and has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del
McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer.
Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award as well as
taking home the Grand Prize in both the International Acoustic Music Award and in the Folk
category for the John Lennon Songwriting 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 Girdler in the quiet but charming Lanark Highlands in
southern Ontario. They are visited often by their son Colin, daughters Amy and Julia and
grandkids Tristan, Alice and Millicent.