I started writing and playing at 15, after my father bought me my first guitar. Made my first shy forays into acoustic nights and was hooked. While I’ve earned my crust away from music it’s always ticked away in the background and when the chips were down, it’s been a godsend and old friend.
I’m happier than I’ve ever been with what I write and what I want to do and its true what they say … as time goes by you get more comfortable in your own skin. Mainly just sing my own stuff now and the odd cover that means a lot to me. Will sing wherever, whenever, in company, at home, with mates, or in venues if I get them…and hope of hopes, some people might like what I do and latch onto even just a little bit of what makes up my music. Its not all angst and love songs - but I have to admit when the heart gets involved you do get creative.
In recent years I’ve started getting myself out again to open mics and local events, mainly Stirling and Edinburgh. HotAches Productions have used some of my songs on their climbing DVD: E11 and Committed v1 and v2.
The songs here may change from time to time but if interested here’s a little background to a few of them..
Sunshine Village: “While the world span all around, we held close to the ground”- I wrote after a winter holiday in crystallised Banff, Canada. All white gigantic peaks, clear blues skies and sharp clean air. It is a dramatically wonderful place and inspired me to write the song. I started to remember great moments I had shared in other beautiful places, and Sunshine Village popped out the other end. I think Robert Burns beat me to the idea by 200 odd years with the much greater song ‘Green Grow the Rashes O’, but hey ho!.
Ascent/Climb on: “Blood will wash out tension, and our hearts will beat out fear” - I imagined all the pressures that might make you want you to quit when scaling anything difficult and terrifying, but balanced by the support of a loved one willing you on. I wrote this for HotAches to use on the great film E11 (story of climber Dave Macleod) and it went down well (I think).
Sarah/Soft Voiced Woman: “Maybe it deserves a better song than this, Maybe all the boats that pass I’ll still ignore or miss” - Years ago I went to see Sarah Harmer perform at King Tuts in Glasgow and was very struck by her beautiful, slightly haunting music. Really made me want to go home, get the guitar out and write – and just enjoy what I was able to do regardless of whether it went anywhere. Im a bit of a fool for talented female voices I s’pose.
I Wont Let You Down: “I know if you will stay here and you wont leave my side, I wont let you down” - Written MANY years ago – I was 18 and wasn’t sure where my future was heading. The first time I’d had to guide my own life I guess and what came out of it was a song about comfort, love, loyalty. I still love playing it and its fun to remember how young I was when I wrote it.
All About You: “Whatever else may come, someone will always hear” - Dreams, dreams, dreams. Someone once told me to hang on to my dreams. In a way I did, never really gave up on what I would want in an ideal world, but dreams can take on a new aspect when you see how you can fulfil them in “real life” and make your life richer for it. The song is about hanging on to dreams but not having to shake the world with them. The quiet and personal ones may be the best, the most lasting and the most rewarding.
Hi Francis, long time no see, yes we still do no2, and the settle, but we r moving to whistlebinkies at the end of april, cos Jackie and Brian who run the settle are leaving , so the pub will go back to letting all the neds in, hope to see you soon, x
Join us in celebrating the departure of George W Bush and his evil cronies from the White House at The Bye Bye Bush Bash, FREE upstairs at The Forest Cafe 7-11pm, BYOB.
hi Francis, thanks for coming last night, ur set was great apart from the numpty on djembe!! 4got to tell you we have a new open mic this sunday at the oakwood lounge in sauchie, jp will be there its a huge venue ,full drum kit, would like to see you there free first drink, cheers lynne.
hey Frances- thanks for coming to the open mic at no 2 baker street- much appreciated- sorry bout the dodgy sound set up but sound engineering is not my forte-- Enjoying your tunes- hope to see ya soon-- JP
hi francis, long time no see, tim and I maybe getting a friday night jam at the settle , so I hope u will come along, I'l let u know for definite by the end of the week.
