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John Prine’s music has inspired generations of musicians for more than 50 years, including the bandmates in Bruised Orange: Liz Stattelman-Scanlan, Tina Thompson, Colin Bazsali and Jeff Burkhart. Liz and Tina played together for many years in the Oak Street Ramblers; Colin and Jeff played together in the Barley Brothers, Cajun Strangers, and the Dirty Shirts, who Liz joined in 2019 to perform two classic Gram Parsons records at several live shows. Now, the four long-time friends perform together for the first time in celebration of the musical legacy of one of the best songwriters of our time, John Prine.

The band started last year as a collaboration between Jeff and Chuck Bayuk, who worked with Liz on a set of John Prine earlier this year. Sadly, Chuck passed away in October, and we never got to play these songs with him. The January show will honor Chuck by including the songs he selected but wasn’t able to perform. “Chuck opened my eyes to a whole bunch of John’s songs that I’d never considered playing, like Blue Umbrella and Long Monday,” said Jeff. “Chuck was an amazing singer and interpreter of John’s songs, so our goal is to play them with the heart and soul that Chuck brought to them.”

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 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.

For more see artist website.