Arts & Entertainment
David Francey Entertains & Inspires Hopkinton
Folk Artist's Tour Stops in Hopkinton to Support Hopkinton High School Drama Ensemble
Singer, songwriter and gifted storyteller David Francey, with guitarist Mark Westberg, played to an intimate crowd on Saturday night to help raise funds for the Hopkinton High School Drama Ensemble's upcoming trip to Scotland to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Francey, who was born in Scotland, and now resides in Canada, tells tales of his life through song. He engages the crowd with meaning that spans generations.
In honor of the students' upcoming trip to Scotland, David opened the concert with "Rattlin', Roarin', Willie" by Scottish poet Robert Burns.
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Other songs, including "Paperboy" and "Broken Glass" brought the adults back to their first jobs and first loves and resonated with the high schoolers in the audience as well.
Francey spoke of his switch from being a construction worker to a folk singer and reminded the audience, particularly the students, about following their dreams.
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"If you have a dream, you can do it. Just put your head down and work," Francey instructed. "There are a lot of people who will say what it is you can 't do ... but you can."
"Torn Screen Door," a compelling a capella piece, held the audience spellbound. Evelyn Oliver, a Hopkinton High student and member of the drama ensemble, was especially moved by it.
"It was so beautifully sung, and the message really hit home. It made me appreciate the simple house I live in," she said.
Paige Guarino, also a Hopkinton High drama ensemble member, recalls Francey's "Morning Train," a song about meeting deities in everyday life, as her favorite, "I loved the spontaneity of it; how it just came out of the blue. It was beautiful."
After the performance, the musicians took the time to talk to the drama ensemble members. At this point in the evening, it seemed that the headliner was in awe of the audience. Francey asked the students what they looked forward to, and what they would be performing in Scotland, and gave them tips on what to take in while visiting his boyhood home.
The Francey fans from Hopkinton and beyond -- inlcuding guests from Middleboro, Medway and Worcester -- were certainly inspired and left the concert with an understanding that music and joy can be found in everyday life.
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