Hailing from Newbury, 22 year old piano playing songwriter 'Frances released her first EP back in July through Communion records.
'Grow' showcases the power of the songstress' soul-laden voice, as well as her instinctive skill for creating songs that have the ability to be at once both warm and dominant.
I only know about Frances through three guises, One: is Greg James on Radio One, he is a massive champion of Frances's work and Two: Frances's PR company who keep sending me videos and blurb about how amazing she is, Three: I heard her cover of Bieber's tune on the R1 Live Lounge.
I thought I needed to get out there in the big wide world and see what all the blurb, and of course excitement, was about 'Frances'.
Unbeknownst to me a small UK tour taking in 22 dates was announced eons ago, we join the tour nearing the end with just a few dates left including Manchester and London (Union Chapel).
Latest EP 'Let It Out' out which is out now, is a breath of fresh air in the current climate, when is the album out by the way?
Tonight's show at Ort Café is in the trendiest part of Birmingham, Moseley, where all the 'down with the kids' peeps live and hang out, it's got a great vibe about it and is an amazing venue for a live gig.
The venue was a room with two large leather sofas, two rows of chairs, an upright piano covered in fairy lights and each artist would do their stuff in the corner of the room. It was actually like having a gig in your front room, the sound and acoustics were amazing and you could hear a pin drop between songs, of course after the applause.
Midlander 'Mahlia' provided the support tonight, the 17 year old originally hailing from Leicester but moving to Brum a few years back, she said she was stoked at providing the support tonight.
A six song set whizzed by, with her mum and brother as onlookers, highlights of the set for me were '17', which was an unfinished song, but it was still cool. Other stonkers in the set were 'Rollercoaster' and my favourite 'Matalan' which she rapped and sang unaccompanied which was epic. One to watch for the future I guess.
Frances has had a meteoric rise to fame over the last year, coming from know where to providing support for Sam Smith at one of his foresty gigs in the summer, to being Annie Mac's 'Tune of the Week'.
Everyone sat up and noticed the young girl from Newbury once she stepped in to The Libertines shoes as they were a no-show for the Radio One Live Lounge last month. And that's where I heard her cover of Bieber's' 'What Do You Mean', after this I swore I would go and see Frances.
The room had approx 50+ people in there, it was quite warm, I wouldn't have missed this gig for the world, the venue was so cool, one of those special gigs you never forget.
The set was 40 minutes long and went way too quick. Just Frances and a piano, you could hear every single word, I closed my eyes and just listened.
'When it Comes to us' was the first song, followed up by one of my favourite's of the set 'Eye of The Storm', Frances voice was fabulous, so powerful. After each song she would receive rapturous applause and cheering, it was impressive.
'Grow', which I guess is the song everyone knows from Frances was a top tune, it came across so well live, I love her even more now. A debut for 'Cry Like Me' on this tour, the songs are all well- crafted and I can't believe a women so young is so talented.
'The Last Word' was one of the latter songs of the set, all about the end of a relationship and finishing it, it was quite a tear jerker.
'Let it Out' , (the self -titled EP) was another stonker in the set, I've played this constantly and it was so much better live. A bit of audience participation was required but it backfired a bit with some gob shite shouting instead of singing.
Frances's voice is amazing live, I need another fix, seriously, it was no effort at all and her performance was seamless tonight.
I would not have missed this gig for the world, the whole package was amazing. Frances was amazing, fabulous and epic all rolled in to one. Her future looks bright for the rest of 2015 and 2016, I just need the album now.
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.