Acclaimed singer-songwriter-pianist Neal Francis proved himself as the Toast of New Orleans this past weekend with a series of unforgettable live performances held in tandem with the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Though based in Chicago, Francis demonstrated his deep connection with New Orleans’ musical traditions with a May 1 guest appearance at The Preservation Hall Foundation’s annual Midnight Preserves benefit series that saw him sharing the stage with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for renditions of Johnny Adams’ “Life Is Just A Struggle” and Fats Domino’s “Blue Monday” and “The Sheik Of Araby.”
Francis followed that memorable evening by lighting up Tipitina’s during two sold-out headline shows on May 2 and 3, including a special late-night performance that rocked the historic venue from 2AM until the wee hours of the morning, highlighted by a breathtaking cover version of “What Comes Around (Goes Around),” originally by New Orleans’ one and only Dr. John. Both sets saw Francis and his band offering up fiery renditions of songs from his acclaimed body of work thus far, including his recently arrived third studio album, Return To Zero, available now via ATO Records. Francis also sat in with the Daze Between Band show at Tipitina’s on April 30 that also featured Dave Matthews, Mike Gordon, Duane Betts, and more.
Francis’ first full-length studio effort in more than three years and most extravagantly realized collection this far, Return To Zero sees him pushing his original sound forward with a beautifully strange entangling of timeless rock ’n’ roll and ’70s-era dance music. Merging supremely heavy guitar riffs with lush and pulsating grooves, Francis constructed the album completely without digital programming in keeping with his long-standing devotion to all things analog. Co-produced by Francis alongside frequent collaborator Sergio Rios and recorded live in the studio with members of his touring band, highlights include the hypnotically potent “Broken Glass,” the groove-heavy “Need You Again,” the gorgeously sprawling power pop anthem, “What’s Left Of Me,” and the playfully swaggering “Back It Up,” all joined by official music videos streaming now on YouTube.
PURCHASE/STREAM RETURN TO ZERO
Hailed by SPIN as “a mesmerizing performer,” Francis is currently celebrating Return To Zero with a stacked international tour schedule that will see him traversing the globe through 2025 and beyond, with a run of US headline dates continuing through the month. Francis will then bring his show-stopping live set to audiences in the US, Europe, and the UK, with headline shows, top-billed festival appearances, a live recording of NPR Music’s Mountain Stage, dates supporting Fitz and The Tantrums, and a much anticipated homecoming event set for Chicago, IL’s The Salt Shed on November 29 – his biggest hometown show to date. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.nealfrancis.com/tour.
NEAL FRANCIS – RETURN TO ZERO TOUR 2025
MAY
8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether
9 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
10 – Stateline, NV – Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
13 – Chico, CA – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
15 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
16 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
17 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
25 – Paw Paw, MI – Warner Vineyards
31 – Denver, CO – Outside Festival *
JUNE
6 – Jackson, MS – Cathead Jam *
12 – Albany, NY – Alive at Five Summer Concert Series †
14 – Columbia, MD – All Good Now Festival *
19 – Victor, ID – Music on Main †
20 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge
21 – Stanley, ID – Sawtooth Valley Gathering *
JULY
10 – Snowmass, CO – Snowmass Village Summer Concert Series †
20 – Charleston, WV – Culture Center Theater ^
22 – Deerfield, MA – Tree House Brewing Company ~
25 – Marshfield, MA – Levitate Backyard
26 – Westerly, RI – United Theatre
28 – Amagansett, NY – The Stephen Talkhouse
29 – Amagansett, NY – The Stephen Talkhouse
AUGUST
10 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands *
12 – Buffalo, NY – ARTPARK +
14 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 +
21 – Ann Arbor, MI – Sonic Lunch
SEPTEMBER
12 – Bayfield, WI – Lake Effect Music Fest *
14 – Asbury Park, NJ – Sea.Hear.Now *
OCTOBER
4 – Huntsville, AL – Tangled String Music & Arts Festival *
31 – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje
NOVEMBER
1 – Groningen, NL – Take Root Festival *
2 – Hamburg, Germany – Bahnhof Pauli
3 – Berlin, Germany – FRANNZ Club
6 – London, United Kingdom – Islington Assembly Hall
7 – Leeds, United Kingdom – Brudenell Social Club
8 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester Academy 3
9 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – Stereo
11 – Bristol, United Kingdom – Thekla
13 – Paris, France – La Bellevilloise
14 – Ghent, Belgium – Ha Concerts
15 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Tolhuistuin
29 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed #
* Festival Appearance
† Free Show
^ Live Recording of NPR Music’s Mountain Stage
~ w/ Lucius
+ w/ Fitz and The Tantrums
# w/ Special Guests The Heavy Heavy and The Dead Bolts
