As a shy young woman who struggled with confidence and self-image, Frances Black has come a long way since her debut solo album, Talk to Me, was released in 1984.
Now 30 years later, she’s a singer, charity founder, senator and activist, and a passionate advocate for justice and equality. She has just released her new album, Frances Black – Anthology, and is touring around Ireland in 2025.
Frances, what music do you have on repeat?
Judy Garland’s albums because I grew up watching her movies and listening to her sing and nobody has ever come close to her, as far as I’m concerned. She put her heart and soul into every word and was brilliant at delivering a story in a song. Over The Rainbow is a song that I’m starting to do in my own gigs now.
What track gives you a serotonin boost?
I Feel The Earth Move by Carole King cheers me up because it starts off with piano, and the minute I hear it, I go straight into singing along with her at the top of my voice. It makes me so happy.
What do you listen to when in a bad mood?
Off the Wall, which was released in 1979 by Michael Jackson. It brings me back to a nice happy time when I was in my early 20s. I used to listen to it on repeat, dancing around and pretending I was him.
Which artist are you loving?
I’ve really gotten into Damien Dempsey recently because I went to see his Tales from the Holywell show in the Abbey Theatre, which was incredible, and then I saw a film about him. I really began to understand him as all of his songs are interwoven with his life.
Best gig you’ve even been to?
That would have to be Fleetwood Mac in the 3Arena in 2015. I was absolutely obsessed with their album Rumours, and to see them back together again and performing all the songs I loved so much was just mind-blowing.
Best gig you’ve ever played?
There are two gigs that were so special to me. One was in Clonard Monastery in Belfast in 2016 as part of Féile an Phobail, and the other was my Olympia gig in 2011. The Dublin and Belfast audiences were amazing and these gigs will stay in my heart forever.
What did you listen to growing up?
I got Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon as a birthday present from my brother’s friend Peter, and fell madly in love with James Taylor. He was drop-dead gorgeous, an amazing singer and I loved every single song on the album. Through him, I discovered Carole King’s music and we were all listening to Neil Young and The Beatles back then too.
The 3CD album, Frances Black Anthology, is out now in shops, including Tesco and Golden Discs and on essentialirish.com.
Frances will perform at Roscommon Arts Centre on January 11 and Garage Theatre, Monaghan, on March 1. Her concerts with Mary Coughlan and Sharon Shannon take place in the Keadeen, Kildare, on January 17; Hotel Kilkenny on January 18; Cork Opera House on April 9; and The Lark Balbriggan on May 3. See frances-black.net
