Neal Francis Announces New Album “In Plain Sight” out 5th November via ATO Records & Shares “Can’t Stop The Rain”

August 19, 2021

Neal Francis

Announces New Album In Plain Sight
Out 5th November on ATO Records

Chicago singer, songwriter and pianist Neal Francis is ATO Records’ newest signing, and announces his new album In Plain Sight, due out 5th November and available to preorder here.

After returning home from touring on the back of his 2019 debut album Changes, Francis went through a breakup and found himself living in a church, where he ended up writing a series of new songs about honesty and resilience.

“I’m owning up to all my problems within my relationships and my sobriety,” he says. “So much of it is about coming to the understanding that I continue to suffer because of those problems. It’s about acknowledging that and putting it out in the open in order to mitigate the suffering and try to work on it, instead of trying to hide everything.”

Francis and his bandmates recorded In Plain Sight entirely on tape – and mostly in that same church – and the resulting songs are dreamlike and reflective, anchored in the rock and soul sound that has led critics to compare him to legends like Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. In Plain Sight was mixed by the Grammy-winning producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT).

Now Francis releases the video for In Plain Sight’s buoyant first single, “Can’t Stop The Rain”, which features the Grammy-winning guitarist Derek Trucks. “Even though life’s going to throw all this shit at you, there’s still so many things to be grateful for,” Francis says of the track.

Neal Francis has perfected the most intoxicating, vibrant atmosphere that commands the audiences’ full attention. “Can’t Stop The Rain” offers such a rich texture of immersive tones and elevated buoyancy. Capturing this pure nostalgic influence within the expressive passages, Neal brings such a commanding presence to their work and is reflective within their bright vocal harmonies, effortlessly capturing the spirit of late-1960s/ early 70’s icon. Francis builds this immersive world that offers a truly enriching affection. This release is easily one of the most infectious creations of our time, a sweet rock-fuelled anthemic ensemble. Neal adds this visionary touch to their world, melancholia fuses with this alluring vibe to offer this meaningful arrangement.

Neal Francis is currently on a massive U.S. tour that includes dates opening for Black Pumas, a sold-out headlining show at New York’s Mercury Lounge, and festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Americana Fest, Shaky Knees, and Outside Lands, among others. Francis just received rave reviews for his hometown performance at Lollapalooza – “There are hints of ’70s Brit Rock (including a very visceral touch of Elton John) as well as New Orleans jazz-funk, gospel soul, and some lighthearted Randy Newman — and the amalgamation felt like a time-stamped treasure,” wrote the Chicago Sun-Times. Early 2022 will see Francis embark on his first ever UK and European tour, the dates of which can be found below. All tickets are available at nealfrancis.com.

UK & Europe 2022:
Jan 23 – O2 Academy2 Islington (London, UK)
Jan 25 – Merleyn (Nijmegen, NL)
Jan 26 – Vera (Groningen, NL)
Jan 27 – Bitterzoet (Amsterdam, NL)
Jan 28 – Metropool (Hengelo, NL)
Jan 29 – TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht, NL)
Jan 30 – Bird (Rotterdam, NL)
Jan 31 – Haldern Pop Bar (Haldern, DE)
Feb 1 – Privatclub (Berlin, DE)
Feb 2- Häkken (Hamburg, DE)
Feb 4 – New Morning (Paris, FR)
Feb 5 – L’Ouvre Boite (Beauvais, FR)
Feb 6 – De Zwerver (Leffinge, BE)