Frank's Story
"Frank Jones sings songs about people that walk down the same streets I do, cross the same rivers, drink the same brand of beer. Frank writes locally, which makes him a truly international writer. I know the people in his songs. I know their heartache and heartease." - Paul Kelly.
Frank's first band, the punk inspired Moomba Victims set the stage for a musical career steeped in handwritten songs of great depth, wit, heart and soul. The Moomba Victims' loyal following tell tales of sweaty, loud, inspired nights down at the Tote in Collingwood.
It took a few more years and the birth, life and death of another great band, The Whole Town, for Frank's writing and performing to develop into what was to be the most successful and influential of his performing bands to date, the legendary Whirling Furphies.
The Whirling Furphies first appeared on the Australian music scene in 1989 with a brash swirling mix of acoustic instruments. Frank's catchy hook-laden songs and the band's superb musicianship established the Furphies at the forefront of the acoustic and folk scene in Australia. Frank's songs and images milked the urban experience of Melbourne in the early nineties, joining such writers as Paul Kelly and Michael Thomas in establishing a new, very Australian and very contemporary folk song style.
Their classic albums, Lizard Tree and Head Over Heels are testament to the consistently high quality of the band's art. Frank's classic "My Brown Yarra" is forever in the hearts of many Melbournians. The originality, excitement and sheer musicality of the Whirling Furphies can make genuine claims on a significant place in the history of Australian roots music.
Port Fairy Festival in 1998 saw the final moments of the Whirling Furphies, but it also heralded the start of something new for Frank, winning the Lawson-Paterson Songwriting Award ….. a sad end, but a happy beginning.
Two great albums followed in 1998 and 2002 with the self-titled singer/songwriter "Frank Jones" album, followed by the pop-inspired "Where in the World".
Having been a solo writer for his whole career to date, a move into co-writing at this time was a good way to broaden the horizon. Frank began writing with other songwriters including Brent Parlane, one of Australia's great country singer/songwriters, and also with a classy and inspiring pop writer, Brad Pinto.
Success with a song on a recent Renée Geyer album and a publishing deal with Blaise Music Publishing have lead to frank co-writing with a range of other writers from upcoming R&B star, Nathaniel Willemse, to Australian Idol favourite Bobby Flynn and Melbourne rapper, 360. Frank's songs can also be found on albums by Dave Gleeson (Screaming Jets), Darren Coggan, Margret Roadnight, Cam Fletcher and Mike Jackson.
Frank’s latest band, BiG FOLK are starting to make waves both locally and nationally with the release of their first album “Small Ball”. BiG FOLK include Frank's long-time collaborator and producer George Butrumlis (playing keyboards, guitar and accordion), Dennis Close on drums and percussion, Howard Cairns on double bass, daughter Rosie Wositzky-Jones, niece Amy Jones and Rosie Hilder on backing vocals. The BiG FOLK sound is, well, big, folky, rootsy, and a whole new chapter in “The Melbourne Sound”.
Check out BiG FOLK at: http://www.myspace.com/bigfolkband
When not performing or writing Frank can be found teaching songwriting and lyric craft at music festivals and in secondary schools with a range of presentations, performances and workshops.
