Biography

 

Bucking the trend with his free-wheeling alternative folk  Franc Cinelli is the songwriters’ songwriter. From uptempo torch songs to blues laden road journals and lovestruck serenades to defiant, prison outlaw ballads; Franc has carved his own musical path. 

 

 Franc Cinelli’s new album The Marvel Age shows an artist continuing a determined road, not afraid to take chances and experiment. At its core this is a folk record, but its use of rhythms, the twists and turns in the arrangements with their vibrant colours and haunting undertones, create something much more. It has received critical acclaim including Folk Radio UK’s coveted album of the month slot and Resonance FM’s Tin Can Review Top Ten Albums of the year along with a score of fantastic reviews in the UK and Franc’s native Italy. 

The album was written over the course of Cinelli’s extensive tour in 2013 and 2014 playing throughout the UK, US and his native Italy. The people and places of that tour, from the Strait of Messina to England’s North East are all present throughout these ten songs, as is much of the listening material from the tour, from T Bone Burnett records to the mesmerising Sahara Blues. The album was recorded in his London studio, enlisting the help of his live band Laurence Saywood on bass guitar and Drew Manley on drums. 

 

Following his previous record with Morrissey and Coldplay producer Danton Supple, Franc took the step of recording and producing his own music at his London studio where he also continues to produce a crop of new talent.  

 

The extensive 12-month tour promoting his last record I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight, which gave birth to this new album, saw him playing shows across UK, Europe and North America. Including sold out shows in New York and London, along with a televised performance at the Blue Note in Milan and two shows at the Royal Albert Hall. He’s gathered support from BBC Radio 2 to WFUV in New York and everywhere in between.

 

Franc Cinelli was born in Rome and grew up in London since the age of four. His introduction to music came from his mother’s record collection : ”Springsteen, The Police, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd & Bob Marley were the big hitters” he comments.
He started playing the violin when he was about 10 and quit that in favor of the guitar a few years later. Like all good troubadours, he spent a lot of time touring by himself before making records. Not just the length and breadth of the UK (quite literally from Hastings to Stornoway) but throughout the East Coast of the USA, Texas & Tennessee, and in his native Italy. He regards the road as the school of songwriting, and, he adds ”its rather good fun”.

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Folk Radio Album of the Month

 

Tin Can Review, Resonance FM London

"Top 10 Albums of the Year” 

 

Americana UK 8/10

 

R2 Magazine 4/5,

 

Classic Rock Magazine 8/10

 

 

"The Marvel Age summons images of endless horizons, straight rails and songs sung for a place to sleep; jump the train and listen.’ Album Of The Month, Folk Radio UK

 

"A roosty, bluesy, folky confection whose superpower appears to be the ability to fuse a hummable tune with thoughtful, thought-provoking lyrics". ✮✮✮✮ R2 Magazine

 

"Singer-songwriter with inviting rambling tendencies" 8/10 AmericanaUK 

 

"A road album evoking images of long distance car journeys through barren wastelands.” Acoustic Magazine

 

"His most compelling effort to date, embracing the sounds of folk and rock & roll." Exposed Magazine

 

"Franc Cinelli comes of age." Rock N Roll Creations

 

“A very good album that will grow on you with each listen.” Whiperin & Hollerin 

 

"Never has an album made me want to throw a guitar into the back of the car and head out into the unknown this much.” Dancing About Architecture