Photo: RNZ/Claire Eastham-Farrelly.
Last week right before Easter, Francisca Griffin released a new video for the song Ghost Boy. The song, which is about her son Oscar, was originally written in 2000. "We were arguing just before he went back to London. That was really hard for both of us, saying goodbye again." Listen to Ghost Boy here:
Video by Tane Cotton
Griffin, who readers may know as a member of the pivotal Flying Nun-band Look Blue Go Purple, spoke about how the song developed from idea to recording. "The song arrived fully formed - I actually started writing it on my bass, but then transposed it to guitar. I made a couple of attempts at recording it, but it never quite worked until I met Forbes Williams. Alastair Galbraith plays e-bowed guitar - I know! it sounds like his violin.”
Griffin had planned to go on tour last year before you-know-what scuppered any such plans. But, we have grown since then and thankfully the tour is back on! She is taking to the road with her band The Bus Shelter Boys for seven shows later this month. Fishrider Records owner and staunch Dunedin music stalwart Ian Henderson describes Francisca's music as having “the kind of freshness and instantly recognisable light and airy guitar tones of its place of origins. Psychedelic folk perhaps, Southern New Zealand style, and in some respects as reminiscent of David Kilgour’s solo music as it is of Look Blue Go Purple.”
See the tour dates below and be sure to get along! Tickets are available via UTR.
Francisca Griffin and The Bus Shelter Boys on tour April 2021
Friday April 9 - The Crown Dunedin
with Birdation and Diana
Thursday April 22 - Whammy, Auckland
with Na Noise and Kraus
Saturday April 24 - Nivara Lounge, Hamilton
with Bitter Defeat and The Biscuits
Sunday April 25th - Snails, Palmerston North
*early show 3.30pm / All ages with Campbell Neale
Wednesday April 28th - Miracle Room, Featherston
All ages, early evening acoustic show
Thursday April 29th - St Peter’s Hall, Paekākāriki
with The Perms
Friday April 30th - Pyramid Club Wellington
with The Perms
