🎶 Vermont Artist of the Week 🎶
Vermont Artist Spotlight: ROUGH FRANCIS (Burlington, VT)
Rough Francis is not just another punk band from Vermont — they are part of a living continuum of American underground music.
Formed in Burlington, VT, Rough Francis consists of brothers Dan, Bobby, and David Hackney, the sons of Bobby Hackney, whose band Death was a pioneering force in Detroit punk, recording groundbreaking music in the early 1970s and later gaining recognition as one of punk's true originators.
Rough Francis carries that history forward — not as a tribute act, but as a modern punk band rooted in legacy and resistance, inspiring respect and a sense of purpose in the audience.
A Band Built on Lineage, Not Nostalgia
What separates Rough Francis from most legacy-adjacent bands is intention. They do not recreate their father's sound. Instead, they absorb the ethos that made Death necessary in the first place:
• Independence over industry approval
• Message over marketability
• Volume as expression, not excess
Their music feels urgent because it comes from a place of lived experience — as Black artists in punk, as Vermonters outside major-city music economies, and as musicians committed to authenticity and community, encouraging the audience to feel connected and inspired.
The Sound: Controlled Chaos with Purpose
Rough Francis' sound is hardcore punk distilled to its core elements:
• Driving, stripped-down guitar riffs
• Rhythms built for sweat-soaked basements and small rooms
• Vocals delivered with conviction rather than theatrics
There's an evident influence of early hardcore, garage punk, and classic protest music, but the band avoids retro cosplay. Their songs are direct, concise, and confrontational — built to be felt immediately and remembered afterward.
Key Releases & Listening Path
• Rough Francis (2012)
A raw introduction that establishes their sound and philosophy — loud, minimal, and unfiltered.
• Maximum Soul Power (2014)
A pivotal record that sharpens their attack while deepening their songwriting. This album reflects confidence, momentum, and a broader sonic palette without compromising intensity.
• We're Not From Around Here (2019)
Their most refined and declarative release. Themes of displacement, identity, and resilience come into focus, making this record feel especially relevant in a fractured cultural moment.
Each release documents a band evolving without standing down its edges.
Rough Francis and the Vermont Music Ecosystem
Vermont's music scene has always thrived on self-reliance and community, and Rough Francis embodies that tradition, building their reputation through touring, word-of-mouth, and shared bills rather than hype cycles, directly connecting to Vermont's underground ethos.
They represent a reminder that Vermont's underground is not peripheral — it's vital. The state's smaller scale allows bands like Rough Francis to stay connected to their audience while fostering pride and independence.
Why Rough Francis Belongs at Maple City Music
Rough Francis aligns with the deeper mission behind Maple City Music:
• Honoring musical history that wasn't properly documented the first time
• Supporting artists who value integrity over algorithms
• Creating space for music that challenges, confronts, and connects
This is music meant to be held, played loud, and talked about — the kind of records that spark conversations across generations.
Rough Francis is proof that punk isn't a phase, a fashion, or a moment. It's a responsibility — and in Vermont, that responsibility is being carried forward with purpose.
Check out all of the previous highlighted artists at https://www.maplecitymusic.com
