Tots Tunes

20/04/2026

More VoxSling workshops start tomorrow.
Come and join me to gather, sing, breathe, connect. I know it’s not always easy to commit to all 4 weeks when you’ve got a tiny babe and never quite know what the day might bring so… you can come to 1 workshop or 2 , whatever works best for you.

Here’s a few words from singers on the last course…

“sublime, so calming and gratifying”

“ VoxSling is the highlight of my & my baby’s week!”

“ grounding yet elating - a perfect start to our morning”

Thanks again to the wonderful for opening up their space to gatherings of all kinds.
One week we were next to a bit of wine tasting and a knitting group - all running in different spaces in the pub 😊

More details in the bio link and message if you ever want to know.
Tuesday 10am - The crown, Hastings Old Town.

These workshops are for pregnant and new mums, parents with babes in arms (slings)

16/04/2026

Blue skies and some lovely gigs coming up in the next weeks …. ✨✨✨✨

APRIL:

HASTINGS - 23rd Difficult Loves EP Launch!

LONDON - 30th Difficult loves EP launch

With ✨✨

MAY:

SHEFFIELD - 6th

NEWCASTLE - 7th .ouseburn

PEAK DISTRICT - 8th Lost in the Hills Festival

Safe Operating Space Tour with ✨✨

And

PEAK DISTRICT - 9th - Lost in the hills festival

With my partner in string things for our set 🎶🎶✨✨

Then for something a little different in my Tots Tunes guise…

CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL - 2nd MAY - solo Tots Tunes set
(with a little guest apprentice or two ✨✨)

Come along if you are near by xx

16/04/2026

Dear London friends and Hackney friends who may still follow this page!
I have an EP Launch gig this month on Thursday 30th April The Old Church - lovely to back there again - who remembers the days of Tots Gigs, the regular monthly daytime gigs I ran there pre-covid??

This EP is a special collection of songs about love in all its facets written with wonderful friends and collaborators Preetha and Ana. Be lovely if any of you can come.

Thursday 30th April
Doors 7.30pm and the music will start around 8ish - 1 set and drinks after
Tara xx

Balladeste X Ana Silvera - 'Difficult Loves' EP Launch @ Stoke Newington Old Church Join captivatin...

10/04/2026

I'll be back at Barbican next month for this performance/workshop...
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/preschool-pics-amazing-animations-music-with-tara-franks?utm_campaign=1916634_CCFAM030426A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital

02/03/2026

Few lovely snaps from the first VoxSling course - my new project bringing together and connecting pregnant and new mums through song, breath and movement.
Thanks to for supporting the pilot.

The 2nd course starts tomorrow!!
This time in the cosy
Tuesday 10am - 11am

What better way to start your day than with a sing!

Come to all 4 workshops or book as many as you can attend. Few more spaces left 🎶🎶✨✨✨

27/01/2026

New tune is out ✨✨ ‘Like a Salmon’ - written with and (team ) - up on nearly all the usual listening spots 🎶🎶
Thank you to those who have already pre-ordered the full EP 🙏🏽🙏🏼- it’s available on both Balladeste and Ana’s bandcamp pages if you want to take a peak - I’ll put a link above too ✨✨✨

Few little bvs added in this one too along with cello

09/01/2026

And so… for a new project….

This one I’ve been wanting to start for a longtime, since I first had Lyra and spend so many winter days trawling round Clissold park to get her to sleep in the sling (if you know you know!). I did manage to write a few little songs on those mega walks - this little Lullaby being one and we still sing it at bedtime (for Lyra!) every night.

Anyway back to the project - VoxSling
it’s about having space to sing with others and for your self, it’s about supporting each other. There will be movement, breathing exercises, and support discussions too around breastfeeding, birth prep, sling wearing - I’m working on building this part in partnership with wonderful local organisations including and and more ✨✨

I suppose it’s somewhere between Vox Vouces style and Tots Tunes, taking what I’ve learnt over the years from both these projects I set

Those pregnant, those on early stages of parenthood with babes in slings it’s for you.

I’m also thrilled that I could offer this pilot course for free thanks to support and…. Places are nearly all booked up. Please join the waiting list or message me if you want to join as this is just the first taster course. More to come as I develop the idea.
up.

Read more in the link above as I’m rambling now!

📷I dug out an old photo from Lyra’s first day on this earth and my realisation of terror that I had no idea what to do!! How to people know how to be a parent?!

Thanks to talented for the gorgeous poster xx

07/01/2026

Happy New Year friends
Oh to these mega sunsets leading us into 2026 and the West Hill view that never gets old (wolf Moon rising one side and sunset the other - couldn’t get a photo of that one to even vaguely do it justice! )

So…Winter is not my time, I come into my own in 30 degrees plus 😊and flip flops, however I have some seaside projects coming - new and continuing - and they are all singing, singing, singing (one of my all time favourite things to do ✨)

More to come in these
(and a Hastings projects newsletter coming this week if anyone should wish to join that list)

Xx

15/11/2025

The Tots Tunes collective lives on and grows!
I love that this project I started about 15 yrs ago on a whim at Vortex Jazz Club is still rolling in various guises! ..:.and it’s still always joyful vibes to perform to a multi generational audience 💃🏻💃🏻

It was so much fun being back at at the The Jazz Social and this year joined by the creative wonders that are and ✨✨

3 part harmonies and cheese grater (amongst other household percussion items) - I mean what’s not to like 😉

Thanks team for inviting me back again this year with this project.

It was a treat to catch some of .offixial stunning set after too 🎶🎶

03/11/2025

Back at the London Jazz Festival this year with my Tunes Tunes hat on - Friday 14th November performing a relaxed daytime gig for those who can’t get out at night so much at the moment! So with your wee ones in tow.
Expect all the Tots Tunes fav originals, moves for all (whatever space we have for it!) and some folk tunes 🎶🎶
This year I’m going to be joined by some very special guests on vocals and other sound making delights! - Hastings favs ✨✨✨

Get in there quick friends although it might already be sold out 😮