You can call her Francesca, Frannie or Fran, but just don’t call singer/songwriter Francesca Brown late for … Freeman Friday Night Live.

Francesca gets the call 6 p.m. Friday outside of The Steaming Cup. “I’m always interested in playing Friday Night Live,” said Brown, a Brookfield resident. “When I get the call from (talent organizer) Norm Bruce to fill a spot, I don’t hesitate at all. There’s something special about performing outside in the atmosphere of downtown Waukesha.”

Also enjoying the atmosphere Friday night will be musicians Theiss and O’Connor at Main Street Stage, guitarist/harmonica player Richard Holly on Grand Avenue, and the group Apple Jams, outside of Cuddles at the Five Points.

One reason Brown enjoys the atmosphere of Freeman Friday Night Live is the outdoor venue affords her the opportunity to showcase her “inherited” talent – her personality.

“I am a big ham, so naturally, I just love to perform,” Francesca said. “Sometimes, I will break away from the lyrics of a song and throw out a comment like, ‘Isn’t that a cute baby’ or ‘Are you going to keep walking by’ to a member of the audience. One time, that might get me into trouble.”

Brown has stayed out of trouble for the past several years after having her musical career revived in 2002 when she joined the White House of Music’s Weekend Warriors band. A few months later, she completed her first six-track CD, My Sentimental Heart.

With still a lot more to say, Brown finished off Lucky One, an 11-track CD in October of 2004. Today, her Web site, www.francescabrown.com also features four rockin’ tracks for her next project.

Brown said audience favorites often include “Round and Around” and “ Crawford Avenue” from her first CD and “Sentimental Heart” and “Lucky One” from the second.

Her favorite?

“The last song I wrote is always my favorite,” she said. “One of my other favorites is ‘Something For Yourself,’ and it’s not even up on my Web site.”

“I do cover music as a necessity,” she added. “You do cover music to show people who and what your influences are. For me, that would be Joni Mitchell, Steven Stills, Lucinda Williams and Tom Petty. I would prefer to do all originals, but I’m not sure exactly how an audience will react to that. I try not to do a cover song solely because it’s popular. I have to really own it or understand it.”

That way, her audience can do the same.

“The best compliment I get is when I look out and see someone’s toe tapping, especially if they don’t realize it,” Brown said. “Or, when someone nods their head too and acknowledges you and what you’re saying – even if it’s only for a moment.”