Hannah Frank is a poetic songwriter and vocalist whose first forays dug into rural country blues, raw cowboy chords, and surprisingly heavy lyrics. Soaking up Chicago’s vibe, she added traces of jazz, world, rock and the energy of urban blues.
Delving deeper into the worlds of jazz and blues, she recently recorded two jazz classics: “Comes Love” and the Western Swing song “Walkin’ After Midnight” onto a 7-inch 45 rpm record release (Random Chance Records NYC). Her most recent music video is for her own blues-inspired song “Heart Hitter.”
In her original folk music, characters step out of songs as if out of a novel. The effect is mysterious, evocative, and fun. A honey-meets-barbed wire voice melds woe and wonder into psychological rhymes, vivid imagery and emotionally-charged scenes. Songs like “Things Have Changed” and “King James” show her electric guitar stylings. while this song “Lay Some Paint on Me” shows some of her acoustic fingerpicking and Dylan-like lyrical runs.
In an ensemble, Hannah Frank Group has performed in Chicago since 2012, at Chicago’s House of Blues and Mayne Stage, as well as festivals like Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest. The group, featuring Meg Thomas (Percussion), Victor Sanders (Guitar) and Ben E. Miller (Bass), has released LIVE EP (2014) and PUSH Collection (2016) with lush, rhythmic, moody Americana. The music has been featured on the WDCB 90.9FM American Backroads radio program, in the Strobe Sessions by the former Strobe Recording Studio, and multiple times on the Chicago Acoustic Underground podcast. The group also hosting “Singing for Your Supper” Songwriter Showcase alongside Chicago Acoustic Underground, for over two years, a monthly showcase which was the hub of the city’s songwriter scene.