Meet Brian Franke. An award-winning folk-rock singer-songwriter who crafts memorable melodies and insightful lyrics. He juxtaposes the thoughtful introspection of Michael Stipe and Elliott Smith with the rock sensibilities of Vertical Horizon and Toad the Wet Sproket. Franke’s signature style has already earned him a Songwriting Award from the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Competition, and an invitation to perform in front of 22,000 people at a Washington Nationals home game. This seasoned storyteller is now ready to showcase his music to a much wider audience with the release of his debut album, ‘Six Blocks Down’.

ʻSix Blocks Downʼ takes us on a journey that navigates through swells of hard rock, over meandering streams of rootsy folk, with an undercurrent of mellow indie pop. Franke mediates on life, love, politics and social issues, blending lively folk-rock arrangements with colorful chord progressions and rich, raw vocals. The album’s award-winning title track, “Six Blocks Down”, is a breezy pop-rock number whose sound belies the serious nature of the song’s lyrics, about a couple struggling to find purpose in their relationship. Other standout tracks on the album include the heavier rock number “Never Let Your Guard Down” which captures the emotional magnitude of someone you love revealing their hidden feelings for you, and the rootsy folk song “Reconcile”, a tale of hope, forgiveness, and that moment of realization of just how important someone is to you.

Music has always been a source of both inspiration and solace for Franke. He taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 12 after his parents returned from vacation with a “display” instrument for the home. Inspired by the music of fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, Franke quickly claimed the guitar as his own and started playing and writing songs immediately. After a brief musical hiatus, Franke experienced a second wave of inspiration after watching a local open mic night in the summer of 2006. From that point onwards he concentrated on honing his craft, constantly songwriting, performing and educating himself on the do’s and don’t of the rapidly evolving music industry. Like so many other young musicians, Franke struggled maintaining a balance between his day job and his burgeoning music career. In 2009 his passion finally won, and he made the bold decision to turn his hobby into a full-time career.

Brian Franke is now a permanent fixture on the music circuit in Washington, DC, with numerous residencies, and invitations to perform at venues large and small. His following is set to explode with the release of his debut album ‘Six Blocks Down’, hopefully propelling the talented singer-songwriter into a league of his own.

To find out more about Brian Franke’s music and upcoming shows, please visit: