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Latest News February, 2011 Allan's debut CD, The Road So Far debuts at #44 on the Roots Music Report's Top 50 Folk chart. click here to see chart October, 2010 Allan's debut CD, The Road So Far reached #20 on the Euro Americana chart in September 2010. click here to see chart August 20, 2010 North Hollywood, CA based Singer-Songwriter Allan Frank signs with Swedish Promotional Firm-HEMIFRAN SPARSOR, SWEDEN - (August 20, 2010) Award-winning Songwriter, Allan Frank, has signed a promotional agreement with HEMIFRAN for the European release of his debut album "The Road So Far." HEMIFRAN is an independent A&R, promotion and marketing company, based in the heart of Sweden, specializing in, what they call, "gut music" - The kind of music that one can feel in the gut, no matter if it's power pop, soft singer-songwriter, heavy rock, blues, gentle westcoast-pop, country, AOR, jazz, Americana, electronica or just plain, simple, good'ol, rock'n'roll. HEMIFRAN works with the traditional way of distribution, sales, promotion and marketing. Some major American and British artists are represented in Europe by HEMIFRAN including Jackson Browne, Robert Plant, Judy Collins, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. HEMIFRAN's CEO, Peter Holmstedt, felt Frank's music represented a style of music his company could create a buzz around. With "the brilliant songwriting; great, thoughtful lyrics and very convincing melodies, the musicianship and spare production (which) adds "weight" to the already great songs (and) the recording (that is) really "in your face", in the most positive meaning - I really do believe that this music could do very well with Scandinavian and/or continental European audiences," he said. "It is really great to hear an album where the songs, the performance, the overall feeling, really creates ‘a picture' for the listener." Frank will be scheduling a late Winter/early Spring tour in Europe starting with the Berlin Country Music Festival in early February. July 19, 2010 Allan mentioned in National Press Release about Kulak's Woodshed: LA’s Kulak’s Woodshed Live Streams LA Music Scene to the World The Woodshed Thrives with Volunteers and Audience Donations LOS ANGELES, CA – (July 19, 2010) Kulak’s Woodshed, an LA music venue that is a center of the LA singer/songwriter scene, live streams performances worldwide via the worldwide web. One of LA’s best kept secrets is now making it known throughout the US and the world that live performances of seasoned players and new artists can be viewed for free on the Kulak’s Woodshed website. Kulak’s Woodshed was started by Paul Kulak who had a dream about having a music club that streamed video on the web in 1997, and he actually opened the Woodshed in 1999. It became so popular with musicians and artists that it became its own self fulfilling prophecy. The only problem Paul had was keeping the Woodshed open financially, when it became so popular with musicians, which led to how it operates today; completely with audience donations and the dedication of volunteers as a labor of love. "Our shows are constantly praised by high ranking entertainment industry people here in L.A. and around the world who believe that live webcasting is the next big thing and artists from beginners to Grammy winners perform here because they want to be a part of it." says Kulak, adding "I’m very hopeful that the timing is right for this to resonate with online audiences.” Kulak’s Woodshed is like a television studio with props and a set that feels like a living room where friends can play to friends and seats 49 people. It has 6 cameras and a professional sound system which have all been donated. The intimacy translates well via live streaming to help the online viewers feel part of the experience; and viewers can even email performers and get a response during the shows. On Monday nights, the Woodshed broadcasts its very popular “Open Mike” Night where 35-40 mostly regular performers play their music to a full capacity crowd and many online viewers. Some of the notable Woodshed “Featured Artists” include Jackson Browne, Paula Cole, Peter Case, and Delaney Bramlett. Other “Featured Artists” at the Woodshed have included Jack Tempchin, Guitar Shorty and Deacon Jones. Tempchin was songwriter for “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “The Girl From Yesterday” recorded by the Eagles. Guitar Shorty played with Ray Charles, Willie Dixon, Guitar Slim Big Joe Turner, and Little Richard. Jones was band leader for John Lee Hooker for 18 years. A full list of Woodshed artists can be viewed at http://kulakswoodshed.com/artists. Current “Featured Artists” range from well known artists like Wendy Waldman who performed on July 8th, to emerging artists like T. J. Doyle and Allan Frank performing at the Woodshed on August 20th. The Woodshed broadcasts from 7:30pm to 10:00pm on Mondays for the Open Mike Night show, and Featured Artist performances are broadcast from 8:00pm to 10:00pm PST on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Paul Kulak refers to the Woodshed as a “labor of love”. Now people anywhere in the world can be part of his “labor of love”! Paul Kulak can be reached at paulkulak@earthlink.net. July 12, 2010 Latest review written up in Michelle's Music Magazine March 9th, 2010 Accomplished Songwriter Allan Frank Releases Debut Album The Road So Far "This is the kind of album you'll want sit back with a nice bottle of wine and listen to." Ralph Murphy - VP Intnt'l/Domestic Membership, ASCAP NASHVILLE, TN - (March 9, 2010) California based singer-songwriter Allan Frank is hoping to strike a universal chord with the release of his first project, The Road So Far, on March 9th. Frank is an artist whose songs invite the listener on a heartfelt journey, one he's created with pen and paper through the decades and now offers on this first album. "There's nothing I'd like more than to take the listener on a journey to somewhere they've never been, yet somewhere they'd want to go back to time and time again." The Road So Far, an engaging work offering a retrospective snapshot of Frank's music that spans nearly three decades of songwriting, draws on personal experiences of Frank's life and, with loving care, combines a childlike playfulness with the passion and adventure of a young man and the wisdom of an old soul. In it we hear his varied and unique vocal stylings from folksy warmth to heartbreaking resignation and we are introduced to a quality of songwriting that takes us along with him on a stimulating trip down the unexpected road so far. With various genres represented, Allan's strength as a balladeer shines through. With a style that can be described as Americana with Folk, Roots, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Country influences, Frank has created an engaging work offering genuine, musical storytelling. The album starts with two different songs that showcase two very different viewpoints on the need to break away from the ordinary. From a call to adventure on "The Long, Long Road," to a heartbreaking saga of the broken dreams of "Black Collar Workers." In contrast, "How to Dream" shares the story of how a father and son are taught to dream through the innocence and wonder of a child. The upbeat, "I Got a Song," invites the listener to take their own personal journey by urging the listener to cut the ties and open themselves up for whatever awaits, while "Any Fool" paints an ironic and compelling picture of one clinging to the lasting hope of a failed relationship while contemplating his own foolishness. An accomplished songwriter, Allan has won awards both in the US and abroad, including 1st place for Best Country Song in the 2000 International Unisong Competition. He consistenly works with top writers in both Los Angeles and Nashville. Allan's songs are special because they are accessible and they consistently ring true. Whether a narrator or as part of the story himself, he gives us insight into the motivation behind human behaviour, including our own. "I'd truly like to touch something in everyone, whatever the situation. It's y attempt to touch the truth, to measure the depth of life," he says. In doing so, Allan presents an appealing combination of humor, drama, and sensitivity that we immediately connect to in his music. January 19th US Radio Release - January 2010 THE ROAD SO FAR is being release to Americana and NPR stations throughout the US this January. The US Official Promotional Release will be announced soon. Listen for Allan's music on a station near you in late January early February. U.S. Radio Release set for January 2010. Announcements coming in January of the U.S. CD Release of THE ROAD SO FAR. October 26, 2009 North Hollywood, CA INTERNATIONAL RADIO RELEASE — The international release of the Allan Frank's debut album THE ROAD SO FAR has been announced as November 1st. 2009 The album will be available at selected radio stations throughout Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Canada for radio airplay. Radio stations in the following countries have been delivered a copy of the Americana landmark. AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, CANADA, DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, IRELAND, ITALY, JAPAN, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, NORWAY, ROMANIA, SCOTLAND, SPAIN, SWEDEN, UK, ENGLAND and URAGUAY. Frank will scheduling a tour in support of the album in Europe in the spring 2010 and will be attending the Country Music Messe Festival in Berlin March 12-14, 2010. A US release is scheduled for early 2010 and will be announced late this year. September 20, 2009 Free download of the song "I Got a Song" will be available for downloading in mid - November. Please check back for more information. Welcome to the new Allan Frank Music Website. I'm so thrilled to finally be launching this site after having it in the works for so long. I'd like to thank Steve Stanard for his design, Barbara Burst for initial construction, Darryl Suiter for his diligent hours of programming and Duff Ferguson for additional design. Since, this is a dynamic (ever-changing) Website and I plan to be adding new content on an ongoing basis. Please keep checking back. But for now, please take a look around and let me know what you think. Most of all just have fun! ...as we travel down Any Web problems you encounter can be directed to the webmaster. Any other problems... related to the Website... you can contact me. Allan Frank August 10, 2009 North Hollywood, CA A well-attended "Hometown" CD release party at the home of Allan Frank took place on August 1st, 2009. Frank performed several songs from his CD backed by a superlative band consisting of Mark "Pocket" Goldberg - Bass, Edward Tree - Guitar, Robert Thomas - Keyboards/Accordian, Luke Halpin - Mandolin, and Candy Girard - Fiddle. Several well-known Southern California songwriters performed in an "open mike" format throughout the evening. Performers included Duane, Tom Bishel, Stephanie Bettman/LukeHalpin, Weird Brother (Burt Berger, Tom Hubbard), Garrett Swayne, Randall Kirby, Brian Tyler, Garry Corman, Doc Johnson and the Heatseekers (Randy Johnson, Robert Thomas and Garry Corman), Songs of Shiloh (Marty Axelrod, Nicole Gordon), Ben Carr, Justefanie, Roland Vega, Seth Jackson, Omer Avni, Stephanie Lisanti, Severin Brown, and Irene Tuomainen. See photos from the event under Photos. Keep checking back new VIDEOS of the CD release party will be posted soon. Look for more information about shows and venues upcoming in Where/When. |