Frank Viele – New England Blues Rock with Folk, Americana, and Honest Songwriting

Frank Viele brings his New England blend of folk, blues, rock, and Americana to Godfrey Daniels on Friday, November 6. A New England Music Award winner across multiple categories, Viele is known for powerful vocals, guitar-driven songwriting, and a deeply personal connection with his audience. His latest EP, The Silo, takes his music in a more cinematic, less rock-driven direction, offering a new perspective on an artist who continues to explore and evolve. In the intimate setting of Godfrey Daniels, there’s room to hear the details, connect with the songs, and experience Frank Viele up close.

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Frank Viele’s brand of New England blues rock tugs at the heartstrings, pulling the listener on a surprise journey that transcends genre. The Silo EP, being released on Frank’s own Bigger Beast records (a label started to support and highlight some of Frank’s favorite artists, collaborators, and friends), serves as the next step in this artist’s journey. Over the past decade, Frank has racked up accolades — including New England Music Awards for Independent Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Performer of the Year, Songwriter of The Year (twice), and Live Act of The Year for gutsy, gritty tracks like “Broken Love Song” and “‘Til The Bourbon’s All Gone” — and he has rarely paused to savor the moment before moving on to yet another tour, album, or collaboration. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit in early 2020 and he was forced to hunker down that Viele realized that time itself was the world’s most precarious, yet precious, resource.

Viele’s music is characterized not only by his powerful vocals, soulful guitar playing, and poignant lyrics, but also its deep honesty, and this EP is no different.  "After opening for Lee DeWyze on over 100 shows across 10 years, I had the opportunity to collaborate with him and his long-time producer Nico on this project, bringing a deep connection and understanding to the production process,” Viele says. 

This project was intentionally produced to be a sonic departure and to be more cinematic and less rock-driven than Frank’s previous work. The Silo aims to showcase a different artistic side from the brand of heartland rock for which he is traditionally known, and the freedom and support of being in the studio with a friend and collaborator allowed Frank to try some new things. "I took full control of building the sound, playing most of the instruments, writing every song except the Bob Seger cover, and shaping the overall sonic direction,” he explains. “It was my first time layering instruments in the studio and doing things like playing slide guitar on my own record, singing lots of my own backing vocals, and moving away from the live band recording setting I’ve been used to in the past."

Viele is an artist who is not afraid of wearing his heart on his sleeve, and he digs deep into the joys and struggles of life. He has been praised for his ability to blend elements of folk, blues, and rock into a unique sound that is both timeless and contemporary, and yet The Silo brings a new perspective to his music. "While this is my darkest release sonically, it carries a lot of hope,” Viele says. “The songs were captured during a six-month period of personal change and unexpected realities. After releasing a full-length album with a long cycle, I often write more experimental music in a condensed timeframe—this EP feels like that kind of special, introspective project, born from creative weariness after nonstop touring and recording.” The Silo serves as a timestamp of that period, and even while it is darker than his normal songwriting, this five-song package still comes brimming with the hope that underpins so much of Frank's songwriting.  

Over the years, Viele has built a dedicated fanbase thanks to his dynamic live performances and his ability to connect with his audience on a deeply personal level. With The Silo and several albums under his belt, along with a growing reputation as one of the most exciting voices in folk/Americana music, Frank Viele continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a modern singer-songwriter. Whether he’s performing on stage or in the studio, he approaches his music with a passion and intensity that is infectious, making more and more folks take notice… one stage at a time.