Frank Morey

Frank Morey, a singer and songwriter from Lowell, Massachusetts, has never faced accusations of possessing a sweet, pretty, or angelic vocal delivery. The New England native favors a rough, rugged, throaty approach to singing that suits his earthy, blues-minded folk-rock and roots rock, with expressive vocals that match grit to soulfulness in equal measure. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and harmonica, the performer draws from an array of influences that include early Tom Waits along with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and the late Chicago blues giant Howlin' Wolf.

Within the northeastern United States, Morey has found particular favor among devotees of anti-folk, the gutsy, punk-minded, in-your-face strain of folk-rock linked to artists such as Lach, Lenny Molotov, and Philadelphia-based Adam Brodsky, among others. Although he does not align strictly with the anti-folk movement and instead cultivates a more classic sound, he shares its preference for folk-rock delivered with a tough, hard edge and abundant guts, along with many of the same influences, notably the seminal Bob Dylan.

Morey’s live sets routinely blend covers with original material, and he has maintained an active presence on the Massachusetts club circuit since the ’90s. His debut album, Father John’s Medicine, appeared on the Indigo Hamlet label in 2000, followed by the sophomore release Cold at Heart. In 2002 he signed with veteran producer Bob Koester’s Chicago-based Delmark label and completed his third album, The Delmark Sessions.