Out May 16, Virtuoso bassist and composer Derek Frank’s new instrumental “Barker’s Boogie” serves up a soulful fusion of funk, jazz, and blues-rock — anchored by his unmistakable low-end swagger. Packed with horns, gritty rhythm, and bluesy-rock flair, the track features fiery slide guitar from Johnny Stachela of The Allman-Betts Band/Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel.
A funk-forward homage to the horn-driven, envelope-filtered jams of the 1970s, “Barker’s Boogie” tips its hat to legends like The Brecker Brothers, Tower of Power, and Steely Dan. “I was particularly inspired by Steely Dan’s “Black Friday” and The Brecker Brothers’ “Inside Out,” Frank says. “I wanted that shuffle feel, and writing with Johnny in mind made total sense—it’s the perfect vehicle for his voice on slide guitar.”
Recorded live at Stagg Street Studios in Los Angeles, the single features a full-band lineup that brings the track’s raw energy to life: punchy bass, percussive keys, soulful horns, and a tight groove that hits hard. Stachela’s soaring slide melodies ignite the track, adding an edge that nods to both Southern rock and psychedelic funk.
The collaboration between Frank and Stachela was sparked during a recent blues session, where the chemistry was instant. “I had done a session for a blues record with Johnny a few weeks prior to this recording, loved his playing, and thought it would be really fun to feature him on something. Johnny’s tone and phrasing are just killer.”
“Barker’s Boogie” also serves as a gritty departure from Frank’s more disco-leaning singles, like March’s “Goin’ Stagg,” offering a different taste of his deep-rooted musicality.
A respected solo artist with three critically acclaimed albums (Let the Games Begin, Eleven Years Later, Origin Story), Frank has built a stellar reputation on and off stage. When he’s not crafting his own funk-fueled soundscapes, he’s performing with music royalty—including tours with Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, Air Supply, Shakira, and Kelly Clarkson.
At the beginning of May, Frank will spend a few weeks in New York performing with Kelly Clarkson on The Kelly Clarkson Show and select concerts before hitting the road this summer with Don Felder—the legendary Eagles guitarist and co-writer of classics like “Hotel California,” “Victim of Love,” and “Those Shoes.” The Brotherhood of Rock 40-date North American amphitheatre tour — featuring Felder, Kevin Cronin (former lead singer of REO Speedwagon), and Styx — kicks off May 28, 2025, in Greenville, South Carolina, and runs through August. The tour will make stops at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre (Tampa, FL), Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (The Woodlands, TX), Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (Denver, CO), Toyota Pavilion at Concord (Concord, CA), Isleta Amphitheater (Albuquerque, NM), PNC Music Pavilion (Charlotte, NC), and Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater (Syracuse, NY), among others.
With “Barker’s Boogie,” Frank continues to prove he’s not only one of the most versatile bassists in the game—but also a dynamic composer capable of channeling the soul, sass, and swagger of a funk-rock era gone by.
Derek and his handpicked five- to seven-piece band craft an eclectic mix of funk, blues, soul, jazz, and southern rock, channeling the feel of vintage soundtrack music. His compositions are defined by tight arrangements, slinky grooves, and a deep sense of musical interplay that prioritizes taste and feel over flashy technique.
Frank’s solo work has earned praise from Bass Magazine, Guitar World Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, and podcasts such as “Everyone Loves Guitar” and “The Bass Shed”. Additionally, he received a Hollywood Independent Music Award nomination for Best Instrumental Song. His work has drawn comparisons to Lettuce, Vulfpeck, Cory Wong, Snarky Puppy, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Karl Denson, and John Scofield.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Frank’s passion for music was sparked by the TV shows, movies, and MTV culture of the ‘70s and ‘80s. His love for bass emerged unexpectedly when he picked up the instrument at a music store while waiting for a guitar lesson. That moment launched a lifelong career that would take him to Los Angeles, where he became one of the city’s most sought-after touring and session bassists.
Tour Dates:
MAY 6 The Today Show on NBC w/ Kelly Clarkson
MAY 9 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, NJ w/ Kelly Clarkson
MAY 10 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, NJ w/ Kelly Clarkson
MAY 25 Epcot Garden Rocks Concert Series Orlando, FL w/ Don Felder
MAY 26 Epcot Garden Rocks Concert Series Orlando, FL w/ Don Felder
MAY 28 Bon Secours Wellness Arena Greenville, SC w/ Don Felder
MAY 30 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL w/ Don Felder
MAY 31 Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre Tampa, FL w/ Don Felder
JUN 02 Daily's Place Jacksonville, FL w/ Don Felder
JUN 04 Germania Insurance Amphitheater Austin, TX w/ Don Felder
JUN 06 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston, TX w/ Don Felder
JUN 07 Thunder Ridge Nature's Arena Ridgedale, MO w/ Don Felder
JUN 08 GoPro Mountain Games Vail, CO *Derek Frank Band
JUN 09 Fiddlers' Green Denver, CO w/ Don Felder
JUN 11 Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre West Valley City, UT w/ Don Felder
JUN 13 Toyota Pavilion at Concord Concord, CA w/ Don Felder
JUN 14 Hayden Homes Amphitheater Bend, OR w/ Don Felder
JUN 15 Cascades Amphitheater Ridgefield, WA w/ Don Felder
JUN 26 Dauphin’s CountryFest Dauphin, Manitoba w/ Toque
JUN 28 Isleta Resort & Casino Albuquerque, NM w/ Don Felder
JUN 29 Ford Amphitheater Colorado Springs, CO w/ Don Felder
JUL 02 Starlight Theatre Kansas City, MO w/ Don Felder
JUL 03 Vibrant Arena at The MARK Moline, IL w/ Don Felder
JUL 05 Oak Mountain Amphitheatre Pelham, AL w/ Don Felder
JUL 06 Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Alpharetta, GA w/ Don Felder
JUL 08 PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC w/ Don Felder
JUL 09 Coastal Credit Union Music Park At Walnut Creek Raleigh, NC w/ Don Felder
UL 11 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater Virginia Beach, VA w/ Don Felder
JUL 12 Jiffy Lube Live Bristow, VA w/ Don Felder
JUL 14 Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater Syracuse, NY w/ Don Felder
JUL 15 Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater Bridgeport, CT w/ Don Felder
JUL 18 Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Gilford, NH w/ Don Felder
JUL 19 Xfinity Center Mansfield, MA w/ Don Felder
JUL 20 PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ w/ Don Felder
JUL 25 California Mid-State Fair Paso Robles, CA w/ Don Felder
AUG 01 Dos Equis Pavilion Dallas, TX w/ Don Felder
AUG 02 Brandon Amphitheater Brandon, MS w/ Don Felder
AUG 04 FirstBank Amphitheater Franklin, TN w/ Don Felder
AUG 06 Riverfront Plaza Richmond, VA w/ Don Felder
AUG 08 Freedom Mortgage Pavilion Camden, NJ w/ Don Felder
AUG 10 The Pavilion at Star Lake Burgettstown, PA w/ Don Felder
AUG 12 Broadview Stage at SPAC Saratoga Springs, NY w/ Don Felder
AUG 13 Budweiser Stage Toronto, ON w/ Don Felder
AUG 15 Ruoff Music Center Noblesville, IN w/ Don Felder
AUG 16 Pine Knob Music Theatre Clarkston, MI w/ Don Felder
AUG 19 Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH w/ Don Felder
AUG 20 Blossom Music Center Cuyahoga Falls, OH w/ Don Felder
AUG 22 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Maryland Heights, MO w/ Don Felder
AUG 23 Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL w/ Don Felder
AUG 24 American Family Field Milwaukee, WI w/ Don Felder
SEP 5 June Lake Jam Fest June Lake, CA *Derek Frank Band
SEP 10 Radio City Music Hall New York, NY w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 13 Harvest Music Festival 2025 Fredericton, Canada w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 15 The VETS Providence, RI w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 16 Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater Bridgeport, CT w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 18 Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B Buffalo, NY w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 19 PNC Pavilion Cincinnati, OH w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 20 Orion Amphitheater Huntsville, AL w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 22 Mershon Auditorium Columbus, OH w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 23 Iroquois Amphitheater Louisville, KY w /Melissa Etheridge
SEP 25 White Oak Amphitheater Greensboro, NC w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 26 Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park Atlanta, GA w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 27 Alabama Theatre North Myrtle Beach, SC w/ Melissa Etheridge
SEP 29 Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Ponte Vedra, FL w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 4 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol Bristol, VA w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 7 McCain Auditorium Manhattan, KS w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 8 Texas Trust CU Theatre Grand Prairie, TX w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 9 The Espee San Antonio, TX w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 11 Route 66 Casino Albuquerque, NM w/ Melissa Etheridge
OCT 12 Arizona Financial Theatre Phoenix, AZ w/ Melissa Etheridge
