Donavon Frankenreiter spoke with Indra Raj on KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative ahead of his upcoming Colorado shows, including two nights at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder. He discussed his “Heading Home” performances, which focus on small, intimate acoustic sets with audience interaction and song requests.
Frankenreiter also reflected on his background as a professional surfer and how traveling helped shape his music. He shared how his songwriting has evolved over time, influenced by life experiences and family.
The interview also touched on his son Hendricks, who is beginning his own music career and preparing to release new material. (Air Date 1/28/2026)
Listen to the interview here:
Transcript:
Indra Raj: And hopefully our phones are now working. Donovan, are you with us?
Donavon Frankenreiter: What’s that?
Indra Raj: There you are. I can hear you.
Donavon Frankenreiter: I’m here.
Indra Raj: How’s it going?
Donavon Frankenreiter: It’s going great. How are you?
Indra Raj: It’s good. I’m sorry for the technical difficulties we were having, but it’s great to have you on the air now.
Donavon Frankenreiter: I’m stoked to be on. Thank you for having me.
Indra Raj: We’re really excited you’re going to be in Boulder soon. Are you already in Colorado or coming soon?
Donavon Frankenreiter: I’m coming on Thursday to Colorado. I’m doing these incredible home shows called the Heading Home Shows, where I play acoustic sets in people’s houses. I’m doing that Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Then Sunday I head up to Aspen to play at the Snow Lodge. Monday I play at a new place called The Flower Shop in Snowmass. Then we come back down to Boulder and play two nights, Tuesday and Wednesday, at the Velvet Elk Lounge. I can’t wait.
Indra Raj: That’s awesome. Has this acoustic style always been part of your artistic process, or is it newer for you to do shows like this?
Donavon Frankenreiter: It’s where it all started. When I first signed to Jack Johnson’s label, Brushfire, I opened for him solo acoustic. After a while, I was able to bring another musician, so it became a duo, and eventually a full band. All of my songs are based on acoustic guitar. When we record, they sometimes evolve into different styles depending on how we feel.
I really love playing acoustic. For the Velvet Elk shows, I’ll have a musician playing electric guitar, pedal steel, and some acoustic with me. It creates a different listening and playing experience. I like adapting and changing the versions of songs, and acoustic feels very natural to me.
Indra Raj: You’ve been doing this for decades, and you’re also known for your surfing background. Can you talk about that connection and how your music has evolved over time?
Donavon Frankenreiter: It has definitely evolved. I turned professional as a surfer at 16, which took me all over the world. Around that same time, I picked up a guitar and brought it with me everywhere. From 16 to about 30, I traveled the world surfing and learning music from people along the way.
By 30, I had written a lot of songs and started singing, which led to getting a record deal with Jack Johnson and touring with him for several years. Surfing and music have always complemented each other. I’d surf during the day and play music at night. On surf trips, I’d bring music into it, and on music tours, I’d always look for waves.
Over time, life experiences shape the music. My first record came out about 23 years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten married and now have two kids, ages 22 and 18. As you grow, your perspective changes, and that influences how you write and hear music. That’s the beauty of it—it’s never stagnant. It’s always evolving, and that sense of discovery is something I’m really drawn to.
Indra Raj: Absolutely. Different seasons of life. Are your children following in your footsteps or doing something completely different?
Donavon Frankenreiter: My 22-year-old, Hendricks, is close to signing with a major label. He’s finished his first record and his second as well. Six of his songs are already out on streaming platforms, and those will be part of a full-length record coming out early this year. His second record should follow next year.
He also wants to create a cinematic surf film and tour alongside it, playing the soundtrack live while the movie plays. It’s an exciting goal, and he’s really passionate about it.
He toured with me for a couple of years, then branched out to make his own music. It’s been incredible to watch him develop his own sound and write songs independently. Seeing him take off like that is really special.
Indra Raj: Sounds like a proud father.
Donavon Frankenreiter: It’s really great.
Indra Raj: You’ll be at the Velvet Elk Lounge in Boulder, and people are excited. I just gave away tickets for both nights and got a lot of calls. What can people expect from the show?
Donavon Frankenreiter: It’ll be about an hour-and-a-half show, and it’s a seated event with around 150 people, so it’s more intimate than a typical standing show there.
I like to open it up to the audience and interact with them. I take requests and try to play what people want to hear. It feels less like performing at the audience and more like creating something together. Sometimes it even turns into a Q&A if people have questions.
The atmosphere is relaxed—like sitting around a campfire or in a living room. It’ll be acoustic, with electric guitar, pedal steel, and some harmonies. It’s a fun, interactive experience.
Indra Raj: That sounds like a great experience and a perfect venue for it. We can’t wait to have you here. Thank you so much for joining me today and for your patience getting on the air.
Donavon Frankenreiter: Thank you for having me on. I can’t wait to be up there. Thanks again.
Indra Raj: Thank you.
