THE STORY
"The Jess Novak Band is a beast and Standing Now
is an EP that will have you hungry for more.
Six songs just isn’t enough when it’s this good.
Resilience, empowerment, these are the characteristics of one who might be referred to as formidable.
Do NOT underestimate Jess Novak.
Because she’ll knock you down."
– John Tierney
Jess Novak is a triple threat singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. With a shredding electric fiddle, powerful vocals and captivating songs, Novak is a force in any formation: solo, duo or band. Having touched audiences across the country – from Burlington, VT to Key West, FL to San Diego, CA – Novak plays more than 150 shows every year and has released twelve original albums, and a book, to date.
Jess Novak (electric violin, guitar, vocals, piano, percussion, looping) works with Byron Cage (Tommy Castro, Joe Louis Walker, Vanessa Collier) on drums; Anthony Saturno (Atkins Riot, The Dirty Doves) on electric guitar; Jay Fabbri (Professional Victims) on bass; and Gavin George (No Blush, BSG) and Marcus Oliver (Rising Ghosts) on drums.
Novak has played such prestigious rooms as The Cutting Room (NYC), The Saint (Asbury Park) and Nectar's (Burlington, VT). She opened the 23rd Annual Chenango Blues Festival (with headliner, Ronnie Earl) and has performed with groups and artists including Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Tas Cru, Jimmy Hall, Ghost Town Blues Band and members of Butch Trucks and the Freight Train Band. Novak has also opened for acts including Melanie, Danielle Ponder, Ruthie Foster and Grace Potter.
Novak created and presented the F.I.R.E. Festival (females inspire, rock, empower) for the first time in October 2022 as a way to spotlight female artists, musicians and business owners. The festival continues annually.
Discography:
Bad Habit, December 2013 (solo)
The Golden Novak Band, August 2014
Rodeo, October 2015
Inches from the Sun, November 2016 (JNB)
Jess Novak Band Live at the Nelson Odeon, June 2017 (JNB)
Fireworks & Fairytales, November 2017 (JNB)
Fear is the Cage. Love is the Key., December 2018 (solo)
Rise, November 2019 (recorded in Nashville, TN) (w/ Ben Wayne)
Standing Now, September 2020 (JNB)
A Thousand Lives, November 2021 (JNB)
Bad Bitch, August 2022 (solo)
Sonrise, November 2023 (w/ Ben Wayne)
Awards:
Syracuse Area Music Award - Best Pop - 2017 - for Inches from the Sun
The Jess Novak Band was named Artist of the Year by Radio Crystal Blue - 2017
Novak won the Indigo Productions Songwriter Series for her song "Rat a Tat" - 2018
Novak won Best Female Vocalist in the Best of Syracuse competition - 2018
Syracuse Area Music Award - Best Pop - 2021 - for Standing Now
Novak was the cover girl for Syracuse Woman Magazine in September 2016. See it here.
Check out Fret Zealot to learn songs from Novak and JNB.
Jess Novak is an ASCAP artist and represents Fishman and Zeta Violins.
Anthony Saturno is part of the PRS Guitars Pulse Artist Program.
Find Novak on WeddingWire and TheKnot.
Follow and watch on twitch at twitch.tv/jessnovakmusic