June is Pride Month – our celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, rights, and culture, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, which served as a pivotal catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and officially recognized at the federal level in the United States by President Bill Clinton in 1999. Although we have made much progress in recent decades, there is much left to do. It is especially important to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights now in this fraught time, and to look toward how we can make further progress going forward.
May Madness!
- Had a blast playing Ruckus Cafe on May 3, with the able help of friends David Bennett on cello and Brad Yoder on sax and glockenspiel.
- Deborah Brooks and I also had a couple of shows together, one as part of the Friendship Flower and Folk Festival on May 9, and one at the Confluence Creative Arts Center in Confluence PA on May 30.
- And I had a couple other gigs, one on Monday May 11 at 3 Rivers Outdoor Company, and another on May 16 at the Bloomfield Saturday Market. Lots of music, lots of people, lots of joy!
I played my song The Lonely Planets in Confluence and one audience member, Jeffrey ‘Pope’ Pankey of the local Tissue Farm coffeeshop and art gallery, was inspired to make a picture to go with the song. Here’s the picture, and if you click on it you can hear a scratch recording of the song made a year or so ago by me and my friend Nadine Douds.
I hope to make an even more refined version of the song for an upcoming music release!
On to June!
On Friday June 12, Deborah Brooks 
and I will do a 2-hour show at The Breezeway Home in Point Breeze. Showtime 7pm, $15 admission, snacks and drinks provided but BYOB/BYOF also fine. RSVP Dennis at 412-805-4426 or thebreezewayhome@gmail.com.
On Sunday June 14 I’ll be hosting (not playing) Lenni Green & Vida Chai, 7:00-8:30pm outdoors at Baum Grove Parklet in Friendship. Bring a chair/snack/drink. Free show but tips for the performers strongly encouraged!
Then on Sunday June 21, 12:30-1:45pm
I’ll be helping to celebrate Make Music Pittsburgh
In the Cafe at The Frick Pittsburgh (following a great set by Scott Moore), and on Thursday June 25, 7pm, I’ll be part of PSST
(People’s Song SocieTea!, brainchild of Erica June Chtistian Laing) at Bantha Tea, 5002 Penn Avenue.
And finally on Saturday June 27, 10-Noon, I’ll be back at the Bloomfield Saturday Market
5050 Liberty Avenue.
As always, check brianjunkermusic.com for late breaking news and updates.
See you out in the world!
-BJ
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