Yesterday was Election Day!  Hope you took a break from your day to vote; it’s how we make our government better! I voted by mail myself, and then stood to greet voters at the polls.

Looking Back at October Music…

On October 14, Joy Street played for the St. Andrew’s Church Fall Fest in Highland Park!  I don’t have any photos of the event, but here’s a nice montage of Joy Street from one of our summer shows…

There was a great turnout for the Fall Fest, and since it was rainy outside, we had the pleasure of playing in the St. Andrew’s beautiful looking, and beautiful sounding, sanctuary.  

Then on October 20, I got to play with Jim Hawley and Friends at  Steamworks Creative on Route 8 in Gibsonia! It was a great retrospective of 70’s folk rock and beyond, with 15 or so separate performers.  

The very next day, October 21, 

East End Appalachian Jam played for the second to lasy Swissvale Farmers’ Market of the season.

November Songs!

On Sunday November 12, members of Joy Street will play a benefit show at Local Provisions, 1111 Freeport Road, for Garden Home Ministries.  Garden Home Ministries is 

dedicated to the prevention of human trafficking, and the rescue and restoration of its victims. Because of space and scheduling we’ll be a slightly deconstructed Joy Street, with BJ leading from 4pm to 5pm and Deborah and Susan leading from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Stop by anytime from 4 to 7 for a bite and some great, uplifting music!

After my 4-5pm set, I’ll head over to Ruckus Coffeehouse

 to open for another show by Jim Hawley & Friends at 6pm Nov 12, and I’ll accompany them on banjo for some of their music. Ruckus is a great intimate space for just this sort of music.

Saturday November 18 I’ll round things out as part of the Songwriters’ Invitational, 6pm-8pm at Ron “Moondog” Esser’s Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. In addition to a set of my own music, I’ll back up blues & classic rock singer Debbi Pace on mandolin for a couple of her songs. The show will open with a couple short sets by other musicians, so I’ll start around 6:30pm. It’s a chill, fun time, in a classic, music-centric dive bar with some of the best pierogis in town; see you there!

You might see me elsewhere too!  As usual, for a fuller listing of my events, audio and video recordings, and more, see brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

Had a blast playing the opening set for  the Sweet Lizzy Project at Summer Sounds‘ free concert series in Greensburg! Special thanks to the Pittsburgh Songwriters’ Circle for making the connection with Summer Sounds, and to Beth Claussen for helping me figure out how to present my music to a larger audience. There are still some great shows left in the season – check it out!  

May was a busy month (and wait’ll you see what’s happening in June and July!)…

Saw lots of familiar faces performing at the Friendship Flower and Folk Festival! 

Every year it’s a great neighborhood event.  Then came the Millvale Music Festival where the whole town turns into a multiple venue music extravaganza! 

So many friends performing and hanging out there.  And of course the Celebration of Bob Dylan at The Breezeway Home in Point Breeze.

Crazy night, but lots of fun!

There’s some cool stuff coming up in June and July.

For Make Music Pittsburgh on June 21, I’ll be playing a two hour lunchtime set at The Frick in Point Breeze, and I’ll be playing the pre-show music for the Sweet Lizzy Project at Summer Sounds on July 21 in Greensburg!  Or see me at one of the venues listed to the right (or just below, if you’re on a cell phone)! 

I’ll also be playing at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, the Swissvale Farmers’ Market, and the Swissvale Edible Garden Tour. For all the details, see my Events page!

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

It’s been a great summer of music!

I had great performances at the 25th annual Art All Night event in the Strip in April, the rainy but wonderful Friendship Flower & Folk Festival in May,

the Sharpsburg Art & History Stroll and International Make Music Day at Cousin’s Lounge in Millvale (both in June),

the tenth annual Deutschtown Music Festival in July,

and the Pittsburgh Art Jam / Play Music on the Porch Day at the Sleeping Octopus in Wilkinsburg in August!

I also provided live sound engineering for Art All Night, the Deutschtown Music Festival and the Pittsburgh Art Jam!

And all through the summer there were almost-weekly performances at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market (alone and with East End Appalachian Jam) and the Bloomfield Saturday Market. There are always friendly faces at the Swissvale Market, and the Bloomfield performances were completely un-amplified, allowing me to connect with market shoppers and vendors a little more personally (and it was only a challenge to hear myself during the Columbus Day Parade!).

Looking forward to seeing you at my last farmers’ market performance of the season, at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market Saturday Oct 22. I’ll be playing songs and tunes from 9 to 11, and then joining the East End Appalachian Jam from 11 to 1.

And of course I’ll let you know of other upcoming events right here at brianjunkermusic.com.

cheers,

-BJ

Donna O, Paul Eisert and I had a blast a Cousin’s Lounge, playing for Make Music Pittsburgh June 21, 2022!

Had a great time at the Sharpsburg Art and History Stroll!

Here are some pictures of the musicians from music co-organizers Devin Russian and Mike Berkey (pix courtesy of Ukulele Mollie, I think!).

https://www.facebook.com/devin.russian/posts/pfbid022XrWB6eJ7MZcY3bjhPGP425fRMuZhDj3WumScsqN9vMdx1CcGrNBy5GMPvfkUjbMl

…and here are a picture and video from my set!