Category: Uncategorized

Looking Back on the Summer of ’22!

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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,

Art All Night, 2022
Setting Up AAN, 2022
Playing Art All Night, 2022
Friendship Flower & Folk Festival 2022
At the FFFF… neither rain nor snow….

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

Sharpsburg Art & History Stroll, 2022
Playing at the Sharpsburg Art & History Stroll
Playing Cousin’s Lounge for International Make Music Day
International Make Music Day, 2022

the tenth annual Deutschtown Music Festival in July,

Art All Night, 2022
Playing Threadbare Cider for the Deutschtown Music Festival

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

Play Music on the Porch Day
Art Jam, 2022
Art Jam, 2022
The Art Jam, 2022!
Old Time Music on the Porch at Sleeping Octopus, 2022

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!).

Swissvale Farmers’ Market, 2022
Ready to Play at Swissvale!
East End Appalachian Jam at Swissvale
East End Appalachian Jam at Swissvale!
Bloomfield Saturday Market, 2022
Playing in Bloomfield
Playing in Bloomfield
Appreciative Bloomfield Audience Member!
Cayt manning the maple syrup stand at Bloomfield

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

Great fun at Sharpsburg Art & History Stroll

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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!

Playing “Alone on the Homestead” by the Mammals
“The Week Between The Years”, video courtesy Wild Bill Cox.

Art All Night Coffeehouse Stage – Call for Musicians!

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Art All Night 2022 is happening live and in-person this year, staring on Saturday April 23!

As usual, I am hosting a Coffeehouse Stage, perfect for acoustic and nearly-acoustic singer-songwriters of all types! Sign up right away (first come, first served), at
https://www.artallnight.org/index.php/live-musician-sign-up-form-2022/

Be sure to specify your genre as “Coffeehouse” if you want to play on my stage, and select as many time preferences as possible to give me lots of flexibility in scheduling you or your group to perform. Mics and cables and a PA will be provided.

Any questions? Send email to junkerb@gmail.com

Related show

Virtual Benefit Concert for National Foundation For Transplants

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I wrote a track for an online benefit concert for the National Foundation for Transplant. You can find out all about the concert, and the accompanying digital compilation, here: blowupradio.com/nftpress.html.

The live concert runs online Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6, from noon to 9pm each day.

There is also a digital music compilation, which you can get for free if you donate to the fundraiser: donate.transplants.org/story/Burwebathon .

My song “Second Chance” is on the compilation, as well as several tracks by super singer-songwriter Catherine Wacha (https://catherinewacha.bandcamp.com/), who is an inspiration for this fundraiser.

Hoping to see your donation!

all best,

-BJ

Related show

  • Artist: Brian Junker
  • Date: 2022-03-05
  • Time: 12:00pm
  • Venue: Online
  • City: Pittsburgh , PA
  • Country: United States
  • More information
  • Notes:

    Catherine's video

    I wrote a track for an online benefit concert for the National Foundation for Transplants. You can find out all about the concert, and the accompanying digital compilation, here: https://blowupradio.com/nftpress.html.

    The live concert runs online Saturday March 5 and Sunday March 6, from noon to 9pm each day.

    There is also a digital music compilation, which you can get for free if you donate to the fundraiser: https://donate.transplants.org/story/Burwebathon .

    My song “Second Chance” is on the compilation, as well as several tracks by super singer-songwriter Catherine Wacha (https://catherinewacha.bandcamp.com/), who is an inspiration for this fundraiser.

    Hoping to see your donation!

    all best,

    -BJ

…And we’re back (sort of!)…

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It’s been a long year-plus without much in the way of live music… But with the widespread availability of great vaccines, it’s clear live music is coming back this summer! Free performances are coming back at some farmers’ markets, and other outdoor (and some indoor) live music is coming back!

Here are some opportunities that I’ll be involved in, in the coming months. I hope to let you know about even more as things develop!

Swissvale Farmers’ Market (2036 Noble Street, Swissvale): Starting on Saturday June 12, I’ll be playing 9-11am, and East End Appalachian Jam will be playing 11-1pm, almost every other Saturday, all summer long! There’s also a kickoff show Saturday June 5!

Make Music Pittsburgh: June 21, all over Pittsburgh! Check back here to find out when & where I’ll be playing.

Starlite Lounge Open Mic: Every Wednesday night at 8pm. The “regulars” (with special thanks to Michael Berkey and Devin Russian) have kept this open mic going online through the pandemic, and the live in-person event is starting up again at the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox.

Pittsburgh Songwriters’ Circle: First Wednesday of every month at 7pm, Starlite Lounge!

Play Music on the Porch: August 28, all over Pittsburgh (and all over the world!). Check back here to find out when & where I’ll be playing.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

-BJ

Related show

  • Artist: Brian Junker
  • Date: 2021-06-21
  • Time: 6:00pm
  • Venue: The Church Brew Works
  • City: Pittsburgh , PA
  • Address: 3525 Liberty Avenue
  • Venue phone: 412-688-8200
  • Country: United States
  • More information
  • Notes:

    Make Music Pittsburgh (http://www.makemusicpittsburgh.org/) is part of an International day of music, June 21st, where musicians of all ages, music style, and skill level play music outdoors. To help celebrate, I’ll be playing an hour of so of music, starting at 6pm, at Church Brew Works on Liberty Avenue in Lower Lawrenceville.

    See you there!
  • Artist: Brian Junker
  • Date: 2021-08-28
  • Time: 1:00pm
  • Venue: My Place
  • City: Pittsburgh , PA
  • Address: 344 S. Evaline Street
  • Country: United States
  • More information
  • Notes:



    What if for one day everything just stopped… and we all just listened to the music?

    1:00pm to 5:00pm Saturday August 28 Listen on Facebook (brianjunkermusic), Youtube (bwjunker), or in person (bring a mask!) at 344 S. Evaline Street 15224!

    Featuring:

    Donna O
    Devin Russian
    Kate Snow
    Paul Eisert
    Ronni Weiss
    Michael Berkey
    Vince Rause
    Cyndy Carroll
    Brian Junker

Come See Brad Yoder on his porch (or in Facebook!), Fri 9/4 @ 6:30pm

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Brad’s playing songs live tomorrow evening (Fri., 9/4), from 6:30-8pm, weather permitting. Folks are invited to come and sit (socially distanced) out on the yard (we have some folding chairs), BYOB (but i have lots of ice!), and there’s a bathroom in the house available. 7211 Thomas Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15208-2506. He’ll also be live-streaming this, from https://facebook.com/bradyodermusic.

I’l be there too! — mostly running the livestream. See you there!

Play Music on the Porch Day 2020

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Join me for music on Saturday Aug 29, 2020, for this year’s edition of Play Music On the Porch Day! Click on that to learn more about it, and to learn where–all over the world–there will be music! I’m going to get together with a couple of friends in my backyard where we can socially distance, and just play some tunes. I think we’ll try to stream some of it too (more on that later…)

Check out the organizer’s Facebook Event for more details!

The Green Leaves of Summer

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I try not to post a lot of covers here, but I thought this turned out OK. The song is from the movie The Alamo, made famous I think by The Brothers Four. I was asked to do it for the funeral of a friend’s husband; this was their courting song.

https://www.facebook.com/BrianJunkerMusic/videos/313634070019768/

Walk in the Rain!

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Here’s a little happy/dorky tune that I wrote as part of fawm.org (Feburary Album Writing Month) this year. A little fancier version will appear on the annual compilation CD of the Pittsburgh Songwriters’ Circle. I’m looking forward to it!

https://www.facebook.com/BrianJunkerMusic/videos/2936805749746819/