Category: Uncategorized

September songs (and October too!)

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August – Hot for Music!

More fun days at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market (9-11am, at the Dickson STEAM Academy on 

Shoyer in Swissvale), where I got to sing with friends Deborah Brooks and Bill Collinge, and the Bloomfield Saturday Market (10am-noon, on Liberty Avenue across from the Honda Dealership in Bloomfield) where friend Lutie Rodriguez 

came out to listen (next time she might bring her cello!). Summer’s winding down, so there are not many of these farmers’ market gigs left on my schedule (see at right, or below if you are on a cell phone).

Playing at  Three Rivers Outdoor Company on August 14 got cancelled because of rain, but fortunately we could reschedule for September 1 (just this past Friday!), where both Susan Spangler and Deborah Brooks joined in on 

mandolin and harmonies.  Lots of people stopped by to listen, beer or coffee or soft drinks in hand.  It was a lovely way to welcome Labor Day Weekend (and try out the Loudon Wainwright III song “Summer’s Almost Over”). 

Had a great time with the harmony group Subject to Change, doing a full show to a full house at The Breezeway Home in Point Breeze.  Subject to Change consists of Susan Spangler on mandolin, Mary Fleck and Deborah Brooks on guitars, 

Lutie Rodriguez on cello, and me on banjo, accompanying Susan, Mary and Deborah in some of the prettiest harmony singing you’ll hear!  Our fiddler Jan Hamilton was off in Europe, so Stephen Weiss of the Bastard Bearded Irishmen did a yeoman’s job subbing for her.  Jan should be back in town this week — we’re looking forward to playing with her again! 

Coming up in September and October…

And in other news…

One of the other projects I work on is SongSpace at First Unitarian, a concert series for folk, Americana, bluegrass, singer-songwriter, old-time, and world music, featuring local, regional and national artists, that takes place at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside.   The new season has been announced, and it looks great!

Full details at uusongspace.com…

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

Great Fun at The Frick for Make Music Day 2023!

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June 21 was a beautiful day at The Frick Pittsburgh in Point Breeze, and a great day to play music on the lawn beside the cafe there. I was joined by Susan Spangler and Deborah Brooks, 2/3 of the singers in the harmony group named (literally, for now!) Subject To Change.

Thanks especially for Caito Amoroso, curator of performance events at The Frick, for hosting us and taking these pictures!

Summer’s getting busy!

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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

May 2023: Summer Starts to Sing Along!

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Well…

Had an absolute blast at Art All Night and at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre on April 29! 

Art All Night

I organized and ran sound for the Art All Night Coffeehouse stage, as I have been doing for several years.  It was a blast!  Here are some pictures of the performers…

BJ and Debbi Pace

I didn’t perform on the coffeehouse stage myself though because about halfway through the evening I went to play blues with Debbi Pace in the lobby of the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre, as the pre-show opener for Calliope‘s concert featuring Guy Davis with special guests Ernie Hawkins & Ray Morin.

I also help to organize the SongSpace concert series at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh.  Our last show of the season (just last night!), featuring Jess Klein with special guest Brad Yoder, was really special to be a part of.

Brad and Jess

For a fuller listing, audio and video recordings, and more, see brianjunkermusic.com.

Summer’s heating up and I wanted to let you know about where I’ll be singing and playing.  You can see it all on my events page. They all should be fun, and all but one are free!

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

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