Oh man, July is a hot month — temperatures of course but lots of music too!
Before we get into my past June and future July shows though, there’s a very special
benefit music series happening in early August that you definitely need to know about! It’s All Together Now Pittsburgh, a benefit music festival for Pittsburgh’s immigrant community, happening August 7-10 at more than ten different venues throughout the Pittsburgh area. Check it out! Nadine Douds and I are playing Saturday August 9 at the Starlite Lounge as part of this festival, and I’m sure you’ll find many other great shows to see; be sure to donate to support Pittsburgh immigrants!
June Tunes!
Farmers Market season has started for me, with sets on June 14 at the Bloomfield Saturday Market the Swissvale Farmers Market on June 21. These are such fun! None scheduled for July (but check out the FB page of East End Appalachian Jam for some of their Farmers’ Market gigs, and my friend Deborah Brooks will be playing at the Bloomfield Market 10-noon on July 19!).
On Monday June 16 at 6pm, I
played short split sets with Nadine and Nathan Douds, for the Music Mondays series at 3 Rivers Outdoor Company. Always a blast, and such a pleasure to play with top notch musicians!
We were so sad to cancel the concert with
Autumn Ayers and Abbey Martin at Baum Grove Parklet because of bad weather! But we are working on rescheduling it for late summer or early fall — stay tuned!
July Harvest!
There’s a lot going on in July, and it even spills over a bit into August. Take a deep breath and strap in…
Saturday July 12 at 6:30pm I’ll be hosting a concert (but
not playing) with Morgan McHugh and Caleb Pogyor at Baum Grove Parklet in Friendship. Bring a blanket or a chair, and a yummy beverage or snack, and hope for no rain this time! These are two great singer-songwriters, and I’m really looking forward to it!
On Friday July 25 at 7pm I’ll be part of the Starlite Singers — veterans of the weekly Wednesday Starlite Open Mic — in Beth Claussen‘s 2025 Porch Concert Series. Show is at the corner of Jancey and Hampton Streets in Morningside. Another BYO (chair, beverage, food, joy!) event. Come on by and hear some fun music!
The very next day Saturday July 26 at 6pm I’ll be trekking out
to Somerset PA to play for a couple of hours on the deck at Sullivan’s Bar and Restaurant.Thanks to friend Michelle Ricciardi Hall for arranging it! This looks like a cool and relaxing gig near Kooser State Park. Come on out for a cool summer evening — only an hour from the ‘burgh!
Monday July 28 at 11:30am I’ll be playing for two hours at Mellon Square as part of the Make Music Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership music series. I’ve done this before, and it’s a great lunchtime gig. Come on down; perhaps there will be a secret special guest!
Thursday July 31 at 3pm I’ll be playing for two hours in the
Airside Terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport. This music series has been going on since about 2016, courtesy of the PITARTS program. If you’re traveling that day, please come early and see me!
Wednesday August 6, 3pm-7pm, I’ll be playing with Bruce Hoffman, Jenny Kay Snider, and Deborah Brooks at the Steel Valley Farmers’ Market in Homestead. We’ll each do a solo set; I’m second in line after Deborah.
Then on Saturday August 9, at 7pm, Nadine Douds and I will be part of a lineup in the Starlite Invitational at the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. This is a very special show supporting All Together Now Pittsburgh, a benefit music festival for Pittsburgh’s immigrant community, happening August 7-10 at more than ten different venues throughout the Pittsburgh area. Come see us perform and donate to a very worthy and very necessary cause!
As always, check out brianjunkermusic.com for late breaking news and gigs.
See you out in the world!
-BJ