November was sweet!  Got some music ready for the holidays, wrote some new music, and played a great gig!

November!

I had a great time at the Fresh Start Café in Canonsburg!  Played a few holiday favorites as well as my own music, and had a great helping hand from Susan Spangler (that’s her playing the mando in the picture at the top of this email).  Mollie Erlichman arranges to have music there almost every Saturday; check out her Facebook Page for the latest.  It’s a chill place with good music and good coffee, tea and cafe treats.

December!

Another quieter month, to enjoy the holidays with family and dig into music.

You can see me and some special guests doing a special show of ballads, tunes and holiday music on December 15, 6:00pm-8:00pm, at Ruckus Café in Shaler PA (just outside Millvale on Babcock!). The owner, Chris, does a super job of supporting the community, visual arts and music. The café drinks and eats are pretty darned good too! Come see me, and check out the many other holiday events at Ruckus!

As always, check out brianjunkermusic.com for late breaking news and gigs.

See you out in the world!

-BJ

October was a busy month and I’m just catching my breath from it!  In November I’m taking it a little more slowly, to learn and write some new songs.

October!

I had a blast on October 9 playing the Lunch and Live Music Series at Mellon Square, sponsored in part by Make Music Pittsburgh! Cool, windy day, but folks still came out for lunch and music, and it was great fun.

On October 12 I played a solo set and a set with East End Appalachian Jam at the  Swissvale Farmers’ Market, and then on October 26 I played a final set for the season at the  Bloomfield Saturday Market.  Farmers’ markets are a great place to try stuff out and meet new listeners!

Then on the evening of the 26th, I had great fun splitting a bill with  Deborah Brooks for the Starlite Lounge.  The banner at the top of this email shows us playing some Halloween music (Witchy Woman, I think!) with Sandy Roman on blues harp.  Devon Russian took that photo for us, and also ran sound that night!

…and then there was the election!  I canvassed on the weekend before, and sat at a polling place all day on Election Day.  The outcome was not what I wanted, but it’s always good to support the democratic process…

November!

Come see me on November 23, 10am-Noon, at the Fresh Start Cafe in Cannonsburg!  I’m hoping to dust off some holiday music in addition to my usual setlist.  Fresh Start is a lovely intimate coffeeshop, and I’m looking forward to playing there for a second time.

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

PS – if you had the chance Friday Nov 8, 7:30pm, you saw a really great SongSpace at First Unitarian concert with Alice Howe and Freebo!  Freebo has been well known for decades as a great fretless bass player and songwriter, and Alice Howe is a superb singer-songwriter.  You can get tickets for all their shows at  http://uusongspace.eventbee.com, or at the door.

It’s October 1, and the temperatures, the leaves, and a bit of rain are already falling… Time to buff up my murder ballad, Charlie, and learn a couple more spooky tunes for the season…

September recap…

Oh, it was a busy month…

On Saturday Aug 31 I had a blast at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market, playing by myself at 9am and then joined by East End Appalachian Jam from 11 to 1.  And then in the afternoon the East End Appalachian Jam folks convened again on my porch for snacks and more music, for International Play Music on the Porch Day!

On Monday September 9 I returned  to  Three Rivers Outdoor Company for another fun show!  This time I was accompanied by a great pedal steel guitar player, Leah Mcp, and a guest singer, Mary Fleck!

Had a lot of fun a few days later on September 13 playing Norwegian Wood on the Appalachian Sitar (that’s clawhammer banjo to you) for Beth Claussen’s Porch Concert Series!

I was back at the Bloomfield Saturday Market on September 14, and at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market on September 21 (with Joy Street) and September 28 (with East End Appalachian Jam)!

October Music!

On Wednesday October 9 from 11:30am to 1:30pm I’ll be playing the  Lunch and Live Music Series at Mellon Square! Take your midday break outside in this beautiful urban oasis & enjoy food from local vendors!  Thanks to  Make Music Pittsburgh, who made this series possible!

Then on Saturday October 12, it’s back to the Swissvale Farmers’ Market.  I’ll play songs and tunes from 9am to 11am, and then East End Appalachian Jam will play from 11am to 1pm.

On Saturday October 26, it’s a double-double header… From 10am to noon I’ll play songs and tunes at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, and then from 7pm to 9pm I’ll split a bill with Deborah Brooks for the Starlite Lounge Songwriters’ Invitational Series.  We will bring boo-tiful music!

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

What a great July and August it’s been!  Lots of fun music all over the place, and now it’s time to fall into September songs & tunes!

July and August Recap…

Joy Street had a blast on July 26 playing for one of Beth Claussen’s Porch Concerts!  Great weather, crowd, great energy, and an a capella national anthem by two of Beth’s vocal students… How could you ask for more?

I lost my voice (some stupid temporary virus) for the August 10 gig at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, but fortunately Mary Fleck and Deborah Brooks stepped in to sing a bunch of their songs, and I played along on clawhammer banjo just for fun.  Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!

The following weekend I had a blast playing two hours on August 17 at the Fresh Start Cafe in Canonsburg.  Relaxing comfy coffeeshop, and a great set of listeners. And then on August 19 I played the Music Mondays series at  Three Rivers Outdoor Company in Regent Square.  A cool, cool evening for August, but great to play for friends and passers-by.

Then on August 24, Joy Street played for the annual summer festival at St. Andrews Church in Highland Park.  Great to have the whole band together for a lovely late summer show!

September Songs & Tunes!

Saturday Aug 31 (ok, not really September, but close!) I’ve got a triple header of music coming up!

• From 9am to 11am I’ll be playing solo at the  Swissvale Farmers’ Market.
• Then from 11am to 1pm, East End Appalachian Jam will come to the Swissvale Market to play old time Appalachian dance tunes.
• And then from 4 to 6pm, I’ll play music on my very own porch for International Play Music on the Porch Day!  All are welcome, and it sounds like several of the East End Appalachian Jam will stop by to play more old time Appalachian tunes!

On Monday September 9, 6:30-8:00pm, I’m returning to  Three Rivers Outdoor Company for another fun show!  And I’m hoping to have a guest musician or two with me (pedal steel guitar, anyone?).

On Friday September 13 at 6pm, Beth Claussen is hosting her final porch/street show of the year, featuring many Beatles tunes.  And I’ll make a cameo appearance with the Appalachian Sitar!

The very next day, Saturday September 14 from 10am-Noon, you can catch me at the Bloomfield Saturday Market (in full voice this time!).

Then on Saturday September 21, I’ll play solo from 9am to 11am, and then Joy Street will join me from 11am to 1pm for some great harmonies and string band music.

And finally on Saturday September 28, I’ll join the  East End Appalachian Jam from 11am to 1pm at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market for some great old-time dance tunes.

 

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

It’s been a while!  Sorry, I’ve been travelling and didn’t have a chance to send you more spam… er… I mean, a much-anticipated newsletter!

June was much fun, and July had hidden treasures (more on that anon!)… and there’s at least one more July event, and a bunch happening in August…

June Tunes, and Flying in July…

The Bloomfield Saturday Market on June 15 was a blast, as always!  Lots of people at the market, and some (encouraged by kids who wanted to stop to dance) even stayed with me for a song or three!

Then on June 21 I played a sweet solo set for Make Music Pittsburgh at a very cool venue, the Greenhouse Cider and Plant Coop in Greenfield.  Lovely place, lovely audience (including several old and new friends) and also some lovely music by Madeline Jo & Friends, and the acoustic duo known as the Goats!

The very next day, June 22, we blanketed the Swissvale Farmers’ Market with music from 9am to 1pm!  Joy Street played from 9am to 11am, and I kept the party going from then until until 1pm.  The weather was hot, the music was hot, and much fun (and perhaps a few heat hallucinations?) was had by all.

On Saturday July 29 I headed out to Sharon PA to play some country blues and soft rock hits with Debbi Pace at the Main Street Farmer’s Market.  Really fun, and something different for me!  I played a little guitar, a little mando, and a little banjo (you haven’t really lived until you’ve heard Steve Winwood’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” on clawhammer banjo!).

That got me all ready to get on a plane the very next day, and meet my son Toby in Brussels for a little R&R.  Caught a quarterfinal game of the Euro Cup live in the stadium (Netherlands beat Turkiye in that one, but couldn’t last ’til the final!), visited dear friends in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, and attended and played music at a wedding in Switzerland.  It was a much needed break, but it’s also great to be back!

July and August!

Whew!  All that, and there’s still a little July left, and all of August too!

• Friday July 26 Joy Street (only a few days away!) is playing from 7pm to 8 or so in Beth Claussen’s Porch Concert Series, 1031 Jancey Street in Morningside.
• Then on Saturday August 10 I’ll be returning to the Bloomfield Saturday Market with purely acoustic music from 10am until noon.
• A week later, on Saturday,  August 17, I’ll be playing from about 10am ’til noon, at the Fresh Start Cafe in Canonsburg.
• On Monday August 19 I’ll play a solo set from 6:30 to 7:30 as part of the Music Mondays series at the Three Rivers Outdoor Company in Regent Square.
• Saturday afternoon August 24, Joy Street is playing at St. Andrews Church in Highland Park
• …and finally. on Saturday Aug 31 I’ll play the 9am slot at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market, and East End Appalachian Jam community will jam from 11am until 1pm.

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

Upcoming Shows:

 Joy Street  
Fri. July 26, 7-8pm
Beth Claussen’s Porch Concert Series
1031 Jancey Street
Morningside

Brian Junker
Sat. August 10, 10am-Noon
Bloomfield Saturday Market

Brian Junker
Sat. August 17, 10am-Noon
Fresh Start Cafe
Canonsburg

Brian Junker
Mon. Aug. 19, 6:30-7:30pm
Music Mondays Series
Three Rivers Outdoor Company
Regent Square

Joy Street
Saturday afternoon Aug. 24
St. Andrews Church
Highland Park

Brian Junker, 9am-11am
East End Appalachian Jam, 11am-1pm
Saturday Aug 31
Swissvale Farmers’ Market

 

Ah, Summer is upon us!  …well, officially not ’til June 21, but who’s counting!?  The weather outside is fantastic… And in June there’s all sorts of fun music to look forward to!

May Recap…

Separate sets from me and from Joy Street were great successes at the Friendship Flower and Folk Festival on May 11!  Earlier in the day it was a bit rainy but by the time our sets came it cleared off and we closed the festival with sunny music for everyone who came late to pick up their Mothers’ Day flowers!  Folks (of all ages!) were dancing in the grass!

For the  Pittsburgh Montessori Fun Fair on May 31, I was on the IR (injured reserve) list, so I just sat in the grass and listened (and found my doppelganger in Chris Hannigan!).  But man, Joy Street sang and played their hearts out, and people loved it.  Hoots and hollers and everything else from the audience, and even members of the next performing group, Colonel Eagleberger’s High Stepping Goodtime Band, came up afterwards and said how much they enjoyed it!

June Tunes!

One of the great things about Summer is Farmers’ Markets, and there are a few on the agenda for June!

On Saturday June 15, I’ll be playing 10-Noon at the Bloomfield Saturday Market (5050 Liberty Ave in Bloomfield), and Joy Street will be playing 11-1 at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market (7301 Schoyer Ave in Swissvale)!  The overlapping times mean we won’t be playing together, but whichever way you go, you’ll hear some great summer music!

The next Saturday, June 22, our schedules are a little more compatible: I’ll be playing the Swissvale Farmers’ Market solo from 9am to 11am, and Joy Street (including me this time!) will be playing there 11-1.

The previous evening, Friday June 21, I’ll be playing for an hour, from 5 to 6pm, at the Greenhouse Cider and Plant Coop (557 Greenfield Ave in Greenfield) as part of Make Music Day in Pittsburgh.

And then finally on Saturday June 29 I’ll be playing some country blues with Debbi Pace from 10am to 1pm at the Main Street Farmer’s Market (101 Chestnut Avenue,
Sharon PA).  I play with Debbi a couple times a year, and it’s always great fun!

 

Old-Time Appalachian Music!

Do you like old-time Appalachian dance tunes (how could you not??)?  Pittsburgh’s Old Time Appalachian Music community puts on old time jams under the name East End Appalachian Jam at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market!  First one is Saturday June 29, 11am-1pm, with more to come July through October!

Nice month, June!

Just a quick final note… I’ll be traveling in the first part of July, but keep your ears up for some really fun gigs in late July and August!

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

It’s the last day of April!  We’ve had some incredibly warm April weather (and also some showers!), and now it’s time to look forward to music in May…

April 5 at the Redhawk Cafe!

I had a blast playing a half-hour set at the First Friday musical sessions on April 5 at the Red Hawk Cafe in Sharpsburg.  Michelle Hall played a set there too, as well as local musicians Caleb, Sarah, Scott and others.  Here’s a picture of Irma, me and Michelle!

 

Coming up in May!

The Friendship Flower and Folk Festival happens May 11 between 11 am and 3 pm!  I think you can still order flowers for Mothers’ Day (May 12) and pick them up at the festival while listening to some great music throughout the whole event.  I’ll be playing a half-hour set at 3pm, and Joy Street will do a half hour around 3:30!  See you there!

Also, on May 31, Joy Street will be helping to celebrate the Pittsburgh Montessori Fun Fair, which runs from 5pm to 8pm.  Joy Street will be playing for about an hour at 6pm.  This is a great family event, celebrating a great component of public education in Pittsburgh.

Other Fun Stuff

SongSpace presents Peter Mulvey on Saturday May 4 at 7:30pm.  Peter is one of my favorite singer / songwriters: Startlingly fine guitar playing, poetic (and sometimes silly!) lyrics, compassionate, collaborative, and committed to social justice, Peter Mulvey celebrates the eclectic and the vital. Advance Tickets are available at https://uusongspace.eventbee.com!

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

April showers bring May flowers… and of course, more music!

March at the OM Lounge!

Joy Street had a blast playing contemplative music for a yoga class at the OM Lounge in East Liberty!  No pictures of us, but you can imagine our smiles.  Eventually the whole room was practicing asanas in rhythm to our music.

 

Coming up in April!

On Friday April 5 I’ll be joining in a Songwriters’ Showcase at the Red Hawk Cafe in Sharpsburg (6:30pm, 1019 N. Canal St. in Sharpsburg).  Join me and other songwriters, including Michelle Hall and Caleb Johnson for two hours of great music, coffee, and treats.

Then on Saturday April 27 I’ll be performing with Mary Fleck and other members of Joy Street for a private garden party.

 

 

And don’t forget, on Sunday April 7 at 8pm,  SongSpace alum Joe Crookston will be performing live at the Club Cafe!  One of the finest songwriters, performers and artists on the circuit today.  I’m not performing in this one, but I’ll be there with my ears on!

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

Wait, what?  March is here already?  Actually as I sit here on a sunny 62 degree Tuesday, I could believe it’s even later!

It was so much fun to play a two-hour set for Music Sundays at Ruckus Cafe on February 4th!  We had a nice full audience, and I was joined on some individual special songs by Mary Fleck, Deborah Brooks and Susan Spangler (all of Joy Street), as well as Lenni Green on clarinet for a classic Bill Monroe number.  (Lenni will be playing at SongSpace later this month — more on that below!).

As if that weren’t enough, Joy Street played to a full house at the Sunburst School of Music on February 17!  There was much laughter and joy (and banjo tuning!) as we played for family, friends and fans.  Sunburst is a warm and cozy place to play, and its owner/founder Alex Stanton is a class act. So great!

Then on February 25, I got to witness the birth of a new performer, opening for Michelle Hall at Steamworks Creative.  This was Michelle’s solo debut and she was well supported by Shane McLaughlin, Beth Claussen and Paula Graham, and an absolutely packed house!  And if you were there, you got to witness this reticent old Minnesota boy trying to scat!  Walkin’ on the wild side…

In the month of March I have just one thing scheduled so far, as part of Joy Street (see at right or below) but there is so much other good music in the ‘burgh!  Here are a few things to watch for:

• Sunday March 10, 6pm: Come dressed for yoga and bring your mat to practice at OM Yoga Lounge in East Liberty while listening to some chill music from Joy Street!  Lesson rates apply.
• Saturday March 23, 7:30pm: Liz McBride, Lenni Green, Ol Whitetail & Louie Castle in a Songwriters’ Showcase at SongSpace.  Four of the most interesting young songwriters in the ‘burgh!
• Friday March 22, 7pm: Stellar Scottish duo and SongSpace alums The Black Feathers will  be returning to Pittsburgh to perform with Elise Leavy at Brad Yoder‘s Hospitality House house concert series. Super acoustic music!
• Saturday April 7, 8pm: SongSpace alum Joe Crookston will be performing live at the Club Cafe!  One of the finest songwriters, performers and artists on the circuit today.

As always, full information and late-breaking events on brianjunkermusic.com.

Hope to see you out in the world!

-BJ

 

Welcome to Winter!  Don’t blink or you’ll miss it!  It seems like we have a new season every 3-4 days here in the ‘burgh…

Joy Street had a blast playing the Starlite Lounge Songwriters’ Invitational on Saturday January 6!  We started a little late to accommodate the Steelers’ playoff game, but the bar was filled with friendly faces (and some new faces too!), who stayed long after the game to listen to our music.

I ended up missing the Let Freedom Sing celebration on January 15, because of a family-related event in Detroit.  But I heard it was great (and I saw one of the choirs reprise some of the music the following weekend), so I hope you got a chance to go out to the Kelly Strayhorn Theater to see and hear it!

February Music!

On Sunday February 4 from 6pm to 8pm, I’ll be the Music Sundays guest at the Ruckus Cafe.  This is a great coffeeshop just outside Millvale that opens its doors to all sorts of music and community events.  I’ll have some friends from Joy Street join me for some lovely harmonies, and it looks like there may be a clarinet and an accordion involved as well!  Come on out for cafe food and drinks, and lots of music to ward off those  grey winter blues!

Then on Saturday February 17 at 7pm, Joy Street returns to the Sunburst School of Music.  This is where the band got its start, and we’re looking forward to returning to this welcoming, comfortable space!

Finally on Sunday February 25, I’ll be opening for a special show at Steamworks Creative featuring Michelle Hall and Shane McLaughlin.  It’s gonna be a high-energy night!

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