December is upon us!  Things are winding down for me for the holidays, and I look forward to taking some time learning and writing some new songs.  More to come in the new year!

November Memories…

The “deconstructed version” of Joy Street that played a benefit on November 12 at Local Provisions for Garden Home Ministries turned out to be just Susan Spangler and me. But good things can come in small packages, and we had a blast, playing to members and supporters of GHM  —  as well as a 

few bemused customers coming in just to shop! A portion of the sales proceeds that day went to support GHM, which is dedicated to the prevention of human trafficking, and the rescue and restoration of its victims. Thanks to all who came out!

After our 4-5pm set, I headed over to Ruckus Coffeehouse

 to open for another show by Jim Hawley & Friends; I also accompanied Jim and his friends on banjo for a few tunes… The place was packed and a good time was had by all!

Then, about a week later, I played a nice long set as part of the Songwriters’ Invitational at Ronnie “Moondog” Esser’s Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. My set was between a shorter one by David Lesondak and another full set by Debbi Pace, who I accompanied on mandolin for a few songs.  This series is getting a reputaiton, and the place was packed with people who love beer, pierogis, and great acoustic singer-songwriter, blues and Americana music!  Check it out any Saturday 6-8pm!

December and Beyond!

Saturday December 2, from 11am to 1pm, I’ll be playing old-time Appalachian music with 

friends for the Christmas Market at the Edgewood Library.  The whole arts and crafts fair runs from 9am to 4pm, and if you come between 11 and 1 you get music too!

Nothing else is scheduled for December but here is one of my very favorite Christmas songs, “Upon a Christmas Eve” by Hugh Prescott. Click the picture to hear it!

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

A busy Summer – Now it’s time to catch my breath!

Last gig of the summer at the Bloomfield Saturday Market was on September 9.  Great time playing for 

all the passersby in a very full market, made even more fun by the cello playing of friend Lutie Rodriguez!

Then on to the Sharpsburg Art & History Stroll that same afternoon, where I played a half hour set in a lineup that included

friends Anni Mai, Megan Pennington, Devin Russian, Jim Skiff, Bethanie Patterson, and more!

Rounded out the month with two solo sets at

the Swissvale Farmers’ Market, one more Swissvale Farmers’ Market jam with the East End Appalachian Jam, and a great 40 minute set with the harmony group (formerly known as!) Subject to Change, at  Lawrenceville Distilling …

News Flash! — The harmony group has a new name: Joy Street!  Joy Street consists of consists of Susan Spangler on mandolin, Mary Fleck and Deborah Brooks on guitars, Lutie Rodriguez on cello, Jan Hamilton on fiddle, and me on banjo, accompanying Susan, Mary and Deborah in some of the prettiest harmony singing you’ll hear! 

 Coming up in October and November…

• This coming Saturday October 14, Joy Street will be playing from 2pm to 4pm for the St. Andrew’s Church Fall Fest in Highland Park!  As always, great harmonies and much joy and laughter (if it’s rainy, the festival and the music will move inside the church, so come rain or come shine, but come see us!).
• Then on Friday October 20 at 7pm I’ll be backing up Jim Hawley and Friends on banjo for a fun night of familiar, and not so familiar, songs and tunes at Steamworks Creative on Route 8 in Gibsonia!
   
• The very next day, Saturday October 21, will be the last Swissvale Farmers’ Market jam of the season with the East End Appalachian Jam, noon-2pm.
   
• And then on November 18 I’ll be 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 probably back up blues & classic rock singer Debbi Pace on mandolin for a couple of her songs. It’s a chill, fun time, in a classic, music-centric dive bar with the biggest pierogis in town! 

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

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…

• Last date of the season at the Bloomfield Saturday Market (September 9, 10am-noon)
• Music at the Sharpsburg Art and History Stroll (September 9, 1pm-1:30)
• Two old time jams with East End Appalachian Jam at the Swissvale Farmers’ Market (September 16 and October 7, noon-2pm)

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!

• Rachael Kilgour with special guest  Eve Goodman – Saturday September 30, 2023, 7:30pm
• Christopher Mark Jones with special guest Alex Meleshenko – Saturday November 4, 2023, 7:30pm
• An evening with Bertha and the Belles  – Saturday January 27, 2024, 7:30pm
• Songwriters’ Showcase with Liz McBride, Lenni Green, Louie Castle and Ol Whitetail – Saturday March 23, 2024, 7:30pm
• An evening with Peter Mulvey – Saturday May 4, 2024, 7:30pm

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

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!

Well…

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

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…

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.

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