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Banjo Jim's Live Music Calendar


no cover (unless otherwise noted) - one drink minimum per set


Wednesday, July 28
  7:30 Annie Crane
  9 Stew Cutler
Denny Mcdermott - drums, EJ Sharp - keys, Mary Jean - vocals, David C - bass, Stew Cutler - guitar
  10 - 12 ERIK DEUTSCH'S SUMMER SHAKEDOWN

10pm: Erik Deutsch and Jefferson Hamer with tons of special guests ...
ERIK DEUTSCH'S SUMMER SHAKEDOWN takes place every Wednesday in July at 10pm, different line up each week

Thursday, July 29
  8 Dylan Charles
  9 Clyde (Misty Boyce and Nick Africano)
  10 Shanna Zell
  11 Jeremiah Birnbaum
  12 Chris Capazzoli

Friday, July 30
  5-7 Jeremiah's start-the-weekend-early Happy Hour Show! this week:

5 - Nate Schweber

6 - Charlene and Mo of Spanking Charlene acoustic
  7 - 1am Avenue A Records Showcase
hosted by Brian Molnar and Joe Cassady 7 - Root Spirits

8 - Lisa Redford
Described by legendary BBC DJ Bob Harris as "one of our finest singer/songwriters" Lisa is a versatile female artist from the UK who has recently moved to NY on a prestigious Artist Visa. Her music has been described as delicate acoustic rootsy Americana with heartfelt lyrics, gorgeous melodies and stunning vocals.

9 - Coby O'Brian

10 - D.B. Rielly

11 - Robert Poe

12 - Brian Molnar & The Naked Hearts

Saturday, July 31
  2:30-6:30 Open Mic - Hosted by Wayne Kral and Jeremiah Birnbaum
Sign-up 2:30; music 3-6:30pm - every Saturday afternoon
  7 LJ Murphy
  8 Jeff Mailnowski acoustic
  9 The Red Hot Monster Truck Rally feat. Michaela Anne Neller, Serena Jean Southam, and Thomas Bryan Eaton
  10 - 12 Super Awesome Jam Times - featuring The Basement Band, Hobson's Choice and Serena Jean Band

Sunday, August 1
  7 - 10 EXCEEDINGLY GOOD SONG NIGHT - An Open Singing Session in the Folk-Roots Tradition - Hosted by Ken Schatz
  10 TBA

Monday, August 2
  7:30 Rob Morsberger
Rob will be joined by longtime bandmate Jon Herington (Steely Dan, Madeleine Peyroux) on guitar

BOSTON HERALD
ROB MORSBERGER

"The Chronicle of a Literal Man" (Hieroglyph): A-
Morsberger's fourth album is the kind of hyperliterate, pop-inflected singer-songwriter outing that went out of style when Warren Zevon died. Balancing sweet songcraft with a vinegared wit that makes you laugh out loud ("This is your life," he croons at one point "not an independent movie.") Morsberger touches on subjects as varied as Dalton Trumbo and Burt Bacharach without sounding like a twerp. And, as the must-download title tune shows, he can write a hook that could make angels weep. - By Kevin Convey, BOSTON HERALD
  9:30 - late Lichtman's Brain Cloud
Western swing!

"My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)

Lichtman's Brain Cloud includes Tamar Korn (vocals), Skip Krevens (guitar and vocals), Raphael McGregor (steel guitar), Kevin Dorn (drum), Andrew Hall (bass), Dennis Lichtman (mandolin, fiddle, clarinet), and frequent guest appearances/collaborations with Matt Munisteri (guitar), Scott Kettner (percussion), and Miss Tess (vocals).

The Brain Cloud borrows heavily from the triple-guitar (electric guitar, electric mandolin, and lap steel guitar) wall-of-sound that Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys perfected in the mid-1940's. Lichtman's original arrangements and authentic transcriptions branch off from the most exciting era from the most exciting western swing band ever. And Lichtman's own schizophrenic musical tastes come into play with his selection of repertoire, which includes not just Texas Playboys tunes but also Django Reinhardt originals, Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, bluegrass classics, whimsical fiddle tunes of Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, obscure 1950's Charline Arthur country songs... In short, the same type of wide range of stylistic influences that bands of the Texas Playboys' time drew from.

Outside of the Brain Cloud, Dennis Lichtman is a longtime member (on clarinet and mandolin) of the inimitable, internationally acclaimed old-timey-jazz Cangelosi Cards, a member of bluegrass/Americana outfit King Wilkie, and founder/leader (on clarinet) of trad-jazz powerhouse Mona's Hot Four.

Tuesday, August 3
  7 - 9 The Legendary Terry Waldo - ragtime and stride piano
Entertainer and protege of the late Eubie Blake, has produced over 40 albums. His THIS IS RAGTIME is the definitive book on the subject, and his 26-part series with the same title for National Public Radio fueled the 1970's ragtime revival. Most Tuesdays from 7 to 9.
  9 - 12 The Pride of the Subway Ceili Band
With members hailing from all five boroughs, New York City's only traditional Irish Big Band features the musical stylings of Isaac Alderson, Dan Lowery on flute; Grainne Murphy and Dana Lyn on fiddle; Danny Noveck on fiddle and banjo; and the incomparable rhythm section of Jason Sypher on bass, Brendan Dolan on keys, and Stephan Amidon and Anna Colliton on drums/percussion. The Celtic Wall of Sound you've all been waiting for.

Wednesday, August 4
  7 Bob Katz
  8 Dave Keyes
Dave has been a mainstay on the New York music scene for over 20 years, playing with some of the most important figures of blues, roots and folk music. This varied musical journey started in the spiritual Southern sounds of blues, soul and classic boogie-woogie, and continues through Dave's recent CD's and his vibrant soulful live shows.

Over the last 10 years, Dave worked with the late great Odetta and played on many of her last shows most notably the 50th Anniversary McCabes concert at UCLA, in Oct. '08 and her appearance before tens of thousands at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in Golden Gate Park. Dave also is currently working with gospel great Marie Knight, and performed in '08 with her at the Chicago Blues Fest and France's legendary Cognac Blues Fest where Dave has also been featured as a solo performer.

Dave has also worked as sideman for a who's who of roots music masters, such as Bo Diddley, Sleepy La Beef, Big Jay McNeely, Eddy Clearwater, Tracy Nelson, Wayne and Ronnie Baker Brooks, and the late Ruth Brown, in addition to accompanying such diverse artists as Gladys Knight, Pam Tillis, David Johansen, Darlene Love and the late Lou Rawls. He currently appears frequently with bluesman Popa Chubby.
  9 Cal on the Quarter Moons - August Residency
Every Wednesday at 9pm in August

Cal Folger Day is not going to draw up a perfumed magnolia tree out from the cracks of Brooklyn sidewalks for you. She's going to sing a different kind of country tune. "Straight down the line from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, June Carter, and Memphis Minnie...breaking our hearts and making them sing, that's no mean feat." (M. Sage, Catweazle U.K.)
  10 - 12 Kristin Andreasson & Jefferson Hamer & friends - Wednesday residency
Kristin and Jefferson share every Wednesday at 10pm in August and Septemeber, along with many special guests!

Thursday, August 5
  7 TBA
  9 Holler
  10 Randy Johnston
  11 Birchwood Coupe
A writer and musician from Vermont, Kip de Moll returns to New York with his guitarist from the band Birchwood Coupe which he has formed to showcase his upbeat original songs about living passionately and following dreams. Having been distracted for 20 years by family and his construction business, Kip is suffering a renaissance of creativity that has produced 10 new songs and a blog entitled "Zen and the Art of the Midlife Crisis."

Friday, August 6
  5-7 Jeremiah's start-the-weekend-early Happy Hour Show! this week:

Mike Savino
  7 - 9 Pat Cisarano
  MUSIC OF THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY -
HOSTED BY PORK CHOP WILLIE
first Friday of every other month!
  9 - Will Scott
  10 - Pork Chop Willie
Check out a great review of one of Pork Chop Willie's previous shows at Banjo Jim's on blogcritics.org!
  12 - Kent Burnside and the New Generation
From the porches of The Misssissippi Hill Country and straight to the stage, Kent Burnside and The New Generation have mastered the raw emotion and rhythms of the Mississippi hill country blues, passed down from Kent's blood line. Sweet as a Mississippi sunset after the rain. The Blues live on with Burnside family.

Kent Burnside admits he is a country boy. With his independent release of past year's Cotton Field Disco and Country Boy City Dreams and his newest, Evil, Kent Burnside is bringing his new generation of blues to the world. Kent has toured and supported his grandfather R.L. Burnside (Fat Possum Records) and many other greats, such as Buddy Guy, North Mississippi Allstars, Jimbo Mathus and Junior Kimbrough just to name a few. His family name defines the unique Hill Country Blues sound created by his legendary grandfather, the late R.L. Burnside. However, Kent is taking it to another level.

Saturday, August 7
  2:30-6:30 Open Mic - Hosted by Wayne Kral and Jeremiah Birnbaum
Sign-up 2:30; music 3-6:30pm - every Saturday afternoon
  7 Lorraine Leckie and Her Demons
  8 Hugh Pool
  9 - late Melody Allegra and Friends - BLUEGRASS JAM!
Bluegrass jam first Saturday night of every month!

Sunday, August 8
  7 - 9 JoY Askew
  9 TBA

Monday, August 9
  7:30 J. Walter Hawkes
Originally from Pascagoula, Mississippi, Trombonist/vocalist/ukulele pickerJ. Walter Hawkes has been playing jazz and other fun forms of noise in NYC for over 14 years. He is also a two time Emmy winning composer, having written everything from orchestral scores to 8-bit soundtracks for cartoons on Nickelodeon, the BBC, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network.
  9:30 - late Lichtman's Brain Cloud
Western swing!

"My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)

Lichtman's Brain Cloud includes Tamar Korn (vocals), Skip Krevens (guitar and vocals), Raphael McGregor (steel guitar), Kevin Dorn (drum), Andrew Hall (bass), Dennis Lichtman (mandolin, fiddle, clarinet), and frequent guest appearances/collaborations with Matt Munisteri (guitar), Scott Kettner (percussion), and Miss Tess (vocals).

The Brain Cloud borrows heavily from the triple-guitar (electric guitar, electric mandolin, and lap steel guitar) wall-of-sound that Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys perfected in the mid-1940's. Lichtman's original arrangements and authentic transcriptions branch off from the most exciting era from the most exciting western swing band ever. And Lichtman's own schizophrenic musical tastes come into play with his selection of repertoire, which includes not just Texas Playboys tunes but also Django Reinhardt originals, Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, bluegrass classics, whimsical fiddle tunes of Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, obscure 1950's Charline Arthur country songs... In short, the same type of wide range of stylistic influences that bands of the Texas Playboys' time drew from.

Outside of the Brain Cloud, Dennis Lichtman is a longtime member (on clarinet and mandolin) of the inimitable, internationally acclaimed old-timey-jazz Cangelosi Cards, a member of bluegrass/Americana outfit King Wilkie, and founder/leader (on clarinet) of trad-jazz powerhouse Mona's Hot Four.

Tuesday, August 10
  7 - 9 The Legendary Terry Waldo - ragtime and stride piano
Entertainer and protege of the late Eubie Blake, has produced over 40 albums. His THIS IS RAGTIME is the definitive book on the subject, and his 26-part series with the same title for National Public Radio fueled the 1970's ragtime revival. Most Tuesdays from 7 to 9.
  9 TBA
  10 Sarah and the Tall Boys

Wednesday, August 11
  8 Stew Cutler
Denny Mcdermott - drums, EJ Sharp - keys, Mary Jean - vocals, David C - bass, Stew Cutler - guitar
  9 Cal on the Quarter Moons - August Residency
Every Wednesday at 9pm in August

Cal Folger Day is not going to draw up a perfumed magnolia tree out from the cracks of Brooklyn sidewalks for you. She's going to sing a different kind of country tune. "Straight down the line from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, June Carter, and Memphis Minnie...breaking our hearts and making them sing, that's no mean feat." (M. Sage, Catweazle U.K.)
  10 - 12 Kristin Andreasson & Jefferson Hamer & friends - Wednesday residency
Kristin and Jefferson share every Wednesday at 10pm in August and Septemeber, along with many special guests!

Thursday, August 12
  7 TBA
  8 Adam Klein
  9 Silvertone
  10 The Hippy Nuts

Friday, August 13
  5-7 Jeremiah's start-the-weekend-early Happy Hour Show! this week:

TBA
  7 18 Strings and a Dozen Roses
18 Strings and a Dozen Roses is a monthly hour-long series hosted by veteran guitarist Pete Kennedy. In an informal setting, three master guitarists develop off-the-cuff arrangements of guitar classics, trade stories, field questions from the audience, and generally have a good time doing what they do best. It's all about spontaneity, taste, fun, and a deep love for New York City's favorite axe.

Pete Kennedy is best known as the lead guitarist/producer half of pop duo The Kennedys, but his credits range from backing Dr. John, Nanci Griffith and Mary-Chapin Carpenter to sitting in with the National Symphony and playing in the pit for Cats and Evita. A protege of Danny Gatton, Joe Pass, Charlie Byrd and Johnny Smith, Pete brings an encyclopedic knowledge of all things guitar to the stage, and now and then he might even play a bit of Gershwin on the ukulele.
www.petekennedy.com

  8 Lonesome Fausto
  9 TBA
  10 A Slow Death & Loneliness
  11 Bill Bell Band
  12 The Vanity Band

Saturday, August 14
  2:30-6:30 Open Mic - Hosted by Wayne Kral and Jeremiah Birnbaum
Sign-up 2:30; music 3-6:30pm - every Saturday afternoon
  7 Annie Dressner
  8 - late DOWN HOME LIVE! - On the Lower East Side.


For the best in Old-time, Country, Jazz, Blues, Pre-Blues and original songs, come on down to Banjo Jim's on the 2nd Saturday night of every month, hosted by Eli Smith of Down Home Radio.

Sunday, August 15
  7 - 9 NYC Slickers
From my days producing country tunes in New York and Nashville, I have always loved an authentic sound mixed with creative inspiration, and the NYCity Slickers are all that and more. They are the best toe tappin' / leg shakin' / put a smile on your face / good time band I know.

~ David M. Pincus
Managing Director / WorkShop Theater Company Chair, Theater Task Force / NYC Community Board 4
  9 - late LINDY LOO'S COUNTRY CUZINS
LINDY LOO'S COUNTRY CUZINS is an old school variety show featuring comedy and country music from the stars on the NYC&W scene. With a changing cast of the best and the brightest each month, the vibe is fun and loose with all the audience feeling like members of Lindy's Hillbilly Family by the end of the night. Only at a wonderfully intimate venue like Banjo Jim's can you experience a show as rollicking and welcoming as this one.

www.bigcityhick.com
www.myspace.com/bigcityhick

Monday, August 16
  7:30 J. Walter Hawkes
Originally from Pascagoula, Mississippi, Trombonist/vocalist/ukulele pickerJ. Walter Hawkes has been playing jazz and other fun forms of noise in NYC for over 14 years. He is also a two time Emmy winning composer, having written everything from orchestral scores to 8-bit soundtracks for cartoons on Nickelodeon, the BBC, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network.
  9:30 - late Lichtman's Brain Cloud
Western swing!

"My brain is cloudy, my soul is upside-down... When I get that low-down feeling, I know the blues must be someplace around." (Bob Wills)

Lichtman's Brain Cloud includes Tamar Korn (vocals), Skip Krevens (guitar and vocals), Raphael McGregor (steel guitar), Kevin Dorn (drum), Andrew Hall (bass), Dennis Lichtman (mandolin, fiddle, clarinet), and frequent guest appearances/collaborations with Matt Munisteri (guitar), Scott Kettner (percussion), and Miss Tess (vocals).

The Brain Cloud borrows heavily from the triple-guitar (electric guitar, electric mandolin, and lap steel guitar) wall-of-sound that Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys perfected in the mid-1940's. Lichtman's original arrangements and authentic transcriptions branch off from the most exciting era from the most exciting western swing band ever. And Lichtman's own schizophrenic musical tastes come into play with his selection of repertoire, which includes not just Texas Playboys tunes but also Django Reinhardt originals, Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, bluegrass classics, whimsical fiddle tunes of Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, obscure 1950's Charline Arthur country songs... In short, the same type of wide range of stylistic influences that bands of the Texas Playboys' time drew from.

Outside of the Brain Cloud, Dennis Lichtman is a longtime member (on clarinet and mandolin) of the inimitable, internationally acclaimed old-timey-jazz Cangelosi Cards, a member of bluegrass/Americana outfit King Wilkie, and founder/leader (on clarinet) of trad-jazz powerhouse Mona's Hot Four.

Tuesday, August 17
  7 - late Jeremiah's Off-the-Wagon Night
... a songwriter's heaven in a bottle ...

Wednesday, August 18
  8 Dave Keyes
Dave has been a mainstay on the New York music scene for over 20 years, playing with some of the most important figures of blues, roots and folk music. This varied musical journey started in the spiritual Southern sounds of blues, soul and classic boogie-woogie, and continues through Dave's recent CD's and his vibrant soulful live shows.

Over the last 10 years, Dave worked with the late great Odetta and played on many of her last shows most notably the 50th Anniversary McCabes concert at UCLA, in Oct. '08 and her appearance before tens of thousands at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest in Golden Gate Park. Dave also is currently working with gospel great Marie Knight, and performed in '08 with her at the Chicago Blues Fest and France's legendary Cognac Blues Fest where Dave has also been featured as a solo performer.

Dave has also worked as sideman for a who's who of roots music masters, such as Bo Diddley, Sleepy La Beef, Big Jay McNeely, Eddy Clearwater, Tracy Nelson, Wayne and Ronnie Baker Brooks, and the late Ruth Brown, in addition to accompanying such diverse artists as Gladys Knight, Pam Tillis, David Johansen, Darlene Love and the late Lou Rawls. He currently appears frequently with bluesman Popa Chubby.
  9 Cal on the Quarter Moons - August Residency
Every Wednesday at 9pm in August

Cal Folger Day is not going to draw up a perfumed magnolia tree out from the cracks of Brooklyn sidewalks for you. She's going to sing a different kind of country tune. "Straight down the line from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, June Carter, and Memphis Minnie...breaking our hearts and making them sing, that's no mean feat." (M. Sage, Catweazle U.K.)
  10 - 12 Kristin Andreasson & Jefferson Hamer & friends - Wednesday residency
Kristin and Jefferson share every Wednesday at 10pm in August and Septemeber, along with many special guests!

Thursday, August 19
  8 Wendy and Bells
  9 TBA
  10 Huck and the Handsome Fee

Friday, August 20
  5-7 Jeremiah's start-the-weekend-early Happy Hour Show! this week:

Mike Savino

  7 TBA
  8:30 Li'l Mo & the Monicats
  10 Arty Hill & the The Long Gone Daddys
  11:30 Lindy Loo & the Jake Leg Strutters

Saturday, August 21
  2:30-6:30 Open Mic - Hosted by Wayne Kral and Jeremiah Birnbaum
Sign-up 2:30; music 3-6:30pm - every Saturday afternoon
  7 Paul Tabachneck
  8 Sean Smith & the Setting Sons
  9 The Griffins
  10 Whistlin' Wolves
THE WHISTLIN' WOLVES are the only whistling - harmonica - ukulele - fiddle - guitar - banjo - jew's-harp - mandolin - bass - vocal harmony group around - great traditional music with a few originals thrown in!!!

The Band features the ukulele, fiddle, vocals and two time world championship whistling of EMILY EAGEN; the cookin' harmonica, and singing of TRIP HENDERSON; the wizard of the strings & things SPIFF WIEGAND on vocals, banjo, mandolin, guitar, and jew's-harp; and CHRIS Q. MURPHY singing, playing bass and guitar.
  11 Travis Whitelaw
  12 Homeboy Steve Antonakos

Sunday, August 22
  7 TBA
  8:30 - 10:30 LI'L MO & BANJO LISA'S FIELD OF STARS - $10 cover
a monthly series featuring singers, songwriters, and players sittin' around singin' and playin'