JALOPY REMAINS BROOKLYN’S HQ FOR FOLK AND TRADITIONAL MUSIC

March 17, 2025 by David K. Moseder

Lynette and Geoff Wiley-09.14.13-Jim & Jessie Benefit

Lynette and Geoff Wiley/ photo by B.L.Howard

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music is a multi-faceted arts space showcasing evolving folk and traditional music. It has been welcoming local artists as well as those from beyond Brooklyn since the husband-and-wife team of Geoff and Lynette Wiley founded it in 2006.

“This mighty little venue in Red Hook hosts more than 230 shows a year,” Jalopy board member, music teacher and frequent performer Annie Keating tells Brooklyn Roads.

Annie Keating Release Show / photo by Griffon Sgroi Jacobs

Annie Keating On the Jalopy Theatre Stage / photo by Griffon Sgroi Jacobs

With a maximum occupancy of about 80 people (mostly seated), Jalopy welcomes some 15,000 concert goers each year, with another 9,000 music lovers attending Jalopy events around the city and beyond. These include free programming such as Brooklyn International Music Festival (every June), Washington Square Folk Fest, Bryant Park Picnic Performances and Porch Stomps. Then there’s the recurring Roots & Ruckus and Burstin’ Boots Dance Party series.

Jalopy also hosts the kickoff concert for the annual Brooklyn Americana Music Festival (set for Sept. 18-21 this year) and, every November, curates the Brooklyn Folk Festival at St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn Heights.

The Jalopy Workshop /courtesy of the Jalopy Theatre

Among the more notable upcoming events, Jalopy’s Communications Director Natalie Jordan cites the April 10th “Gala ‘25” at St. Ann’s Church, a benefit event featuring Grammy winner Steve Earle and honoring Nora Guthrie and folklorist Robert Baron. Exemplifying Jalopy’s eclectic range of events, she touts such upcoming happenings as Square Dance with Sophie Mae Wellington, March 23; Lizzie No & Olivia Ellen Lloyd Double Record Release at Public Records in Gowanus, March 29; and pianist Royce Martin’s “Once Upon a Swagtime,” March 30.

Jalopy also offers a wide range of music classes for children and adults of all musical backgrounds and proficiencies. And right next door is the Jalopy Tavern, renowned for its bar food and live music most nights. The Jalopy Theatre itself serves both soft and alcoholic beverages.

“When I think of Jalopy,” Keating tells us, “I get a smile on my face because it’s always buzzing — a one-stop-shop for musical inspiration of all kinds. As a working musician who plays there myself, I deeply appreciate the unique home this magical spot offers for musicians and [other] artists.”

Artists on our Radar

Eric Stern: Brooklyn Born, Jazz Driven

Eric Stern/photo by Hoyeon Choi/ courtesy of the artist

Brooklyn has long been home to innovative artists, and pianist-composer Eric Stern is no exception. Born and raised in the borough, Stern’s sound is a fusion of jazz, Latin, and classical influences shaped by his upbringing and New York City’s diverse musical landscape. Stern’s love for music began at home, where classical compositions played daily on WQXR alongside Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. His exploration led him to jazz and salsa, drawn to artists like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Miles Davis. His participation in Belongo’s Fat Cats program, a youth music initiative, deepened his passion for Afro-Latin music, exposing him to icons like Chico O’Farrill and Tito Puente. Though he played in school jazz bands and youth programs, it was at Fat Cats—rehearsing every Sunday at the former Fat Cat jazz club (now Cellar Dog)—that his passion crystallized. “It was sheer joy,” Stern recalls. The experience drove him to practice for hours daily, solidifying his decision to pursue music professionally. Stern studied at the University of Miami, where he formed a quartet with trumpet, piano, bass, and drums, performing across Miami until 2022. Adding saxophonist Dylan McHann that fall elevated the group into its current quintet form. Since returning to Brooklyn, the lineup has shifted, now featuring Chris Ferrari (tenor sax/flute), Joey Curreri (trumpet), Cookie Stephenson (bass), and Peru Eizagirre (drums), with Stern leading on piano and compositions. Brooklyn’s underground jazz scene remains central to Stern’s creative evolution. While Manhattan is home to institutions like the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note, he finds Brooklyn’s avant-garde spaces—Ornithology Jazz Club, Bar Bayeux, and ShapeShifter Lab more experimental and inspiring. At the heart of Stern’s music is a simple mission: joy. “That’s the only thing I really care about. If selling a million records and being super famous is able to do that, great. If not, I don’t really mind. I just want to give other people who listen and hear the music the same joy I have in playing and creating it.” Eric Stern is one to watch for those seeking a fresh, dynamic voice in Brooklyn’s jazz scene. “Why not perform in Brooklyn?” he says. “There are so many great spaces to play—why not make it happen?”

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