Jennifer Jolly & Friends

Back Room regulars Jennifer Jolly & Friends return with their signature wildly eclectic roots music: boogies & ballads, surf & second line, reels & rockers, and heartfelt songs about people and place. JJ&F features a lot of instrument-swapping, banter, and a huge range of original music, with something for everyone.

This show will include a brand-new piano boogie-woogie and likely a special guest or two. Founded in 2019, this multi-generational group showcases five outstanding Bay Area roots musicians who are not just bandmates but also close friends.

JJ&F is:

Jennifer Jolly: piano, melodica, vocals, guitar

Steve Gibson: guitar, mandolin, bass

Jeremy Steinkoler: drums, bodhrán, vocals

Max Butler: pedal steel, guitar, vocals

Nat Butler: bass, fiddle, vocals

Jennifer Jolly is a keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, bandleader, and educator specializing in roots music of North America, the Caribbean, and Africa. She is a long-time instructor at the California Jazz Conservatory (Jazzschool), Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, after-school programs, and her private teaching studio. She leads Jennifer Jolly & Friends; co-founded The Jolly Gibsons; currently performs with Pamela Rose’s “Blues is a Woman,” Jean Fineberg’s JAZZphoria and Party Monsters groups, and Big B & His Snake Oil Saviors; and guest-performs often with Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Chelle! & Friends, Shake It Booty Band, Creekside Community Church Worship Band, and other local groups. Previous credits include Zulu Spear, Kotoja, Barbara Dane, Phil Lesh & The Broken Angels, Hot Links, and many more.

Steve Gibson is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, producer, educator, co-founder of BandWorks and The Jolly Gibsons, and a member of the Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp leadership team. In addition to JJ&F, Steve performs with Funk Revival Orchestra, Token Resistance, and other local groups.

Jeremy Steinkoler is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, bandleader, co-founder of BandWorks, and author of “Finding the Groove.” In addition to JJ&F, Jeremy performs with his group Mo’Fone and with The Bonafides, The Steinkoler Trio, The Sam Rudin Trio, The Erika Oba Trio, Jean Fineberg & JAZZphoria, and other local groups.

Max Butler is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, educator, producer, and Worship Pastor and mentor at Creekside Community Church in San Leandro. In addition to playing with JJ&F, Max leads the Creekside Community Church Worship Band and plays with various local groups. Previous credits include Chuck Prophet, Red Meat, Bash and Pop, and The Sextants.

Nat Butler is a fiddle player, bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and youth leader and mentor. He currently attends Biola University in La Mirada, CA and performs regularly in both Southern and Northern CA.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Thank you for your support!

Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Back Room, 1984 Bonita Avenue, Berkeley, United States