February 2026

Hello Kerouacians!

We’ve got a great February planned at the Kerouac House this month.

On Thursday 02/12 from 6 - 9pm we are hosting this month’s version of Dharma Jams Open Mic, our monthly gathering and performances by local musicians.

As usual, we are psyched about this month’s poetry reading and storytelling events. Coffee and Poetry at Jack’s (Sun 02/22 @ 3pm) will feature Mish Murphy and Steve Rush aka Ink and Bones.  Storytelling @ the Kerouac House will feature Theresa Sokol and Walt Belcher (on Sat 02/28 @ 7pm).  Our in-house ring mistress, Victoria Dym, will emcee and perform at both events this month.        

Of course, all of the above (and below) will be held at your friendly neighborhood Jack Kerouac House of St Petersburg at 5169 10th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710.  Details and ticket info about each event are provided below.

First, Songwriter’s Club will returns this Thursday Feb 5th at 7pm with an exclusive show featuring Chicago Farmer and Will Quinlin. Our musical mentor Shawn Kyle will emcee and perform.

When taking on the moniker Chicago Farmer, singer-songwriter Cody Diekhoff aimed to not only showcase the dichotomy of his life and travels — growing up in the tiny Illinois farm community of Delavan, and calling “The Windy City” home for several years — he also wanted to honor his past through his uplifting, introspective melodies.

“This is not your average ‘man with guitar.’ Chicago Farmer’s approach to solo folk music is traditional, but his soul & energy are uncommonly powerful. Arriving with his classic acoustic guitar style is a voice smooth but broken-in that sounds wise beyond its years. He will stomp out a beat in leather boots to drive home a point and throw down a handsome harmonica solo to put a song over the top. The songs are about the places he’s been and the people he’s met, so local ideas are abound in this music from the heart.”- CBS Chicago

Will Quinlan is considered by many the Songwriter Laureate of Tampa, Florida, Will Quinlan migrated from Texas and broke into the Florida scene in the 1990's via his local legendary band the Pagan Saints. With many name changes to follow, Quinlan's the Diviners won local and national accolades with their release Navasota. 

The host of Songwriter Club, Shawn Kyle, is a multiple Best of the Bay Award Winner and 14x SXSW Austin official showcasing artist. Shawn has been a journeyman musician, a singer, writer, touring nationally fronting indie groups the Beauvilles, AMFMS, and many others. Kyle is currently working on an EP of new songs co written with Grammy Award winner Jim Lauderdale.

Don’t miss this night of great music in the historic setting of Jack Kerouac’s last home. A cash bar by donation will be open before and in between the performances. Proceeds from the show support the touring artist, as well as the Kerouac House nonprofit.

For more info and tix:   Tickets   Facebook Event

This month’s Dharma Jams Open Mic will be on Thursday, February 12 from 6 - 9 PM in the intimate, listening environment of the family room at The Jack Kerouac House, 5169 10th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710. Dharma Jams is open to all musicians, musical genres, and music lovers, but due to space limitations, only solo, duos and trios please. Light drumming (cajon, congas or bongos, brushes) is great, but no full kits or sticks. A small PA, microphones, amps, DI boxes, cajon, and Jack’s piano will be provided. Spontaneous collaborations are encouraged. Doors at 5:30, music starts at 6pm. Admission is free; donations to the Jack Kerouac House non-profit are greatly appreciated.

Hosting the event will be Jack’s House Band featuring Ken Burchenal, Joe Krivanek,  and Mystic Kaplan. Snacks and soft drinks will be served and a cash/donation bar will be open for your drinking pleasure.

Sign up for the open mic with Joe Krivanek, our emcee, when you arrive. The show is FREE but please RSVP if you know you’re going to attend by emailing here: stpetekerouachouse@gmail.com

February's Coffee & Poetry at Jack's features poet Mish Murphy and drummer Steve Rush who perform as Ink and Bone on Sunday 02/22 from 3-6pm.  

Mish Murphy and Steve Rush have performed their unique combination of performance poetry and percussion music at venues throughout the Bay Area.  Mish, a well-published poet, editor, and college professor, performs her original poetry. Steve, an accomplished drummer and former motocross racer, enhances and supplements the spoken words. The result is a highly entertaining experience.

Mish (Eileen) Murphy is Assistant Poetry Editor for Cultural Daily online magazine. She teaches English at Polk State College, Florida, and poetry workshops online for the Life Enrichment Center of Tampa. A Pushcart nominee, she has published three poetry works—Fortune Written on Wet Grass (2019), Sex & Ketchup (2021), and Evil Me (2020—and over a hundred individual poems. Mish graduated New College, Sarasota, and Columbia College, Chicago. She is an award-winning artist, specializing in portraits of the Beats. She also creates individualized dog portraits.

 Steve Rush started playing drums with the PAL marching corps at the age of 8. He studied jazz at an early age. His original band 3D Burn released their debut album in 2016. Steve has extensive performance experience, and his new alternative rock project will be recording originals within the next 3 months.

Don’t miss this truly unique performance. The reading starts at 3pm. So come on by and grab a cup of joe and complimentary pastries. You can sign up to read with our resident poet and emcee Victoria Dym when you get to Jack’s house. Tickets are limited and they are $10 each plus tax and fees.

For more info and tickets go to:  Tickets    Facebook Event

Monthly Storytelling  

Storytelling @ the Kerouac House (Sat 02/28, 7pm) will feature Theresa Sokol with Walt Belcher opening.

As an acclaimed opera singer, recitalist and music teacher in a career that lasted over forty years, Thersa Sokol has many stories to tell. She is an accomplished stage director with more than twenty-five opera and theatre productions at regional opera and theater companies and at the University of South Florida where she served as Director of Opera and Professor of Voice.   Join us for a night that's guaranteed to sing with Walt Belcher as the Opener and Victoria Dym as the host. There will be a storytelling open mic (sign-up at the event for a 5-7 minute slot, telling, no reading) and libations and snacks for sale. Limited Seating, Advance Tickets Recommended: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../storytelling-the-kerouac...

To tell at the open mic (5-7 minutes), sign up at the event with emcee Victoria Dym. Refreshments and snacks will be served at intermission: wine and beer available at the cash bar. Come to listen and/or tell! There will be limited seating. Tickets are $10 plus tax and a service fee; donations go directly to the Jack Kerouac House. For more info and Tickets: