January 2026

Hello Kerouacians!

We’ve got a very Happy New Year going on at the Jack Kerouac House in January.
This Thursday 01/08 from 6 - 9pm we are hosting the debut of Dharma Jams at Jack’s, a monthly open mic featuring local performers.
We have not one but two house concerts we will co-host with Craftsman House Presents: on Thursday 01/15 @ 7pm Matt Pond will perform and on Friday 01/23 at 7pm we get to host Claudia Schmidt.
As usual, we psyched about this month’s poetry reading and storytelling events, Coffee and Poetry at Jack’s(Sun 01/25 @ 3pm) and Storytelling @ the Kerouac House (Sat 01/31 @ 7 pm).
Finally, our popular house concert series Songwriter’s Club will return on Tuesday 01/20 @ 6pmwith Lauren Ruth Ward and Chris Hess, then on Thursday Feb 5^th at 7pm with an exclusive show featuring Chicago Farmer and Will Quinlin. Our musical ringmaster Shawn Kyle will emcee and perform at both shows.
Of course, all of the above (and below) will be held at your friendly neighborhood Jack Kerouac House of St Petersburg at 5169 10^th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710, and details about each are provided below.

First, The Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg is proud to announce the launch of a new monthly event, Dharma Jams Open Mic. Dharma Jams will debut on Thursday, January 8th 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, and recur monthly every 2nd Thursday thereafter. 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) 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 and a different featured performer every month. Snacks and soft drinks will be served and a cash/donation bar will be open for your drinking pleasure.
So, grab that guitar, bring on that bass, get sharp with that blues harp, or just drop in to see what the cool cats are playing this month at Dharma Jams Open Mic. And please spread the word to all musicians and music lovers. 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

Next, on Thursday 01/15 at 7pm we will co-host with The Craftsman House Gallery a house concert starring Matt Pond PA with Bathtub Cig opening the show.  The Craftsman House has a long history of presenting great, nationally known musicians in an intimate setting, and now are bringing that tradition to the Kerouac House for an exclusive series of shows.
With a catalog spanning two decades, Matt Pond’s music has defined a generation of indie dreamers - from the cinematic sweep of Several Arrows Later to the intimate reflections of The Ballad of The Natural Lines.  Expect music that flows effortlessly between old favorites & new gems, performed with the same sincerity and beauty that have made Matt Pond PA a beloved name in indie rock.  Don’t miss this chance to experience one of indie music’s most enduring voices — live, up close, & unforgettable.  Opening act is Bathtub Cig - the intimate depression pop project of Hilary James!  "Bathtub Cig is "a must listen for every indie aficionado! With intimate vocals & a melodic indie spirit, the depression pop band crafts a sound that's both soothing & emotionally resonant."
Doors are at 6:30, music starts at 7pm.  There will be snacks and a cash bar that benefit the Kerouac House.
Call (727) 424-5245 for tickets

Our next co-production with The Craftsman House will be renowned musician Claudia Schmidt on Friday 01/23 at 7pm. Claudia is a powerful vocalist, adventurous artist, & captivating performer whose music weaves lively folk, jazz, & blues with rich poetry & playful humor. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays 12-string guitar & Appalachian dulcimer, and has released 22 albums over her remarkable career, and she’s still going strong!
"Claudia Schmidt is a true artist - she has talent AND the fire of genius" --- The Boston Globe
"When Claudia sings a song, it stays sung." --- Garrison Keillor, NPR
Call (727) 424-5245 for tickets

January’s Coffee and Poetery at Jack’s features spoken word ninja Dennis Amadeus and members of his band Wülfgang Amadeus on Sun 01/25 from 3-6pm. Local writer, poet, storyteller, comedian, and actor Victoria Dym will emcee and also read.
Wülfgang Amadeus is a band that hails from Tampa comprised of poets. They blend music and spoken word to create an intense brew.  As they self-describe:
A Poet and Drummer meet at a bar and Wülfgang Amadeus is born! Now united, the Wülfgang is finally ready to shred their bohemian rhapsody across the ages with their timeless lyricism, classic riffs, inspiring Melodie’s, dynamic sound and talents that span multiple genres of performance art.
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 recite 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 tix:
            Tickets           Facebook Event Page

This month’s Storytelling @ the Kerouac House will be on Saturday 01/31 from 7-9 pm; this month’s featured storyteller is actor and poet Rubin Drew with Ben Leslie opening. Our own in-house storyteller extraordinaire Victoria Dym will emcee and also tell.
Rubin Drew’s stage credits include lead role and production of Sam Shepard’s off-off broadway play “Chicago”, and Andy Gurijian’s (GUR-i-jan) “Coyote”, both in the late 90s. He studied theater under famed director John DiDonna in the Black Box Theater in Orlando, Florida and represented Orlando in the 2002 National Poetry Slam. Upon moving to Saint Petersburg in 2006 he joined the Four Poets Spoken Word collective, performing at poetry readings while writing and recording his spoken word album “Do Not Stop.” Rubin has been exploring the art of Storytelling since 2020 and will release an audio collection of stories in March of this year. His current album is available on all streaming platforms.
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:
Facebook Event Page Tickets

Our next installment of Songwriter Club on Tuesday 01/20 at 7pm will feature Lauren Ruth Ward with Chris Hess opening.  The producer of our series Shawn Kyle will host and also perform.
           Lauren Ruth Ward is a gutsy, raspy-voiced singer/songwriter in the vein of Janis Joplin or Courtney Barnett, Baltimore born Lauren Ruth Ward changed her life drastically to pursue her truth. After graduating from high school, she began working as a hairstylist and built a clientele in the hundreds. As time went on, however, she knew she needed to make music her focus and embrace her queerness. In 2015, she quit her job, broke up with her fiancé, and moved to L.A. releasing her self titled EP in 2016. Several acclaimed albums and national tours later, she is not to be missed.
Although Chris Hess is Florida born, east coast surf and sand raised, Chris now lives in Los Angeles and is widely known as the frontperson for the band SWIMM. Since releasing their debut EP, Feel, in 2013, indie psychedelic dream pop band SWIMM have risen to become one of the more notable bands in that genre. With a string of atmospheric, melodic, and introspective singles and EPs – and a critically acclaimed full-length album, - Sentimental Porno, in 2018 – they’ve continued to raise their profile. This year finds them particularly busy, with new singles (“Spring Breaking Your Heart” and “You Never Fake It”) with new albums on the way, the band seems poised to take their career to the next level.
For more info and tickets:
              Facebook Event Page Tickets

Finally, we want to give you a heads up about a super cool edition of Songwriter Club the first week of February that will probably sell out. On Thursday 02/05 at 7pm we will present Chicago Farmer with Will Quinlin and our own Shawn Kyle opening. This is truly an I.Y.K.Y.K show.
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. Accolades have followed as well as fans all over the country.
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.
In case you’ve been under a rock somewhere, 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, he was involved touring and performing with both the Americana revival of the early 2000's and also the Psychedelic Rock and Garage revival of the 2010's. Kyle is currently working on an EP of new songs co-written with Grammy Award winner Jim Lauderdale.
For more info and tix on this great line-up go to:
Facebook Event Page Tickets

All proceeds from all events go directly to the artists and to support the Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg; please consider making a tax deductible donation to our non-profit by going to the “Donate” page of our website here:
Donations

That’s all for now, see you at the Kerouac House!