San Diego Troubadour

08/08/2025

Hey, everybody! Yo'Jonesy Jones is a force of nature and you should know about her. She plays trombone, drums, and she sings! In addition to her own busy schedule, she plays with Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra for special events. Love this gal! Read about her here!

Studying music and advancing as an artist has always been my goal. Through this journey I’ve realized that I want to create and provide a platform for other artists like myself by learning the business, doing the business and teaching the business. —Yo Jonesy Jones Those are the passionate words...

08/04/2025

We lost Larry Murray of the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers a few months ago. This month the Troubadour pays homage to Larry, a man of many talents. RIP friend.

The Troubadour lost our friend Larry Murray in May. Most people around here remember Larry from the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers, led by Ed Douglas. We got to know Larry, when the Squirrel Barkers were brought together for a reunion at the 2003 Adams Avenue Roots Festival. In addition, they performe...

08/01/2025

The August issue of the San Diego Troubadour is out now and it's packed with good stuff to read. Starting off, Gayle Skidmore is our cover girl and she has a fascinating background. Big thanks to Lauren Leigh for the excellent job she did, writing Gayle's story. Read here:
https://sandiegotroubadour.com/

07/29/2025

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Frannie Valle is always working on something. She's a doer. Read about her latest exploits in her column this month!

I make things. I always have. I don’t wait until I have the “right” skills. I usually have little more than the audacity to start (see last month’s article on the audacity to start). I’ve made kick drum mics (fun project), guitar pedals (despite having been electrocuted—twice), and a dra...

07/26/2025

Hey, everybody! LAST CALL to submit your August gigs (if you haven't already) for the Troubadour calendar. Click on the link to the automated submission form. Deadline is tomorrow!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNbVowpcF6k-p9jrL0VaUH5W4PAbOJrlsrv2sVRRQQwfeSdw/viewform

07/26/2025

The San Diego Troubadour is honored to feature Gayle Skidmore on the August cover. Wait until you hear her story. She speaks multiple languages, plays 20 instruments, and has 2,500 songs in her catalog. In her own quiet and graceful way, she has made her mark in the local music scene for years now, with eight years in between when she lived in Holland. She holds her Scandinavian roots close to her heart and even released an album in Finnish recently!
But wait, there's more! In this month's issue, you'll find interesting articles on the late Kevin Koch; Yo'Jonesy Jones Larry Murray of the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers and Hearts and Flowers, who recently passed; the invitation-only song circle at the Ould Sod, and Tom Waits.

Did I mention that I love our columnists? That means you, Josh Weinstein, Jeff Berkley, Cathryn Beeks, Francesca Valle, Charlie Loach, Sue Palmer, and Dwight Worden (who has been with us since day one by the way! That's 24 years ago), who is the voice of the local bluegrass scene. Love you all!

Last but not least we bring you CD reviews for Gayle Skidmore, Jeff Berkley, Glitter Pigeon, and Tim Atkins.
That should keep y'all busy for awhile! At least until next month.
Thank you for reading the San Diego Troubadour!

Credits:
Story by: Lauren Leigh
Cover photo by: Anastasya Korol
Cover design by: Chuck Schiele

07/25/2025

Happy Friday, everyone! This month, Sue Palmer brings us another three women in jazz and blues—Joanne Brackeen, Doreen Ketcher, and Carolyn Wonderland—who are all still alive today. Her columns are so much fun to work on, cuz I get to hunt for photos and video clips on YouTube. By the way, Carolyn Wonderland will be performing live in the intimate setting of Humphreys Backstage Live on July 31. Sue and I are going. How bout you?

I have spent most of this year writing about women who began their careers in the early part of the 20th century. In July’s segment, I want to concentrate on three women who are still active—in three different styles of blues and/or jazz and in three different parts of the country. JOANNE BRACKE...

07/24/2025

The San Diego Troubadour's Thursday Music Spotlight shines a light on Haywire's latest album, Las Oleada's. Read Wayne Riker's review here:

Las Oleada’s is the sixth album release from the group Haywire, spotlighting original tunes from the singer/songwriter duo of Kathleen Beck and James Lydick. Both share lead vocal duties with Beck, adding cello, keyboards, bass, mandolin, and rhythm guitar and Lydick adding guitars, mandolin, bass...