The Jalopy Theatre: Bringing Musical Circles Together on Stage

Tucked into the edge of Carroll Gardens, where Brooklyn meets the Battery Tunnel, The Fabulous Jalopy Theatre (or just "the Jalopy") is a little muscle of folk culture.

Standing behind the bar in cowboy boots and a knitted shawl, Lynette Wiley has a strong handshake and a gentle smile. Lynette and her husband, Geoff Wiley, opened the venue four years ago when they came to New York with a vision to build a music performance and learning space.

"They were looking for places all over the world," says Dorina Favela, long-time-friend and employee at the Jalopy. "They wanted something off the beaten path, where music lovers would come no matter what."  

The Jalopy is the perfect setting for a wide contingent of musicians who play the blues, folk, bluegrass, international and old-timey music. Much like an intricately finger-picked country tune, the Jalopy features the raw power of roots music with the elegance of a hand-built stage.

Geoff Wiley is both a musician and a craftsman. He built everything from the decorative finish on the bar, to the instrument retail case, to the wooden sink in the bathroom. 

"Everything but the toilet," said Dorina.

Customers drink beer or wine from mason jars and nestle into the dark wood pews. The selection of antique and used string instruments compliment the stained wood motif and make the theatre feel like a museum.

But it's really about the music, and last night, the Jalopy hosted ""

Gary Keenan, lead singer and the progenitor of Brooklyn Country Christmas, tapped the toe of his cowboy boot. Dressed in a suit jacket and felt hat with a candy case tucked above the rim, his smoky voice invokes the feeling of listening to Christmas standards on the radio.

"I bought my first mandolin at a flea market for thirty bucks and recorded myself playing Christmas songs as a gift for my family," Gary said. "Christmas songs sound so nice played as bluegrass. That's what gave me the idea to start hosting Brooklyn Country Christmas."

American String Conspiracy performed a number of Christmas traditionals and non-traditionals. Particularly entertaining was a bluegrass version of "What Child is This" with a graceful fiddle followed by "Run Run Rudolph" featuring a wailing harmonica.

In past years, Gary held the event at venue's like the late, great . This year, J.D. Duarte, who runs brooklyncountry.com and performs with The Newton Gang, wanted to do a Christmas show at Jalopy. Knowing that bluegrass is always best with a crowd of musicians swapping songs and instruments, J.D. asked Gary if he wanted to team up for a night of holiday music.

The Wiley's thought, "Why not?"

The couple's home-spun mentality translates in their venue. Even though the employees aren't blood relatives, Jalopy is run like a family affair. 

When the Jalopy school for music got too popular, Lynette and Geoff converted their living room above the venue into a learning space.

Geoff and other musicians from the community offer classes in guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and ukulele and all students are able to rent instruments from the store for $25 a month. The performance area on the main floor can be reorganized to comfortably accommodate Jalopy's seven-person class size.

For the Wiley's, making space for people is exactly what the Jalopy is all about.

"We've always envisioned having a community where people could pursue their art," Lynette said with bright eyes and a beaming smile.