"bringing Traditional music to life with guitar work that rings in the hall like the bells of Rhymney...great fiddle, singing and harmonies...a fascinating mix of Celtic and English Folk, with a great fondness for Pentangle and Bert Jansch." – David Stafford, KKUP
"these guys have mad chops" -- Phil Toole, host of The Unbound Sound Show FCCFreeRadio
"I heard Hardly Strictly Trad. for the first time live on KKUP a few weeks ago, and actually pulled over to the side of the road to listen. Particularly struck by the sound and clarity of the guitar work."-- staff member, U.C. Santa Cruz
"Fabulous...ethereal...wonderful ensemble. Wow, that sounds good to me. These guys are winners" -- David Stafford, KKUP
'Hardly Strictly Trad.' 2013-2016 was Jon Rubin's acoustic trio of fingerstyle guitar, violin/fiddle, and vocal harmonies applied to Traditional and sixties-vintage British and Celtic repertoire, infused with Americana blues/jazz; featuring an all-star roster of guest violinists and vocalists. Evolved into a guitar/violin instrumental duo, then the current solo fingerstyle guitar format of 'Hardly Strictly Jazz'.
Recent/Upcoming: (all dates Hardly Strictly Trad. trio Rubin/Hockett/guest-violinist unless noted)
2016
Tue. Jan. 19, *CANCELED* The Bistro, Hayward (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Stevie Gurr)
Sat. Jan. 30, 8:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Suellen Primost)
Fri. Feb. 19, 4pm KKUP live on-air with David Stafford (solo)
Sat. Feb. 20, 8:00pm at Red Rock Cafe, Mountain View (H.S. Jazz w/ Suellen Primost)
Thur. Feb. 25, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Lee White)
Sun. Feb. 28, 4:00pm at The Starry Plough, Berkeley (w/ Anne Goess and Suellen Primost)
Fri. Mar. 4, 6pm First Friday at Art Ark Gallery, San Jose
Thur. Mar. 24, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Lee White)
Sat. Apr. 9, 8:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Suellen Primost)
Sat. Apr. 16, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ Suellen Primost)
Sat. Apr. 30, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Ilya Portnov)
Sat. May 14, 10am-1pm Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda (HSJ w/ Nikki Bostwick)
Wed. May 18, 7:00pm at Le Bateau Ivre, Berkeley (HSJ w/ Suellen Primost)
Sun. May 29, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Ilya Portnov)
Fri. June 3, 6pm First Friday at Art Ark Gallery, San Jose (HSJ w/ Nikki Bostwick)
Sat. June 11, 10:00am Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda (HSJ w/ Nikki Bostwick)
Sat. July 2, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ Nikki Bostwick)
Sat. July 9, 10am-1pm Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda
Wed. July 20, 8:00pm at The Cigar Bar & Grill, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sat. July 23, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Lee White)
Sun. July 31, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Suellen Primost)
Sat. Aug. 6, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Ilya Portnov)
Sat. Aug. 13, 10am-1pm Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda
Sun. Aug. 21, 1-4pm at Domenico Winery, San Carlos (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Sat. Aug. 27, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sat. Sept. 3, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ Laurel Thomsen)
Sat. Sept. 10, 8:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Ilya Portnov)
Sat. Sept. 17, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Thur. Sept. 22, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Fri. Sept. 23, 4pm KKUP live on-air with David Stafford (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Sat. Sept. 24, 8:00pm at Red Rock Cafe, Mountain View (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Sat. Oct. 1, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Fri. Oct. 7, Bread & Roses private event, Millbrae (HSJ w/ Erica Hockett)
Sat. Oct. 8, 10am-1pm Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda
Wed. Nov. 2, 8:00pm at The Cigar Bar & Grill, S.F. (HSJ Trio w/ Cal Keaoola, Ilya Portnov)
Thus. Nov. 3, 7:30pm at Osteria Divino, Sausalito (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sat. Nov. 5, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sun. Nov. 13, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley *CANCELLED* due to illness
Sat. Nov. 26, 7:30pm at Monkey House, Berkeley (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone, Erica Hockett)
Sat. Dec. 3, 4:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Sat. Dec. 10, 10am-1pm Brunch at Black Pug Cafe, Alameda (solo guitar)
Sat. Dec. 17, 8:00pm at Octopus Literary Salon, Oakland (HSJ w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Thur. Dec. 22, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Thur. Dec. 29, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
2017
Thur. Jan. 26, Bread & Roses private event, East Palo Alto
Sat. Jan. 28, 8:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Tue. Jan. 31, 8:00pm at The Bistro, Hayward (Hardly Strictly Jazz)
Sun. Feb. 26, 9:00pm Live Webcast at FCCFree Radio, S.F. (HSJ w/ David Boyden)
Sun. Mar. 12, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Thur. Mar. 16, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. Mar. 17, 6:00pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Thur. Mar. 30, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sat. Apr. 8, Bread & Roses private event, S.F.
Thur. Apr. 20, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Fri. May 5, 6-9pm First Friday at Art Ark Gallery, San Jose
Sun. May 14, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Adrianna Ciccone)
Thur. May 18, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. May 20, noon-3pm at Zingari, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sun. May 21, 10:30am at Slap Face Coffee, Fremont (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. May 26, 9:00pm at Rite Spot Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. June 9, Bread & Roses Presents private event, Menlo Park (HSJ w/ Alan Oehler)
Thur. June 15, 6:00pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (HSJ w/ David Boyden)
Sat. June 24, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Fri. July 21, Bread & Roses Presents private event, San Carlos (HSJ w/ Alan Oehler)
Sun. July 30, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz)
Sat. Sept. 9, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Alan Oehler)
Tue. Sept. 12, 8:00pm at The Bistro, Hayward (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Alan Oehler)
Sat. Sept. 23, CANCELED Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (due to illness)
Thur. Oct. 19, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Tue. Nov. 7, Bread & Roses Presents private event, San Francisco
Sun. Nov. 12, 5:00pm at Caffe Trieste, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz)
Fri. Nov. 17, 5:30pm at Stockwell Cellars, Santa Cruz (HSJ w/ David Boyden)
Sat. Dec. 9, 2:30pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. Dec. 29, 7:30pm at Art Boutiki, San Jose. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. Dec. 30, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
2018
Thur. Feb. 15, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. March 24, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz)
Thur. April 26, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. May 4, 5:00pm at A Space Gallery, Menlo Park. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Tue. May 29, 1:00pm Live Recording at Expression College, Emeryville (HSJ w/ David Boyden)
Tue. June 26, Bread & Roses Presents private event, Burlingame
Sat. Aug. 4, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Wed. Aug. 15, 8:00pm at The Cigar Bar & Grill, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Thur. Aug. 30, 7:00pm at Redwood City Main Library, Redwood City ( w/ David Boyden)
Sat. Sept. 15, 6:30pm at Sliver, Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. Oct 26, Bread & Roses Presents private event, Burlingame (w/ David Boyden)
Fri. Nov. 2, 4pm KKUP live on-air with David Stafford's Friday Folk-Off (w/ David Boyden)
Fri. Nov. 2, 6-9pm First Friday at Art Ark Gallery, San Jose (w/ David Boyden)
Sat. Dec. 29, 3:00pm at Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
2019
Sat. Jan. 19, 8:00pm at Caffe Chiave , Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Lee Corbie-Wells)
Sat. Feb. 2, 6:00pm at R&B Cellars, Richmond (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. Feb. 23, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. March 23, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Fri. March 29, 6:00pm at R&B Cellars, Richmond (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. April 27, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Wed. May 8, Bread & Roses Presents private event, S.F. (w/ David Boyden)
Sat. May 25, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz)
Sat. June 22, 8:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ David Boyden)
Sat. July 20, 8:00pm at Caffe Chiave , Berkeley (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Lee Corbie-Wells)
Sat. July 27, 7:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)
Sat. Aug. 24, 7:00pm at Java Beach Cafe, S.F. (Hardly Strictly Jazz w/ Cal Keaoola)