Juice 'n' Jesus

Country Gospel Brunch at the Burren

Sundays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Burren Pub, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. 617-776-6896. Admission free.

Sing ‘‘Hallelujah,’’ and pass the maple syrup. On Sunday, the Burren Pub in Davis Square launched a weekly Country Gospel Brunch. To the clink of forks scraping eggs and pancakes off plates, a harmonious house quintet sang American folk hymns, bluesy spirituals, and rousing gospel thumpers. A special feature act performs each week, too: Greg Glassman this Sunday, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines Oct. 23, and Mr. Airplane Man’s Margaret Garrett Oct. 30. The brunch is the brainchild of 28-year-old drummer Jason Beek, a mover ’n’ shaker in Boston’s thriving trad scene. He hosts WMBR-FM’s Saturday American Primitive show, as well as a Wednesday roots DJ night at River Gods, and performs in the band Whoa! Man! Jesus!

‘‘I called it a country gospel brunch,’’ he says, ‘‘because it’s stuff that has that kind of raw, rural sound to it — as much as us city folks can do.’’ The Burren, which presents live Irish music every night, offers a standard breakfast menu, including the traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes, and baked beans. The brunch crowd ranged from young singles to seniors, and several families with small children. The house band’s sound seemed to lift whenever Eilen Jewell sang. She has a voice like melting butter, thick and sweet, able to imply deep wells of emotion without vocal trickery. ‘‘The world is not my home,’’ she sang softly. ‘‘I am only passing through.’’

‘‘When I was a kid going to church, the music seemed stiff — it never really moved me,’’ he says. ‘‘The first time I heard real gospel music, I thought, ‘Boy, these songs make you want to believe it’s all true.’’’

Scott Alarik