Fall 2026 Clay on Main Concerts
DATE POSTED: 8/30/26
Clay on Main, 313 Main Street in Oley, will host six sets of concerts on Friday evenings between September 25 and December 4.
Each event will include a half-hour performance in the "Front Room" followed by a two-hour performance in the "Half Moon Cafe.
THIS CHARMING CONCERT SERIES IS NOW 20 YEARS OLD, AND IS A TREASURE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
Sept 25:
7:15 - 7:45, Salvaterra Sisters
Evangeline Salvatera: fiddle | Serafina Salvatera: violin/mandolin/banjo
Don't let their youth mislead you. These young sisters are talented violinists (multi instrumentalists) that are going to knock your socks off. They are attracting regional attention in Folk, Bluegrass, Irish, Scottish, and Classical styles.
We can't wait for you to hear them at Clay on Main!
8:00 - 10:00, Golden Twine
Ken Gualtieri: guitar/vocals |Robin Budanow-Gualtieri: bass/vocals | Bob Entler: mandolin, vocals | Charles Feenstra - viola, vocals
This wonderful foursome mixes folk and acoustic roots music with jam grass to create a rich and varied musical experience constructed from both originals and familiar covers... Dylan, Garcia, Grisman, Clapton, Petty, the Band, Harford, Rice…
They've played many venues including Reading City Park's Earth Day, Hijinx Brewery, the Berks County Conservancy, the Emmaus Farmers' Market, the Saucon Valley Farmers' Market, the Oley Valley Fairgrounds, and twice before at Clay on Main's Half Moon Cafe.
They were wonderful the last time they were here. We are so excited to hear them again!
Oct 9:
7:15 - 7:45, Mike Holliday
Mike Holliday: vocals/acoustic guitar
Mike Holliday has been playing at the Half Moon Cafe pretty much since it began 20 years ago.
He writes and performs thoughtful, intricate songs. His rich voice, accompanied by tasteful guitar, weaves a whole world, telling stories of people he's met, places he's travelled, and things you'll be sure came right out of your own life story.
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Larry Ahern and Tim Radway
Larry Ahearn: vocals/guitar | Tim Radway: vocals/guitar
Larry Ahearn is an accomplished singer/songwriter and, through Trespass Music, an avid promoter of artists like Craig Bickhardt and Michael Braunfeld. Back in the 60’s and 70’s, Larry worked at the legendary Main Point in Bryn Mawr where he booked artists like Eric Anderson and Jerry Jeff Walker. At the Half Moon Cafe, Larry will delight us with some of his own wonderful music. https://www.facebook.com/larry.ahearn.9 https://larryahearn.com/home
Tim Radway has played music for over 60 years, mostly piano with a little guitar here and there. Then life happened, and he didn't play at all for about 10 years. Lucky for us, he recently returned to music, diving into guitar. Since then, he's developed a huge repertoire of songs accompanied by finger style acoustic guitar. He will bring us his interpretations of familiar tunes by Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, James Taylor, Tom Paxton, Peter Paul & Mary, Bob Dylan and other greats from the 60's folk scene.
Oct 23:
7:15 - 7:45, Steven Simpson
Steven Simpson: guitar/mandolin/banjo/vocals/storytelling
Steven wears many hats. He's a local UCC Pastor who’s played music for most of his life (sung in choral groups and barbershop quartets, played ukulele, upright bass, mandolin, guitar, and dobro). He's the banjo player for the Bluegrass band, Crow Hill, and the guitarist in the western swing duo with fiddle champion Serafina Salvaterra. He’s emcee for several Bluegrass Festivals and Shindigs. Steven writes original music and music history presentations including African-American Spirituals, Songs of our Nation, and the Beautiful Songs and Tragic Life of Stephen Foster.
He's planned songs especially for a late October night.
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Pigeon Creek
Dave Warner: guitar/vocals | Jack Scherneck: guitar/banjo/vocals | Glen O'Donnell: guitar/mandolin/bass/vocals | Brad Haberle: bass/vocals.
Four friends, many instruments, Pigeon Creek plays and sings Country, Blues, Bluegrass, Jazz, Old-Time, and anything else you might fancy.
Great musicians, funny, engaging. Pidgeon Creek will surely set your toes to tapping, deliver a tasty array of tunes and songs.
Come share the fun!
Nov 6
7:15 - 7:45, Blue Moon Duo
Sandy Pluta: vocals/guitar/resophonic guitar/mandolin | Paul Pluta: bass/guitar/vocals
Sandy and Paul Pluta bring the rhythm and harmony of Country and Blues to originals and covers. They tell tales of love (lost and found) and travels (real and imagined). They both performed in bands that played at local and regional festivals, coffee houses, taverns and community events (the Barn Swallows, Folkie Dolkiies, Many Rivers).
For over 14 years, Sandy performed for hospital patients and their families as part of Musicians On Call. For over a decade Paul's played bass with Mike Mettalia and Midnight Shift (southeast PA, New York City, Florida and points in between).
We are so glad they also play at Clay on Main.
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: A,K.A.
Mike Petrauskas: vocals/rhythm guitar | Cindy Roos: vocals | Dominic Tomme: bass guitar | Alan Landis: vocals/lead guitar
These friends began playing together in the early 1980’s as Ocotillo and, with changes in musicians, they performed under so many band names that they finally settled on A.K.A. They've been a band so long that they finish each others' musical sentences, interpreting traditional folk, country standards, alternative country, as well as songs from new singer-songwriters.
Their moving vocal duets and trios, combined with simple but interesting instrumentation, produce a vast variety of musical sounds that makes this band's shows interesting and fun. Mike Petrauskas, in the Half Moon Cafe, also wears the mantle of "Creator." The Half Moon is his brainchild, and the product of sweat equity from him and other musical Clay on Main members. Because he saw this space as a place where local musicians could play for appreciative audiences, Clay on Main has hosted a listening room for 20 years.
Low keyed and relaxed, AKA’s sound is timeless Americana.
Come celebrate the Half Moon's 20th Anniversary and share in a wonderful evening 40+ years in the making.
Nov 20
7:15 - 7:45, George and Curt
George Ferrio: vocals/mandolin | Curt Jack: vocals/guitar
George and Curt are both adult students at Meadowood. They both play in the jams that Meadowood hosts, but not the same ones. They both have performed in the Front Room at Clay on Main, but not together-- until now. It is so deeply satisfying to us to have musicians follow a pathway from the decision to get an instrument, to the choice to take formal instruction, to taking the step to play with others in a jam. It is awesome to see them share their music, playing with other musicians and for an audience. If you find even half as much joy in this performance as we do, you are going to have a great time!
8:00 - 10:00,
Russ Rentler
Russ Rentler: guitar/mandolin/banjo/dulcimer/vocals/storytelling
Russ Rentler: Singer, songwriter, & multi-instrumentalist, Russ returns to Clay on Main. He has been playing music since he got his first ukulele in 5th grade with S+H Green stamps. While students at Moravian College, Russ and John Gorka performed together in a band. Russ continued to perform during medical school, while a physician, and now that he's retired from medicine. He recorded on Gorka’s CD, Gypsy Life, and recorded six of his own. NPR’s CarTalk aired his song “New Car Smell.” He performs a wonderful mix of folk, Celtic and blues-inspired tunes, interspersed with off-beat humor and wry observations about life.
This concert will be a delight!
Dec 4
7:15 - 7:45, Jason Nye
Jason Nye: vocals/acoustic guitar
A Reading native, Jason was a drummer for over 25 years, but put the sticks down and picked up the guitar. He fell in love with acoustic guitar and started writing his own music. Jason plays his own songs which explore his life's lessons. He mixes in covers of songs from such artists as Bob Seger, Johnny Cash, Billy Corgan, Jerry Cantrell, Rhett Akins and Aaron Lewis. This concert will be a delight!
8:00 - 10:00, Mike, Paula & Rich
Mike Andrews: vocals/guitar/mandolin | Paula Taylor: vocals/guitar/bass | Rich Dodson: vocals/guitar/mandolin/fiddle/banjo
Husband and wife, Mike Andrews and Paula Taylor have been playing music together since they met at a jam session in Baltimore. The duo performs traditional and contemporary folk and Celtic music. Once again, their friend Rich Dodson will join them in a blending of vocal harmonies and instrumental accompaniment on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and bass.
On this 20th Anniversary of the Half Moon, Mike and Paula feel honored to have taken over from Mike Petrauskas as the booking agents and managers of the venue for Clay on Main. We are grateful to Dolores for making this space available for live music in the community, and to the performers and audience members who make it real
What a wonderful thing this place is!
8:00 - 10:00, Golden Twine
Ken Gualtieri: guitar/vocals |Robin Budanow-Gualtieri: bass/vocals | Bob Entler: mandolin, vocals, Charles Feenstra - viola, vocals
This wonderful foursome mixes folk and acoustic roots music with jam grass to create a rich and varied musical experience constructed from both originals and familiar covers... Dylan, Garcia, Grisman, Clapton, Petty, the Band, Harford, Rice…
They've played many venues including Reading City Park's Earth Day, Hijinx Brewery, the Berks County Conservancy, the Emmaus Farmers' Market, the Saucon Valley Farmers' Market, the Oley Valley Fairgrounds, and Clay on Main's Half Moon Cafe.
They were wonderful the last time they were here. We can't wait to hear them again!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1599618770741968
Oct 9:
7:15 - 7:45, x
x
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: x
x
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________