Spring 2025 Music at Clay on Main
Date posted: 3/7/25
Clay on Main will host six sets of concerts on Friday evenings between April 4 and June 20.
Each event will include a half-hour performance in the "Front Room" followed by a two-hour performance in the "Half Moon Cafe."
This concert series is now nearly 20 years old, and just keeps getting better.
Save these dates:
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April 4:
7:15 - 7:45, Front Room: Tim Radway
Finger style acoustic guitar and vocals
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Tim has played music for more than 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 returned to music about two
years ago... when he dove 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.
You won't want to miss his debut performance as a returning performer.
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Golden Twine
Ken Gualtieri - guitar, vocals
Robin Budanow-Gualtieri - bass guitar, vocals
Bob Entler - mandolin, vocals
Charles Feenstra - viola, vocals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5641090719286497/about
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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...
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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.
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They were wonderful the last time they were here. We can't wait to hear them again!​​​​
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April 18:
7:15 - 7:45, Front Room: Bill Jester
vocals, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo...
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Bill Jester, returning to the Front Room, could bring any of four instruments, as he plays guitar mandolin, fiddle,
and banjo. However, the instrument he will certainly bring is his quick wit. Bill sings folk songs that tell stories
that will engage us, tunes that will have us tapping our toes. Bill promotes music playing through the Full Circle
Folk Music Society, and by performing at festivals such as the Berks Fiddle Fest.
Come prepared to have a wonderful time as Bill weaves his tales.
8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Echo North
John Reinkemeyer - vocals, guitar
Mark Ferrero - vocals, guitar
Deanna Witzel - vocals, keys
https://www.facebook.com/echonorthband/
Echo North is a Berks County band that performs covers and originals. At Clay on
Main, they’ve scaled down to a trio, though they often perform as a 5-piece band.
Performing together for about a decade. They’ve played the Acoustic Roadshow
in a variety of venues including BCTV, Shayler Brewing, 2nd Fridays on Penn Avenue,
New Bertie's Inn, Fire & Ice Fest, Southside Inn, private parties and house concerts,
and in the Front Room here at Clay on Main.
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Their last performance here included originals as well as unique covers of familiar
rock and Americana music. Now they are back, but for two hours instead of just
30 minutes. If you saw them before, you already know you want to be here. If you
haven't yet seen them, this is your chance to see them in a dedicated listening room.
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May 2:
7:15 - 10:00, Half Moon: benefit concert to help Paula's sister rebuild her home
We will post details about the artists soon. Contact Paula if you would like to perform or help put together this event.
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Paula's sister, Bev, widowed in May 2024, is 73, and was JUST discharged on February 27, 2025 from care following multiple surgeries performed June through September. Just six days later, her house caught fire, and was completely destroyed with all of its contents.
It was insured, but also mortgaged with little equity. The mortgage-holder will get all of the insurance money (when it's finally paid). There will be nothing left to put another dwelling on the land. She can finance some of the cost, but lives on a fixed income and needs help.
We're having a concert to raise money to rebuild her home and stay in a community of neighbors and friends who she loves and who love her.
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May 16:
7:15 - 7:45, Front Room: Blue Moon Duo
Sandy Pluta - vocals, guitar, resophonic guitar, mandolin
Paul Pluta - bass guitar, vocals
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In Blue Moon Duo, Sandy and Paul Pluta bring the rhythm and harmony of
country and blues music to original songs and interpretation of others’ tunes.
They tell tales of love (lost and found) and travels (real and imagined). This is
one of many ways hey've performed music together; they were both musicians
in bands which played at local and regional festivals, coffee houses, taverns and
community events: Blue Moon, the Barn Swallows, Folkie Dolkiies, Many Rivers.
For the past 14 years, Sandy's performed for hospital patients and their families
as part of Musicians On Call. For 10 years, Paul played bass with Mike Mettalia
and Midnight Shift in Lehigh and Delaware Valleys, as well as in New York City, Florida and points in between. We have the pleasure of hearing them tonight at Clay on Main.
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8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: A.K.A.
Mike Petrauskas - vocals, rhythm guitar
Cindy Roos - vocals
Domimic x - 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.
Allan, Mike Petrauskas, Cindy , and Dominique finish each others' musical sentences,
and interpret musical styles that include 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 this venue, 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. We're so grateful that he saw this space as a place wher local musicians could play for appreciative audiences.
We're all the beneficiaries.
Low keyed and relaxed, AKA’s sound is timeless Americana. We hope you come and share in a wonderful evening 40+ years in the making.
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June 6:
7:15 - 7:45, Front Room: Jason Nye
Solo Acoustic Guitar, vocals
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We will post Jason's details soon.
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8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Mike, Paula, and Rich
Mike Andrews - guitar, mandolin, & vocals, Paula Taylor - guitar, bass, & vocals, Rich Dodson - guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, & vocals. This trio returns to the Half Moon every Fall because they LOVES the place!
Mike and Paula are a husband-wife pair that's played music
together for over twenty years — for the last ten in a trio with
their friend Rich Dodson. They play Scottish, Welsh, and Irish
ballads, early American tunes, covers of Dylan, James
Taylor, John Cougar Mellencamp, Janis Ian, Hoagy Carmichael,
the Grateful Dead… even a rare original.
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Mike and Paula are the current "booking agents" for Clay on Main.
When Mike Petrauskas passed them the button, they kept the
once-a-month Monday evening open mics and the spring and
autumn Friday-night concerts in the Half Moon Cafe as similar to
their initial format as possible, but expanded upon it by adding a half-hour concert in the front room to the Friday evening musical events at Clay on Main. The 15-min sets at open mics, 30-min Front Room concerts, and 2-hour Half Moon Cafe concerts make Clay on Main even cooler than it already was as a clay arts studio and gallery. These musical events also provide a pathway for developing local musicians to grow from their first stage experience to full on concert performance. All of it helps build community.
Come join that community with Mike, Paula, and Rich. It's always a good time at the Half Moon when these three play. Come share the fun.
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June 20:
7:15 - 7:45, Front Room: Ken Gehret
Jazz guitar, vocals
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Ken Gehret has played at Clay on Main four times before, but this is his first time in the
Front Room. His other performances were in the Half Moon as a solo artist, twice in a duo
with Rich Dodson, and once in a duo with Dave Kline. This time, he returns again as
undiluted Kenny. For those of you who have seen this masterful multi-instrumentalist and
songwriter perform, he needs no introduction. For those unfortunates who have not seen
Kenny strut his stuff... get ready.
This evening, Ken will delight those who already love Jazz by doing things that are just not
possible on guitar. Even those who are not so sure they like Jazz will come away from this
evening pretty sure they do.
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8:00 - 10:00, Half Moon: Lucille Jazz
Lucille Jazz - vocals
Roger D Harris - guitar
Mike Fleming - saxophone
Henry Patterson - percussion
https://www.facebook.com/LusciousLucille/
Expanding on the Jazz theme for the night Lucille Jazz takes stage in the Half Moon.
Lucille has traveled across the US and Europe for 50 years, singing Jazz Standards
and performing in theater productions. Guitarist Roger spent 20 years touring across the US
and Canada playing jazz, pop, Broadway and country music. He's played in theatre pits,
bands, and solo gigs for over 30 years. Saxophonist Mike played in the Navy during the
Vietnam era. He's played in various jazz and rock bands (including Swing Fever Band and
Exeter Community Band) for over 50 years. Percussionist Henrybegan playing at age 12.
After a 45-year career as a college professor, he now drums for the Swing Fever Dance Band,
Exeter Community Band, and is in numerous ensembles and pit bands.
Each of these musicians is excellent alone, and even better in their gestalt combination.
We agree with a fan who says, “Lucille is a fabulous entertainer; her voice is beautifully
elegant.” Join us and find out for yourself!
