Dusty 45s w/ Kathryn Claire & Margot Merah

All Ruins Tuesdays & Thursday shows are a $3 cover if you arrive before 7pm, and $8 cover if you arrive after that. Doors open at 5:30pm. No early entry! We aren’t ready for you until 5:30pm….The shows are all-ages until 7pm and then 21+ after.
Food Vendor: Thai House.

The Dusty 45s have inspired and fired up crowds for over two decades to the delight of fans and critics alike. With their signature style and unique sound, the band is a consistently powerful and energetic player in the Americana field.

The band was founded in 1997 by charismatic singer/songwriter, guitarist and trumpeter, Billy Joe Huels. Huels’ songs draw inspiration from the roots of rock, rhythm and blues, honky-tonk and jazz. The band also consists of Kohen Burrill (drums), Robin Cady (upright bass) and Rod Cook (Lead Guitar).

The Dusty 45s have toured extensively. They backed Rock and Roll Hall of famer, Wanda Jackson many times, including when they joined her for Adele’s “21” tour in 2011. The band has shared the stage with Brandi Carlile, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, The Ventures, Lucinda Williams, Leann Rhymes and Dick Dale, to name a few. In 2007, Huels received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Buddy Holly at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre. In 2019, he interviewed PBS “Country Music” documentarian, Ken Burns, at Meany Hall in front of a sold-out audience.

Music can bring people together in unexpected ways. That’s certainly the case for Kathryn Claire and Margot Merah. Growing up on opposite sides of the world, you can expect them to never have met. And yet they did, in the fall of 2013, in a small Irish pub in Amsterdam. The musical connection was instant. Their love of songwriting, traditional music, folk and harmony singing not only brought them together: it took them all over the world.

After 2 and a half years apart, the two reunited in the summer of 2022 in the Pacific Northwest for a tour featuring original and traditional songs and instrumentals along with their favorite covers. They began writing together on the road and when they toured again in Europe in March 2023, they decided the time had come to create an album of music together. They released their duo album last summer and toured it through Oregon,Washington and all the way out to Montana! In their live shows and on their recent album, Come Close, Come In, these two multi-instrumentalists feature guitar, fiddle, ukulele, bodhran, harmonica and breathtaking vocal harmonies.

Kathryn Claire is based in Portland, OR. She plays violin, guitar and ukulele, has a crystal clear voice and writes songs that are honest, poetic and profound. She weaves together stories and melodies rooted in her classical and traditional musical background. Each song is imbued with an energy and electricity that you can feel, and she has the ability to move seamlessly between genres.

Margot Merah is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She is a real ‘storyteller’, exactly what the folk tradition is all about. Margot’s music is comforting, hopeful and melancholic. Her songs tell about life, simple and small, with an eye for detail and the bigger picture. She regularly performs as a solo artist, but prefers to collaborate with other musicians in various projects. Her musicality and sense of harmony and rhythm are perfect for this.

Things to note:

1. This year there will be no re-entry once you have paid and entered the show. We will be creating a smoking-area that will be accessible without having to leave the property.
2. There is limited seating available, so if having a seat/table is important to you, we suggest arriving when the doors open at 5:30pm.
3. There will be no longer be a Locals Thursday series. We’re changing Thursdays to just mirror what we do on Tuesdays, with touring, regional, and national bands. We will still have plenty of local talent gracing our stage this year in support roles.
4. We still don’t allow dogs! Dogs are great, but it would be dog madness if we let them attend shows. We’d also really prefer if you didn’t leave them unattended in your vehicle.
5. Outside alcohol is NOT ALLOWED! Violators will be 86’d and publicly shamed.
6. The parking lot does NOT belong to The Ruins. Yes, the actual owners of the parking lot expect you to pay to park. It’s usually about $4. It’s not our deal. We highly encourage people to walk, ride their bikes, or carpool. This year we will have a massively larger bike rack available as well.
7. Tail-gating is not allowed in the Mt Hood Railroad parking lot. They are implementing a “no open containers” policy for their entire lot. Please respect their wishes and help us to maintain a positive relationship with our community and neighbors.
8. We do rent out the Grotto Bar and/or the Indoor Bar during concerts, for birthdays, business receptions, etc. Email info@theruins.org for more information.
9. Ruins Tuesdays are May through August. Ruins Thursdays are June through August. For other non-Tues/Thurs concerts, please see our website at www.theruins.org/music-calendar
10. Each Tues/Thurs show all summer we’ve invited a “Featured Non-Profit” to be at the event, to fundraise and provide info.
11. We will be bringing back the Makers’ Market this year as well. It will be every Tuesday starting on 6/4.

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