Grand Reopening of Half Moon Cafe at Clay on Main
October 14th, 2022 @ 8PM
Featuring AKA: Mike Petruskus, Allen Landis, Dominique Tomme, & Cindy Roos

Clay on Main is very excited to announce the return of the Half Moon Music venue. We have really missed music over the past two years and now we are BACK! The Half Moon is located at 313 Main Street, Oley Pa., part of Clay on Main Studios.

Our intimate listening room is a perfect place to unwind, meet friends, reconnect and relax. AKA will be the first performance for our reopening . Mike Petruaskus was the brains behind the Half Moon concept to support local and live music, so who better to start us off but Mike and AKA. Established back in the early 1980’s, Allan Landis, Mike Petrauskas, Cindy Roos, and Dominique Tomme interpret a variety of music styles including traditional folk, country standards, alternative country, as well as songs from new singer-songwriters. Known as AKA, they continue the tradition with moving vocal duets and a vast variety of musical sounds that makes this band fun to see. Low keyed and relaxed, AKA’s sound is timeless Americana.

During intermission you can browse the gallery space in Clay on Main and our newly reopened gift shop featuring local artists. Also enjoy some complimentary refreshments. Please park in the church lot to save street parking for our neighbors. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Admission is $15.00 donation.

Reminiscent of a 60’s style coffee house, the venue is a community endeavor to create a local music scene for the enjoyment of both musicians and those who like music.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Admission is $15 donation.
Please park in the church parking lot. **

Past Shows

Spring 2020 Half Moon and Dining Room:

April 24th- Mike & Linda Hertzog

Husband/wife duo who performs Country, Gospel, & Bluegrass. They combine guitar, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, & upright bass with vocal harmonies to cocoon us in a marvelous fold of traditional Americana music. Learn more about Mike & Linda!

Dining Room (Pre-show): Tom & Betty Druckenmiller – Tom & Betty, a husband and wife duo, play mostly (but not strictly) old-time music — music that people played together before the time of recorded music & radio. They combine vocals, fiddle, guitar, & banjo to transport us to a time when life had a slower pace. Come enjoy the lovely music they once again bring to Clay on Main. Learn more about Tom & Betty!

May 1st- 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. Learn more about Russ!

Dining Room (Pre-show): Gene Cullison- Gene Cullison is a guitarist & singer who’s performed virtually every style of music a person can play on guitar. He is now the lead guitarist for the TimeWhy?s, and performs solo (as he will again perform at Clay on Main) with vocals and guitar. Gene will once again delight us with the tasty stuff he brings. Learn more about Gene!

May 15th – Ken Gehret

Ken Gehret has played at Clay on Main twice before, once with Rich Dodson, once with Dave Kline. This time, he returns as full-strength, 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 and heard Kenny strut his stuff… get ready. Clay on Main hosts a lot of Country, Alt-Country, Singer/Songwriter, and cover artists (and Ken can and does play all of that stuff), but not so much Jazz or Classical (both which Ken plays masterfully). This evening, Ken will delight those who already love Jazz with 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. Learn more about Ken!

Dining Room (Pre-show): Berks Works – Berks Works is a newly formed jazz trio made up of three talented high school musicians. Cormick Costello (bass), Jeffrey Dalton (drums), and Isaiah Nygard (piano) have been playing in various jazz combos in Berks County and the Lehigh Valley before forming Berks Works. Members of the trio have been part of District 10 Jazz Band, the University of the Arts High School All Star Big Band, and the Pennsylvania All-State Jazz Band. They’ve shared the stage with jazz greats Randy Brecker, Eric Marianthal, and Albert Riveira, to name a few. This group, serving up some tasty tune-age, is the perfect appetizer — you will certainly want more.

TBA- A.K.A.

A.K.A. returns to the Half Moon Cafe for another wonderful evening. A.K.A. interprets a variety of musical from traditional folk, country standards, alternative country, as well as songs from new singer-songwriters. Band Members (from left to right) Dominique Tomme, Sandy Pluto, Mike Petrauskas, Cindy Roos, and Allan Landis pair moving vocals with a vast variety of musical sounds. Low keyed and relaxed, A.K.A.’s sound is timeless Americana. Join us for an evening of fun and great music!.

- Dining Room (Pre-show): Brenna Grealish Brenna performed at a Clay on Main crafters event in 2019, and caught the attention of Mike Petrauskas (founder of the Half Moon Cafe, and lead singer for A.K.A. When we booked A.K.A. for the first concert of this season, it made perfect sense to pair Brenna with them. We look forward to hearing her fresh new stuff in the Front Room right before A.K.A. in the Half Moon. Want to sample her stuff?
  
  Learn more about Brenna!

October 16th (RESCHEDULED)- Maggie Spike

Maggie Spike is a husband and wife singer-songwriter duo who perform a “mixed bag” of folk originals. Maggie & Eric Gernerd’s song writing styles combine folk/rock, jazz, acoustic pop, Celtic, psychedelic, reggae, Americana, and world rhythms. Their music combines melody, rhythm, harmony with insightful lyrics to create a sound that is easily accessible and highly entertaining. Returning to Clay on Main almost every season. Maggie Spike will give you great evening out! ! Learn more about Maggie Spike!

Dining Room (Pre-show):

The Root Blossoms – Eric and Naomi Zimmerman are the Root Blossoms — a husband and wife duo that is passionate about music and sharing it. They play traditional Celtic music on cello, fiddle, and guitar. Maggie Spike reminded us of Root Blossoms by mentioning that they recorded on tracks on Maggie Spike’s most recent CD. In this first Clay on Main appearance, Root Blossoms are welcome fresh faces who you won’t want to miss. Learn more about the Root Blossoms

**Please be considerate of Clay on Main’s residential neighbors (who park in front of their homes on Main Street) — park in the parking lot for Friedens UCC at 337 Main Street, a few doors from Clay on Main. Enter Clay on Main through the front door into what used to be the living room of the building – now an art gallery. Turn left into what used to be the dining room of the home to enjoy the Dining Room act. Head to the back of the building through the kitchen (still a kitchen), and pick up snacks — chips, dip, pastries, cheese, fruit, coffee, tea, and ice water are provided (BYOB). Continue to the back of the building to the “Half Moon Cafe” for the final concert of the night.

Please bring a few dollars to put in the tip jar for the Dining Room Act and $10 as a donation for the Half Moon Cafe concert. Please bring friends and family. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

All Half Moon Concerts – Vinny Rose – Emcee and Sound Technician

Vinny introduces Half Moon Concert performers, sets up and runs the PA system, and announces upcoming Clay on Main events. When you visit the Half Moon, please take time to thank Vinny for everything he does.