BRANDON — Richard Ruane and Beth Duquette are a Vermont-based acoustic duo performing original music with a clear traditional-roots influence that is steeped in a tradition of its own time. They are known for their strong, imaginative vocals and harmonies, often compared to classic sibling harmony duos. Some of their original songs harken back to traditional ballads and jazz tunes from the ’30s, but also remain firmly planted in life’s current challenges and joy. They will perform at Brandon Music on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Ruane sings and provides inventive instrumental backing on guitar, tenor guitar, mandolin and ukulele, while Duquette contributes inspired lead and harmony vocals.   Ruane and Duquette perform with a comfortable ease and audience rapport that comes from many years of collaboration and love of creating music together.
Their songwriting has won awards from the Songwriter’s Association of Washington’s Mid-Atlantic Song Contest and the SolarFest Songwriting Showcase and they have been finalists at Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Competition in Kerrville, Texas, the Great Waters Music Festival Songwriter Contest and the Plowshares Coffeehouse Singer-Songwriter Competition.
Their latest album “Notch Road” received the honor of a Tammie award for Best Folk Album of 2019 in The Vermont Times Argus / Rutland Herald as well as one of the Best Vermont Albums of 2018 in County Tracks. “Notch Road” was included as part of The FolkChef Kitchen’s podcast Best of 2018 in a list that includes Joan Baez and John Prine.
Ruane and Duquette have toured throughout New England and beyond, appeared in the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase, on Folkstage on WMFT, Chicago, Illinois, on Bound for Glory on WVBR, Ithaca, New York, Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs, New York and other venues throughout the Northeast.
Saturday’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $20. A pre-concert dinner is available for and extra $25.  Reservations are required for dinner and recommended for the show. Venue is BYOB. Call (802) 247-4295, email [email protected] or visit brandon-music.net for more info.