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 tradition, but 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 joys.  The duo will perform a free concert on Friday, Jan. 17, from 3:30-4:30 p.m., at EastView Middlebury; followed by an evening performance with special guest Mitch Barron on bass at Brandon Music on Saturday, Jan. 18.
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.
They have toured throughout New England and beyond, appeared in the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Showcase, on Folkstage on WMFT, Chicago, Ill., on Bound for Glory on WVBR, Ithaca, N.Y., Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and many other venues throughout the northeast. The duo’s latest album is “Notch Road.”
Saturday’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $20. A pre-concert dinner is available for an 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 and reservations.