Date: Saturday Nov. 21st — 8:30 p.m.
Location: Sam Bonds
Price: $6 (FREE w/VIP Pass)
Ages: 21+

"Home grown folk-sass: Melissa Ruth is a classically trained musician with back-porch sensibility. At once literary and soulful, silly and heartbreaking, Ruth and sideman Johnny Leal create music that is both down-home intimate and downtown immediate." -Both Ears Records

Growing up in rural British Columbia, Melissa Ruth was raised on a balanced diet of borsht and Bob Dylan and was exposed to art and culture from an early age. As a child and teenager she studied classical flute and gigged locally. By age 15, she added guitar to her musical practice and began writing her own songs.

In 2005 Melissa graduated with a degree in music from Humboldt State University and was nominated for Outstanding Student of the Year in Fine Arts that spring. While studying classical music by day, by night Melissa was active in the folk scene of Humboldt County. She played through-out the area before relocating to Eugene, Oregon to teach and to pursue her budding career in music.

Having lived through out the Western United States and Western Canada, Ms. Ruth speckles her music with home-town observations. Her music is known for its intimacy; it’s willingness to take you to those home-towns with her. Her musical versatility and lyric-driven melodies define Ruth’s songwriting. As a performer, her live shows have been described as honest and poignant. Music critic Nancy Dunham of Indie-Music writes:

"Melissa Ruth’s latest album Underwater & Other Places, shows that this classically trained musician has the skills and creativity to join the ranks of superb folk artists...."

In July of 2008, Ms. Ruth released her debut album Underwater and Other Places and is often accompanied by her husband, multi-instrumentalist Johnny Leal who was a founding-member of the long-standing California blues band Big Earl and the Cryin' Shame. Together Ruth and Leal cover a breadth of musical ground from roots gospel originals to Springsteen covers, all the while maintaining their signature home-grown sound. 2009 finds Melissa and Johnny in the process of recording their second studio album and playing venues up and down the West Coast.

Ruth is currently the music director in her local school district. Melissa, when not teaching or touring, delights in working her garden and playing with her cute dog Bruno.

Website: www.melissaruthmusic.com www.myspace.com/melissaruthmusic

Music
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Melissa Ruth on YouTube

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1626 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401

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