
About The Half Moon Café
The Half Moon Café is located in Clay on Main’s building at 313 Main Street, Oley, PA.
It’s an intimate listening room that’s the perfect place to unwind, meet friends, reconnect, and relax. On performance days, doors open at 7;00 pm to give audiences access to an opening act from 7:15-7:45 in the Front Room while Half Moon artists do their sound check for the 8:00-10:00 concert. Front Room musicians receive compensation through a tip jar (please give generously!). A $15 donation at the door to the Half Moon compensates the Half Moon artists and helps to fund Clay on Main. Between the Front Room and Half Moon concerts, and during an intermission in the Half Moon concert, audience members can enjoy complimentary refreshments while browsing the gallery space in Clay on Main and the gift shop, which features local artists.
Justin Loose and Barron Batchelder Emcee and Sound Technician
Justin 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 Justin and Baron for everything they do.
FAQ
As a courtesy to its residential neighbors, Clay on Main asks that audience members park in the church lot a few doors down from the venue instead of on Main Street.
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. Continue to the back of the building to the “Half Moon Cafe” for the final concert of the night.
$15 as a donation for the Half Moon Cafe concert. Please also bring a few dollars to put in the tip jar for the Dining Room Act. Clay on Main also accepts cash donations for refreshments which are always free.
Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.
Our Partner: Meadowwood Music
For over thirty years, Mike and Paula—a husband-and-wife musical duo—have shared their love of music with audiences. For the past decade, they’ve performed as a trio with their longtime friend Rich Dodson. Now they bring that same passion and experience to their role as music coordinators at Clay on Main.
Inheriting the role from Mike Petrauskas, founder of the Half Moon Cafe listening room, Mike and Paula lovingly preserved the spirit of the venue. They’ve kept its signature two-hour, Friday-night concert series while adding a fresh twist: a 30-minute opening act in the cozy Front Room. The concert season spans six concert pairs each spring and each fall, offering a vibrant array of performances throughout the year.
But that’s not all—community music-making is at the heart of Clay on Main’s music program. Each month during the spring and fall, an Open Mic Night is held on the first Monday in the Half Moon Cafe, hosted by Justin Loose, who has also kicked off a new monthly jam session in the Front Room (exact Monday TBD), adding even more opportunities for musicians to connect and collaborate.


Meanwhile, on every third Wednesday, the Front Room is home to another monthly jam that Meadowood sponsors and leads—a youth jam for players between the ages of 8 and 14 that gives the next generation of musicians a space to grow and shine.
Mike and Paula are also the proud owners of Meadowood Music, a warm and welcoming stringed instrument shop in Blandon, where folks can buy and learn to play instruments. Their collaboration with Clay on Main and the Reading Musical Foundation creates a unique musical pathway for aspiring artists:
Purchase an instrument at Meadowood
Take lessons to hone your skills
Join jam sessions at Meadowood or Clay on Main
And through it all, Mike, Paula, and Riley, the Clay on Main Music Dog, will be there—cheering you on from the front row.
This isn't just about making music. It's about building community, fostering creativity, and supporting each other in a shared love of the arts. Whether you’re picking up your first instrument or playing your hundredth show, there’s a place for you at Clay on Main and Meadowood Music.
Come share the music. Come share the fun.