HERMISTON, Ore.-The inaugural CarTunes Music Festival is set for June 12-13 at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC) in Hermiston.
R.B. and Kris Dorran, the founders of the event, announced the two-day festival featuring a car show and full concert lineup in a press conference at the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce on April 1.
The Dorrans enjoy traveling around the country and Canada, attending music festivals and car shows, and decided to bring that experience to Hermiston with the CarTunes Music Festival.
“This last summer we were discussing how we could give back to the community,” said R.B., who grew up in Hermiston. “We decided to try to combine our two passions into one big festival to be held in Hermiston.”
The car show on the festival grounds at EOTEC will run both days of the event, and is being coordinated by Eastern Oregon Cruisers, according to Dorran, who also collects Chevrolet Corvairs.
Owners who register their cars for the show on June 12 will receive a free two-day general admission ticket to the concerts, and Erik Estrada, star of the TV show “Chips” will be in attendance on June 13th to present trophies to the winners.
Entry to the festival grounds for the car show, a 6-7 Kids Zone, and a mix of food, beverage and gift vendors is free, however, parking will cost $10.
The CarTunes Music Festival will feature both regional and national bands, including the horn band Brass Fire, the all-female AC/DC tribute band Herway to Hell, and Country performer Chayce Beckham on June 12. The progressive metal band Two Wolf, Los Lonely Boys, and Great White will perform on June 13.
“With this mix of artists and activities we expect to appeal to just about everyone in our communities,” said Dorran. “There will be plenty of eye candy, ear candy and activities to enjoy.”
The concert arena will seat about 8,000 people, with general admission bleacher seating, box seat tickets that reserve eight seats for a group, and standing room only on the floor of the arena.
General admission tickets for the concerts will be $55 on June 12 and $65 on June 13. Two-day tickets are also available for $110. Box seats for eight attendees at the concerts are $900 for both days.
A dollar of every ticket sale will also be donated to local charities, according to Dorran.
“Hermiston deserves this,” said Al Davis, EOTEC General Manager. “There’s always something happening at EOTEC, and CarTunes shows our versatility. We’re not only the fair and Farm City Pro Rodeo. We’re excited for this great opportunity to be part of what will hopefully be a long-term event.”
Limited recreational vehicle camping will be available at EOTEC during CarTunes and those interested in campsites should contact Al Davis at adavis@hermiston.gov.
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities at CarTunes are currently available at various levels, including for the 6-7 Kids Zone.
The official CarTunes Music Festival website, https://cartunesfest.org is currently a splash page with a link to ticket information, but sponsorship information and all other details will be available online when the website is fully functional in about a week, according to Dorran.
“We’re hoping this will continue year after year and be an anchor event for the area, much like our beloved Umatilla County Fair and Farm City Pro Rodeo,” said Dorran.
