HERMISTON — R.B. and Kris Dorran are combining their passion for music festivals and car shows in June in Hermiston.
The CarTunes Music Festival rolls in June 12-13 at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center. The Dorrans announced the event Wednesday, April 1, at the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce.
“With this, Kris and I are pleased to be a part of bringing the newest and possibly the biggest festival ever to Hermiston,” R.B. Dorran said. “We are 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.”
Festival to feature variety of music genres
The music festival will feature national and local performers including the June 13 headliner, Great White, as well as the Texican rock band Los Lonely Boys, country singer Chayce Beckham, Herway to Hell, a female AC/DC tribute band, progressive metal band Two Wolf and the local horn band Brass Fire.
“We’re trying to reflect the eclecticism of this community,” Dorran said.
A local car club, the Eastern Oregon Cruisers, will handle the car show.
“With this mix of artists and activities we expect to appeal to just about everyone in our communities,” Dorran said. “There will be plenty of eye candy, ear candy and activities to enjoy.”
Dorran used Seattle Entertainment Group to help book the performers.
Eric Estrada to appear at car show
The car show is both days and features an appearance by former CHIPs star Eric Estrada, who will hand out the trophies. Anyone entering their car in the show will receive a free two-day general admission ticket to the concerts during the June 12 registration.
“It will basically cover your costs to enter the car show and then some,” Dorran said.
The festival will feature a variety of food, beverages and gift items, as well as a children zone.
Dorran said the concert arena will seat about 8,000 people.
“Interesting note, 8,000 people is about the total population of Hermiston when I grew up,” he said.
Ticket prices
General admission tickets are $55 for the Friday, June 12, show, $65 for the June 13 show and $110 for both days. Box seats, which seat eight people, will cost $900 and are only available as two-day tickets. Dorran said $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to local charities.
“The nightly performances are reasonably priced,” Dorran said. “We all know prices and inflation have caused sticker shock at similar events as well as sporting events around the country and we are conscious of that.”
Dorran said it cost him $25 for a general admission ticket to events such as the Oregon Jam and Cal Jam in the 1970s and 1980s.
“I looked up what $25 in 1980 is worth today and I found that it equals to approximately $98 now,” Dorran said. “I’m proud to say we’ve been able to beat the relative affordability in our ticket prices.”
The arena floor in front of the stage will be standing room only. No lawn or camp chairs will be allowed into the arena.
There will be limited recreational vehicle camping available at EOTEC. Tent and car camping are not allowed. For more information on RV camping, email adavis@hermiston.gov.
Sponsorships are available, and Dorran said he is working on securing as many as possible.
“The more sponsors, the better,” he said.
A first for EOTEC
Al Davis, general manager of EOTEC, was at the announcement. He said this will be the center’s first two-day music festival. He is optimistic the event will attract a large audience.
“We hope to draw from 150 miles out,” he said.
Dorran said he and Kris have put many miles on their vehicles traveling to music festivals over the years.
“We go to quite a few music festivals,” he said. “We go to as many as we can.”
He also collects Corvairs.
“I’ve collected Corvairs for years now,” he said. “We go to car shows all over.”
More information is available at the festival website.