Ruby Ibarra kicked off our Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour last week with a bang. She got the crowds going in Petaluma and Portland, impressing her loyal followers and winning over new fans with her powerful lyrics and high-energy performances.
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In Petaluma, Gillian Grogan kicked things off with a stunning performance under the Redwoods. (The stage at Lagunitas didn’t look that different from the backdrop of Gillian’s entry). It was especially exciting to hear “Ants In The Garden,” which was beloved by Contest judge Alynda Segarra.
The night was basically a hometown show for Ruby, and the adoring audience welcomed her into its midst during the performance.
And we were thrilled to have THAO, a Bay Area native who has played both a Tiny Desk concert and a Tiny Desk (home) concert, as the surprise headliner. She played a handful of new songs, and June Millington of Fanny, who’s on tour in Ruby’s band, even joined her on stage to shred on guitar for a while.
The 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is presented by Capital One and supported by the Lagunitas Brewing Company.
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Monday night was our first time hosting a tour stop in Oregon, and the Portland community really showed up for an eclectic night of music.
Local entrant J. Graves performed what she calls her “high-voltage dance punk project.”
Ruby’s set got so loud that the venue was, quite literally, shaking. And Brie Darling, the original drummer in Fanny, made a guest appearance, joining for “Bakunawa” and a special rendition of “Girls On The Road.”
Five-time Grammy winner and Portland native esperanza spalding was our surprise headliner. NPR Music has featured her extensively over the years (see her Tiny Desk concerts from 2011, 2022 and 2024), and on Monday night, the jazz genius captivated our 700-person crowd with her solo set.
We’ve loved meeting you on the road, and can’t wait to see more of you next week when we head to Chicago, Nashville, Austin and Denver. And for those of you in Washington, D.C., there are still a few tickets available for our tour finale on July 19.
From the Desk,
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