A one-time gig is now an ongoing musical journey

Luke, a mental health therapist, and Kristin, a special education teacher, both moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2018…separately. They met through mutual friends, discovered they were both singer/songwriters, and became fast friends. Kristin invited Luke to play with her at a songwriting showcase as a one-time pairing. They performed under the name “Kristin & Luke” and had so much fun, they decided to keep playing music together.

They eventually joined forces with two other friends, Cory Briar and Israel Bloodgood, and became “The Vineyard Collective.” For one amazing year, the band played out as often as they could, building a 30-song repertoire of original songs written by all four members of the band.

But, 2020 hit and live music halted. During that year, the group formed a COVID bubble and continued writing and playing together. They released an EP, “The Mill Street Sessions” and then started playing out again in 2021. They released another EP, “The Onyx Street Sessions,” but soon after both Israel and Cory moved away, pursuing jobs and dreams in other places.

Luke and Kristin have continued writing songs and playing together. They eventually rebranded as “13th & Louis” and now play as a duo with bassist Jason Arthur and occasional appearances with violinist Christian Li.

Both talented musicians and singers, they enjoy trading instruments and letting each other take the lead. Their voices have a unique blend, so they play around with interesting melodies and harmonies. Having been friends for almost a decade, they have spent a lot of time together contemplating life’s curiosities and turning those conversations into songs. Their songs can be both playful and heart wrenching, embracing what it is to be fully human.

“13th & Louis consists of Kristin Bond…and Luke Lillard…both of whom are multi-instrumentalists…Luke Lillard's high notes were otherworldly, and Kristin Bond's piano playing was spirited. Their short set proved energetic.”

- Daniel Curran, author danieljcurranauthor.com