Laura Veirs 'embraced' into Oregon Music Hall of Fame

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- For Laura Veirs, being inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame made her feel embraced.

"Feels wonderful. It does. So great. After 30 years of writing songs, to be honored in the public sphere for the work that I've done," Veirs told KOIN 6 News during the induction ceremony Saturday night at The Aladdin Theater. "Feels like being embraced by my hometown in a way that's really special. My parents came down from San Juan Island, and my kids are here, and my fiance and his kids. So it is a real community feeling."

Veirs was part of a stellar class of musicians honored with induction Saturday. The others: Blitzen Trapper, The Obituaries, Robbie Laws, Gary Fountaine, Jenny Conlee, Tony Lash, John Nilsen, Steve Reischman, and Bob Dietsche.

Portugal. The Man was named Artist of the Year, while Album of the Year went to Eyelids for their "Colossal Waste of Light."

Darcelle XV and The Exploding Hearts were also given special honors at the ceremony.

During the event, a live auction featured autographed guitars from Peter Frampton, Everclear and Paul Stanley of KISS, plus Nirvana's Krist Novoselic's bass. Proceeds from the auction go to Music in the Schools and Scholarship program.

Veirs, who moved to Portland and cultivated a "unique blend of folk, country and pop influences," savored the honor of the night and passed along a piece of advice to budding musicians:

"Say yes. Do the random gig that people invite you to do," she said. "You never know who's going to be there or what opportunity is there."