The Eastport Oyster Boys bring their good-time maritime music to the Mainstay in Rock Hall, MD on Saturday October 11 at 8:00 p.m. This is the second of the Mainstay’s three FallFest concerts. Admission is $20.
As the musical goodwill ambassadors for the City of Annapolis, the Maritime Republic of Eastport and the Chesapeake, The Eastport Oyster Boys play a delightful mix of original folk tunes, island rhythms, salsa, boogie, dixie-swing, waltzes, chanteys and some good ol’ rock-and-roll – original songs all based on deadrise workboats, oysters, good dogs, blue crabs, and other themes unique to the Chesapeake. They may invite you to “Rock Around the Docks” or go “Downy Ocean Hon.”
For nearly 20 years, The Oyster Boys have shared the celebration of boating and life on the Chesapeake Bay with thousands both at home and abroad. They have educated, amused and delighted audiences with their wit, wisdom and their message of stewardship and appreciation for the Bay and Maryland maritime culture.
Though they call the Maritime Republic of Eastport home, their songs and stories ring true to any of the Bay’s harbor towns or quiet coves and have been enjoyed as far away as the rugged shores of Nova Scotia, Ireland and even Estonia!
The band includes some of Eastport’s finest musicians (and boat bums): Kevin Brooks on guitar banjo and bass, the Tom Guay on hammer dulcimer, fiddle and electric guitar, Andy Fegley on trombone, Pete Miller on electric and upright bass, and keyboardist Mike Lange.
Anyone who lives or works near the water or just enjoys the perfect gunkhole while cruising, will find they have a lot in common with the Boys, whose simple philosophy is wrapped up in the three basic necessities of life: “a good hat, a good dog and a good boat”.
As the Washington Post said about them “If you’ve lost sight of why you live here, it’s time you heard The Eastport Oyster Boys. With tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, they write and sing songs about laid-back life on the Bay. They mix droll wit and a veritable cornucopia of musical styles – from Cuban jazz to Dixie swing to rockabilly to waltzes to calypso to country weepers to tangos….and they do it all with a joie de vivre that fuels good times like high octane gasoline.”
Rock Hall FallFest, a celebration of family, community, music and the oyster is an annual all-day street fair with craftspeople, children’s activities, food vendors and music on multiple stages on Saturday October 11 from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Saturday daytime events are free. The Festival also features 3 concerts at the Mainstay: Chester River Runoff on Friday October 10 at 8:00 p.m., The Eastport Oyster Boys on Saturday October 11 at 8:00 p.m. and Celebrating the Banjo with Diane Jones, Sam Guthridge and Bill Quern on Sunday October 12 at 2:00 p.m.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
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