Our mission is to invigorate the cultural experience of Eastern Shore life by presenting outstanding musical programming and to provide a setting for creativity, inquiry and conversation.
The Mainstay has canceled all activities in our space through mid-May and we will re-evaluate the rest of our spring and summer season at that time. We encourage all of our partners, artists, patrons, and friends to continue practicing social distancing and frequent handwashing. It seems strange, but the best way for us to stick together is to stay apart.
Dear Friends,
Warm greetings to all. We hope that you are faring well during this unusual season of physical distancing and hand washing. The Mainstay is strangely quiet and empty.
Our canceled Celtic Celebration would have brought Irish music and dancing into our space. The concert honoring long-time Mainstay donor Neal Tilghman would have been a prime example of what Charlie Byrd called “the good stuff”. Our first canceled concert was one of our incredible lineup of 6 bluegrass shows during 2020 and featured local stars, the High and Wides.
Even as The Mainstay stands dark, we are working to ensure a quick and easy restart of the Musical Magic when the all clear sounds. To help pick right back up where we left off, we ask those who are able, make a tax deductible donation to our organization. The intrepid Becky Byrd has issued a challenge that all of you might collectively match her $1,500 donation made this week. Thank you for considering this.
The Mainstay family is delighted to spread the joyful news that our Programming Manager John Thomas and his wife Meredith welcomed baby James Bruce Thomas into this world last weekend. Congratulations John, Meredith and sister Hannah!
And another note of joy- Over 1,700 people have watched Joe Holt’s Monday evening DIY Cocktail Hour on our Facebook feed! Read all the way to the bottom to see what’s next for Joe.
The Mainstay is curating a playlist of music performances to watch online that reflect the kind of artistry and joy that performances here bring to our audiences. Some will be video of our own shows, and some of artists that have performed here, and some that we just think are awesome. These shows will be linked on our Facebook page and in our email blasts. If you aren’t already following us on Facebook, you can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/mainstayrockhall/.
Did you know that you can watch our Facebook page even if you are not a Facebook member? Just click “no thanks” when prompted to join.
This week’s selections:
From Becky Byrd: Gene Bertoncini, Steve Herberman and Steve Abshire play Laura live at the Mainstay in March 2020
From Clark Bjorke: A Case of You by Joni Mitchell
From Joe Holt: Mainstay Monday with Nina Sharp and Shannon Whitaker singing Alone by Heart
From John Thomas: Today Has Been a Lonesome Day by the High and Wides
Previous selections:
From Becky Byrd: Charlie Byrd, Joe Byrd, and Chuck Redd in Samba De Orfeu
From Clark Bjorke: Prince plays While My Guitar Gently Weeps, w/ Tom Petty etal.
From Joe Holt: Mainstay Monday with Blake Cramer
From John Thomas: Bob Reynolds Guitar Band Crush
From Becky Byrd: The Original Great Guitars in 1982
From Clark Bjorke: Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet at The Mainstay
From Joe Holt: Mainstay Monday with Lester Barrett
From John Thomas: Banda Magda Agua de Beber
Watch this space for a continuing array of concerts and activities including more from our much respected artist-in-residence Joe Holt on April 13th and 27th.
