What's New!

Enjoy these great events!

Live Streamed Shows — Most of our shows are live-streamed at their scheduled time in their entirety here (or use the Watch tab on the Home Page). There is no admission charge, but please help us defray our program expenses by clicking here.

 

Past Show Archives – You can also choose to watch most of our shows anytime after a performance by choosing the Watch tab.

 

Open Mic Night — The Mainstay features a popular Open Mic Night on the second Wednesday of every month (starting at 7 p.m.). The event welcomes area performers to take the stage and perform a sampling of their repertoire. Musicians sign up for the available performance slots on a first come, first served basis, and are invited to perform two songs while on stage. Musicians (individual and small ensemble players) are allowed to perform cover songs and originals. The Mainstay’s baby grand piano is onstage and available for players. The event is open to performers in all musical genres, but also welcomes original poetry recitations and appropriate short comedy bits. The Open Mic events are open to the public and there is no admission charged.

 

Pub Nites – Thursday evenings are now “Pub Nite”. Join us for a few hours of good conversation and great live music featuring the area’s best talent. The Mainstay bar will open at 5 pm, and the music starts at 5:45. Musicians will set up on our rear deck weather permitting. There is no cover charge.

 

Singer/ Songwriter Association – The Mainstay is now the home for a new singer/ songwriter association for area musicians. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Writers/ performers share their new compositions and discuss the process of songwriting, recording, and performing before a live audience. The group also organizes and presents two annual free concerts. These are staged in the Nashville “round” style, with several musicians on stage performing their work in rotation.

 

The Mainstay Players – Based on the success of a 2024 Beatles tribute show involving nearly twenty local musicians, this core group of Mainstay Players now produces two annual tribute shows, each spotlighting the work of a specific music icon (or legendary artists that share a history).

 

Bus Trips of Interest – Our successful annual trips to the Philadelphia Flower Show have encouraged us to offer more one-day trips that cater to a variety of interests. Would you like to come with our group to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for the day? Or perhaps to an Orioles game? How about a theater show in Baltimore? Or maybe to the beautifully landscaped gardens and arboretum of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA for their Christmas extravaganza? Let us know what your interests are. Plans are already underway.

Along the Way...

1995

The first “pre-Mainstay” concerts are held at the America’s Cup Café, adjacent to the current Mainstay.

1997

The first floor of a storefront building on Main Street in Rock Hall is rented as concert space and named The Mainstay. There is no stage at first.

1998

Charlie Byrd performs at The Mainstay, the first of several concerts there before his death. The relationship with Charlie Byrd is the beginning of an enduring Mainstay jazz legacy.

1999

The Mainstay is organized as a 501(c)3 corporation to facilitate fundraising.

The Mainstay joins the North American Folk Alliance.

Volunteers build a stage with lights and a basic sound system.

2000

New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs at The Mainstay, the first of several engagements at The Mainstay.

2001

The “Charlie Byrd Jazz Series” is established at The Mainstay.

2002

The Mainstay building is purchased after a fundraising campaign.

2003

The Mainstay receives an NEA grant for nonprofit administrative study. Maryland Citizens for the Arts recognizes The Mainstay for community development.

2004

The “Kids Are First” grant program is established to support local children’s programs and activities.

The first of several forums about Rock Hall History is held.

Tom McHugh, Mainstay Executive Director, accepts the Kent County Volunteer of the Year award.

Volunteers raise $40,000 in a single dinner and auction event for The Mainstay and its community programs.

A lounge/refreshment area (The Byrd Room) and a deck are added to The Mainstay.

2005

A “Burn the Mortgage” concert is held to celebrate the payoff of the entire mortgage on The Mainstay building.

The “Hedgelawn Classical Music Series” is established.

2006

Max n’ Friends” Thursday night jazz series begins.

2007

Contract staff is hired to assist with booking and marketing.

2008

A significant bequest from Lillian B. Fairall Foundation is received.

The 10th annual Rock Hall FallFest is celebrated.

A major investment in improved stage lighting and sound system is made.

2009

The Mainstay receives its first annual Maryland State Arts Council Operations Grant. 

A free outdoor summer concert series “Music in Oyster Court” is initiated.

Our Mainstay Family

Board of Directors

Barbara Parker

President

Robert "Dobby" Dunlap

Vice President

Debra Woodruff-Capper

Secretary

Lansing Williams

Treasurer

Brian Cole​

Adrian Cotton

Mark Einstein

Dave Fife

Karen Frison

Dave Sharp

Tom Wall

Staff

Matt Mielnick

Executive Director

Danny Palmatary

Executive Assistant/AV Engineer

Contractors/volunteers

Bob Kuiper

House and Box Office Management

Reiney Geller

Byrd Room Bartender

Daphne Howarth

Byrd Room Bartender

Antoinette Smith

Byrd Room Bartender

Keith Walbert

Byrd Room Bartender

Becky Byrd

Manager of the
Byrd Room

Clark Bjorke

Sound Engineer

Rich Geller

Open Mic Host

Bob Gerber

Poster Distribution

Joe Holt

Artistic Associate,
First Fridays

Linda Morgan

Lighting Assistant

Hometown Multimedia, LLC

Web Master

Our Mainstay Family

Matt Mielnick​

Executive Director

Clark Bjorke

Sound Engineer

Jacqui Caine

Board Assistant

Matt Mielnick

Executive Director

Clark Bjorke

Sound Engineer

Jacqui Caine

Board Assistant

Joe Holt

Artistic Associate,
Mainstay Mondays

Danny Palmatary

Technical/Office Assistant

Bob Kuiper

House and Box Office Management

Keith Walbert

Byrd Room Bartender

Jacqui &
Tom Caine

Back Deck Flower Tenders

Daphne Howarth

Byrd Room Bartender

Becky Byrd

Manager of the
Byrd Room

Linda Morgan

Lighting Assistant

Gretchen Stroh

Box Office Attendant

Dave Robinson

President

Barbara Parker

Vice President

Debra Woodruff-Capper

Secretary

Randy Cooper

Treasurer

Dobby Dunlap

Karen Frison

Rod Johnson

Ray Tarrach

Riley Thornton