The Mainstay Players Present a Tribute to American Bandstand

Turn up the music, clear the dance floor and get ready to travel through four unforgettable decades of American popular music!

On Friday, November 13, The Mainstay Players will return to the stage with a lively new production celebrating American Bandstand, the legendary television program that brought the latest music, dances and performers into American homes for generations.

This year’s show will be especially fitting as the nation celebrates America’s 250th birthday. The Players will perform a crowd-pleasing collection of hits from the 1950s through the 1980s, revisiting the songs and dance crazes that helped create the soundtrack of American life. Audiences can expect familiar favorites, great harmonies, plenty of surprises and many opportunities to sing and dance along.

Guiding the evening will be the ever-entertaining Brian Moore and Leslie Sea of WCTR Radio. Together, they will bring their humor, energy and unmistakable chemistry to the Mainstay stage, helping the show capture the fun and spontaneity that made American Bandstand a cultural institution.

This will mark the fifth major production by The Mainstay Players, following their popular tributes to the Beatles, the music of Laurel Canyon, New York City and the Grand Ole Opry.

The Mainstay Players are a talented and enthusiastic group of Mainstay performers and supporters who volunteer their time and musical abilities to create entertaining programs that bring the community together. Each production also gives local and regional musicians an opportunity to collaborate, form new musical friendships and experience the excitement of performing on The Mainstay stage.

Just as importantly, these shows help raise much-needed funds for The Mainstay. The Players donate their performances so that proceeds can help keep live music thriving in Rock Hall and support the future of the community’s “Home of Musical Magic.”

These productions are about much more than presenting a collection of songs. They celebrate the shared memories that music creates, introduce audiences to the remarkable talent found within our community and give everyone in the room a chance to become part of the show.

So join The Mainstay Players for an evening of music, memories, laughter and community spirit.

After all, it’s got a good beat, and you can dance to it!

For nearly two decades, Sue Matthews and Robert Redd have been bringing their popular “Songbook Series” concerts to The Mainstay, celebrating the timeless music of the Great American Songbook. Now, they have finally decided to record some of their favorites.

Joined by an outstanding group of musicians, James King on bass, Charlie Young on saxophone, and Lenny Robinson on drums, Sue and Robert recorded their new CD, “Perfect Match,” this summer at the award winning Tonal Park studio in Takoma Park, Maryland.

On Saturday, November 14, the entire group comes to The Mainstay to bring that recording to life on our stage.

The evening will feature selections from “Perfect Match,” including such enduring standards as “Skylark,” “P.S. I Love You,” “Over the Rainbow,” and “As Long As I Live,” along with many more favorites from one of the richest eras in American popular music.

As audiences have come to expect from their Songbook Series concerts, Sue and Robert will do more than simply perform the songs. Throughout the evening, they’ll share stories about the singers who made them famous and the remarkable composers and lyricists who created them.

It promises to be a wonderful evening of great songs, great musicianship and the stories behind the music, presented by two longtime Mainstay favorites and some very special musical friends.

On Sunday, November 15, Lutenist Ronn McFarlane, a Mainstay audience favorite, will perform on lute, works by English, Italian, French, and German composers from the 16th and 17th centuries. These works feature John Dowland, Francesco da Milano, Hans Newsidler, Robert Ballard, and – of course -- that all-time favorite and most prolific composer: Anonymous.

GRAMMY-nominated lutenist, Ronn McFarlane strives to bring the lute - the most popular instrument of the Renaissance - into today’s musical mainstream and make it accessible to a wider audience. Since taking up the lute in 1978, Ronn has made his mark in music as the founder of Ayreheart, a founding member of the Baltimore Consort, touring 49 of the 50 United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and as a guest artist with Apollo’s Fire, The Bach Sinfonia, The Catacoustic Consort, The Folger Consort, Houston Grand Opera, The Oregon Symphony, The Portland Baroque Orchestra, and The Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra. Born in West Virginia, Ronn grew up in Maryland. At thirteen, upon hearing “Wipeout” by the Surfaris, he fell madly in love with music and taught himself to play on a “cranky sixteen-dollar steel string guitar.” Ronn kept at it, playing blues and rock music on the electric guitar while studying classical guitar. He graduated with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory and continued guitar studies at Peabody Conservatory before turning his full attention and energy to the lute. McFarlane was a faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory from 1984 to 1995, teaching lute and lute-related subjects. In 1996, Mr. McFarlane was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory for his achievements in bringing the lute and its music to the world. He has over 40 recordings on the Dorian/Sono Luminus label, including solo albums, lute duets, flute & lute duets, viola da gamba & lute duets, lute songs, the complete lute music of Vivaldi, a collection of Elizabethan lute music and poetry, and recordings with the Baltimore Consort. Ronn has composed new music for the lute, building on the tradition of the lutenist/composers of past centuries. His original compositions are the focus of his solo CD, Indigo Road, which received a GRAMMY Award Nomination. In 2010 Ronn founded Ayreheart, an ensemble brought together to perform new compositions as well as early music. Ayreheart’s first CD release, One Morning, consists of all- original music by Ronn McFarlane. Ayreheart’s 2016 release, Barley Moon, blends folk music and art music from Renaissance and Medieval England, Scotland, and Wales. Ronn's solo album, The Celtic Lute (2018), features his arrangements of traditional Scottish and Irish music from the 17th and 18th centuries. Fermi’s Paradox (2020), A Star in the East (2021), and And So Flows the River (2023) with Carolyn Surrick, viola da gamba, feature an eclectic blend of Renaissance, Baroque, original music, hymns, and folk tunes from Ireland, Scotland, England, and Sweden.

Joe Holt Presents Doug James

The Final Special Friday Show of the Season

Joe Holt closes out this season’s popular Special Friday series with a very special guest, award-winning singer and songwriter Doug James.

As always, Joe will be at the Mainstay piano, bringing the remarkable musicianship, spontaneity and good humor that have made these Friday evenings such audience favorites. This time, he welcomes a songwriter whose music has been heard around the world.

Doug James has written songs recorded by Michael Bolton, Dionne Warwick, Cher, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Barry Manilow, Laura Branigan, Kelly Clarkson, The Spinners and many others. His credits include the Billboard #1 hit and BMI Song of the Year, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.” He was named Performer of the Year by the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival and, in October 2026, was inducted into the Delaware Rock and Roll Society Hall of Fame.

Two gifted musicians, plenty of songs and stories, and Joe Holt at the piano. Join us for one last Special Friday of the season.

Friday, November 20 at 7:30 PM
Tickets $25

The Mainstay welcomes Dede Wyland and Big Howdy on Saturday, November 21, for an exciting evening of progressive bluegrass.

Known internationally for her clear, powerful voice and her work with Tony Trischka and Skyline, Dede leads a remarkable group of musicians whose repertoire blends bluegrass classics, compelling original songs, inventive instrumentals and contemporary selections. With an eye on the future and a nod to the past, Big Howdy brings modern polish, spirited playing and the unmistakable drive of traditional bluegrass to The Mainstay stage.

Harp and Soul: A Mainstay Holiday Tradition

Sunday, December 6 at 4:00 PM

One of The Mainstay's most beloved holiday traditions returns as Harp and Soul brings its beautiful and spirited celebration of the season to our stage!

Led by harpist Meredith Hadaway, this wonderful ensemble blends the enchanting sounds of harp, guitar, oboe, percussion, and vocals in a delightful musical journey through the British Isles, Celtic lands, and holiday traditions from around the world.

Joining Meredith are longtime musical collaborators Ben Bennington on guitar and vocals, Rebekah Hock on oboe, and Bob Ortiz on percussion, piano, and vocals, along with some very special guests!

From familiar carols and lively dance tunes to tender melodies of remembrance, hope, and joy, Harp and Soul captures the warmth and spirit of the holidays in a way that has delighted Mainstay audiences for many years.

Whether you've made this concert part of your annual holiday celebration or will be experiencing Harp and Soul for the first time, you're in for a wonderful afternoon of music, friendship, and seasonal magic.

Come celebrate the season with us at The Mainstay!

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A Redd Christmas with the Chuck Redd Quartet

Saturday, December 19 at 7:30 PM

Get ready for a swinging holiday celebration as The Mainstay welcomes back one of our all time favorites, the incomparable Chuck Redd, for a very special evening of Christmas jazz!

For 19 years, Chuck led the annual Christmas concerts at Washington's Kennedy Center, delighting audiences with his imaginative arrangements, extraordinary musicianship, and infectious holiday spirit. Now he's bringing that same musical magic to our intimate Mainstay stage!

Joining Chuck on vibraphone will be an outstanding rhythm section featuring James King on bass and Lenny Robinson on drums, both veterans of those legendary Kennedy Center holiday performances, along with a special guest pianist to be announced.

Drawing from A Redd Christmas, the acclaimed holiday recording Chuck made with his brother Robert, the quartet will put a fresh and festive spin on seasonal favorites including Winter Wonderland, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, White Christmas, and Jingle Bells. Expect swinging jazz, irresistible bossa nova rhythms, a little blues and bebop, and a few musical surprises along the way!

Chuck's remarkable career has taken him to stages around the world, but Mainstay audiences know there's something particularly special about hearing this extraordinary musician up close and personal. And with Chuck at the vibraphone, you can be sure this won't be your ordinary Christmas concert!

As an added treat, Chuck will have CDs available for purchase, including his brand new release, Painting With Blue.

What better way to celebrate the season than with great friends, wonderful music, and a little Christmas magic, Mainstay style!

This special holiday concert is generously sponsored by Patrick Goodhope, whose continued support of The Mainstay and live jazz is deeply appreciated.

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