PHOTO COURTESY OF HEART
Solomons, MD – The region’s payback check for enduring the mind-numbing winter months of cold temperatures and cabin fever is ready to be cashed. The 2015 summer concert season gives Southern Marylanders ample opportunities to celebrate the great outdoors.
The good times get rolling Saturday night, May 23 when Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Famers Ann and Nancy Wilson—Heart—perform at the PNC Waterside Pavilion at Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) in Solomons.
According to CMM Development Director Vanessa Gill, the Solomons venue has become well-known in entertainment circles—which includes artists, promoters and fans.
“We have a lot to offer,” said Gill, who explained the live shows generate tourism dollars. “Economically, it helps the community.”
The entertainers on tour draw legions from all over America. Gill said the fans come from as far away as Ohio, North Carolina and Connecticut to enjoy the hospitality, food, recreation and other amenities of the Chesapeake Bay region.
For some fans, the allegiance to certain performers goes back decades. Maureen Roland, who currently resides in Colorado, recalled seeing Heart perform at California Jam II during the late 1970s. “My sister and I were in a band and we were both 10 years younger than Ann and Nancy,” said Roland, who indicated the similarities plus the amazing talents of the Wilson sisters created a bond with the group that has endured for several decades. “Nancy plays the guitar exactly like I do.”
Roland recently entered, and won, tickets from The Bay Net to see Heart’s PNC Waterside Pavilion performance.
“I’ve seen them perform in Colorado, Phoenix, Seattle, Kansas, Oregon and Texas,” said Roland, who added that her attendance at the Solomons show will be her first chance to see her favorite group perform in Maryland.
Roland said she would be attending the Solomons concert with her son. “I’ve been dragging him along since he was a baby,” she joked. Her plans include staying three days in Washington, DC to do some sightseeing and driving down to Solomons for the show Saturday. Roland admitted she wasn’t aware that the Nation’s Capital will be the venue for the massive motorcycle rally known as Rolling Thunder that weekend.
Once she arrives at the concert venue, Roland will be meeting other Heart fans she keeps in touch with plus attending the pre-concert meet and greet.
As for Heart’s long list of hits, Roland stated she doesn’t have a particular favorite, but noted that her mother, who recently passed away, always liked “Barracuda.”
Gill said CMM is anticipating about 6,000 people for the Saturday night show. There are still tickets for standing room available, a situation that seems to suit many concert-goers just fine since the shows on the museum grounds always have an outdoor festival feel.
The success of the shows, Gill concedes, is in large part due to the yeoman efforts of the army of volunteers. “At the end of the day I realize how wonderful our volunteers are,” said Gill of the individuals who set up chairs, check I.D.s, provide security, serve food and perform dozens of tasks during a very long day. Gill added to the volunteer list the many local businesses that donate food to feed the volunteers.
“What they [volunteers] are doing is raising money for the museum,” said Gill. “It’s really community-driven.”
The show planned for July 3 at CMM also promises to be a celebration of the season. Solomons will be a stop on the “Last Summer on Earth” tour headlined by Barenaked Ladies, Violent Femmes and Colin Hay.
“We’re really excited about it,” said Gill, who noted the Violent Femmes would be making their first appearance in the Washington, DC area in 20 years. Hay is the former lead singer of Men at Work.
Tickets for the July 3 performances are now on sale.
To date, there is not a third concert scheduled for this summer at CMM, “but if something falls in place, we’ll do it,” said Gill. “I wouldn’t rule it out.”
For more information on CMM’s 2015 concert series, visit www.calvertmarinemuseum.com
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com