“Let’s go out and play on the water,” Janie Meneely said to fellow musicians Kevin Brooks and Jeff Holland more than 30 years ago. Brooks, the co-founder of the popular band the Eastport Oyster Boys, said that the first year they played their music from a boat on the Wye River’s Shaw Bay, a few boaters came up to them and asked them to stop playing, as they were trying to enjoy some peace at anchor. The concert turned into a beloved tradition anyway. Always held the Saturday after Labor Day weekend, the three-hour Shaw Bay Raftup Concert now benefits ShoreRiver’s water-quality programs and pumpout boat.
“I’m a groupie,” says Courtney Leigh, ShoreRivers membership manager. “I love the Eastport Oyster Boys and this event. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity and gives boaters a reason to anchor in the most beautiful bay on the Eastern Shore to hear live music. The way the trombone reverberates across the water is magical. To be in this secluded, iconic waterway listening to Chesapeake Bay folk music is a great way to celebrate our waterways and rivers. This is why ShoreRivers aligned ourselves with this event. We want boaters to take a moment to recognize that their ability to enjoy the river is because there’s so much being done to restore it.”
The Shaw Bay Raftup Concert will take place September 7 from 3-6 p.m. and feature music by the Eastport Oyster Boys and the Wye River Band. Anywhere from 75 to 100 powerboats and sailboats of all sizes will attend. Leigh recommends arriving early as “real estate gets tight” in what she calls “the slosh pit,” where small craft (dinghies, kayaks, standup paddleboards) gather near the band boats. (Brooks notes that the amps for the music will run on solar power, helping to make this event green.)
Volunteers from ShoreRivers will paddle around in kayaks asking for donations during the concert, so bring some cash, be ready with your Venmo app, or donate in advance on the ShoreRivers website. Click to shorerivers.org/event/shawbayraftup2024 to sign up for the group text chat for details.