Sweet Leda, Red Sammy At CBMM’s November 2 OysterFest

The Chesapeake’s favorite bivalve may be the star of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s (CBMM) November 2 OysterFest, but the music line-up and the return of Fordham Brewing Company’s Rosie Parks Oyster Stout will provide some of this year’s highlights.

Fordham Brewing’s Rosie Parks Oyster Stout, whose namesake is the historic skipjack CBMM is restoring, will once again be served on tap at CBMM’s OysterFest this November 2 in St. Michaels. The stout holds a slight briny taste, and pairs well with oysters. A limited number of Rosie Parks Oyster Stout pint glasses will be available for purchase at the festival. The stout is also available in local markets on tap and in kegs, with a portion of each sale donated back to the museum by Fordham Brewing.

Slated to bring a rich blend of new school funk, soul, and pop is the Annapolis-based group Sweet Leda, which regularly draws large crowds to performances all over the Mid-Atlantic region. Powered by lead singer Julie Cymek’s sultry, commanding vocals, Sweet Leda’s heartfelt original music has been compared to Joss Stone, Janis Joplin, Maroon 5, Edie Brickell and even Led Zeppelin, yet is unique enough to have earned the tag “sexy smooth rock and groove.” The group plays on the Tolchester Beach Bandstand beginning at 12noon and running until 4pm.

Across the boardwalk along Fogg’s Cove, festival-goers can listen to the folk-rock music of Red Sammy, featuring the Baltimore-based singer/songwriter Adam Trice, with current music and arrangements provided by Red Sammy’s ensemble, John “Chesapeake” Decker, Greg Humphreys, Tony Calato, and Steve Matanle. The group is playing on the lower decks of the Steamboat Building from 11am to 4pm.

The festival also offers a chance to see the historic relaunch and rechristening of the skipjack Rosie Parks, a sailing workboat that once dredged the Chesapeake for oysters. In honor of the skipjack, Fordham Brewing Co.’s Rosie Parks Oyster Stout will once again be served on tap throughout the event. After the event, the stout will be available by special order in kegs or on tap at select locations throughout the Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C. area. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to CBMM.

OysterFest admission will be taken at the gate the day of the event, and is free for CBMM members and children under six. Otherwise it’s $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $6 for children between the ages of six and 17, with new memberships available at the event. Performances are included in the admission prices, with food, beverages, and boat rides available at an additional cost. For more details about the event, visit www.cbmm.org/oysterfest or call 410-745-2916.

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