Queen And Journey Classics Draw Fans To Calvert Marine Museum Tribute Concert

SOLOMONS, Md. — Classic rock fans gathered at the Calvert Marine Museum on Saturday evening as Almost Queen and Separate Ways The Band brought the music of two legendary rock bands to the Motto Mortgage Preferred and RE/MAX One Waterside Pavilion at the Calvert Marine Museum for a night of nostalgia, singalongs and celebration.

With lawn chairs spread across the museum grounds and the Patuxent River serving as a backdrop, concertgoers enjoyed tribute performances featuring the music of Queen and Journey.

The event was part of the Calvert Marine Museum’s 2026 Waterside Music Series, which combines nationally known performers, tribute acts and community gathering opportunities throughout the summer season. Summer concerts have been a Calvert Marine Museum tradition and continue to draw large crowds and attract top talent.

Almost Queen, known for recreating the sound, harmonies and theatrical stage presence of Queen, performed fan favorites including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” “We Are the Champions” and “Somebody to Love.” The band was joined by Separate Ways The Band, a Journey tribute act known for performing hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Faithfully” and “Separate Ways.”

A Homecoming For Southern Maryland

Bonnie Barrett, executive director of the Calvert Marine Museum Society, said the Waterside Music Series serves as one of the museum’s most important community engagement efforts. Barrett described each concert as a community gathering that brings together longtime residents, visitors and music fans while generating financial support for the museum’s educational mission.

“I think it’s like the greatest party of the year,” Barrett said. “It’s like a homecoming, big family reunion, every concert that we have.”

She said the summer concerts have been a Southern Maryland tradition for 41 years and the events help introduce new audiences to the museum, its exhibits and the broader Solomons community. 

“We’re hoping that they come back and enjoy the museum and all it has to offer, and we do feel that it brings a great amount of tourism into the community,” Barrett said.

Barrett said all proceeds from the concert series support the Calvert Marine Museum through the Calvert Marine Museum Society, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fundraising for the museum. 

“Every dime that we make goes toward supporting the mission of Calvert Marine Museum,” Barrett said. “It’s what Calvert Marine Museum Society does. This is our largest fundraiser.”

She also highlighted upcoming events including Sharkfest, the museum’s summer educational programs and the significant role the museum plays educating visitors and residents about the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries that flow toward it.

“There’s so many amazing things in there about the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River,” Barrett said. “We’re the state paleontology center. People come here and they’re like, ‘Wow, we had no idea what was in that little building.’ It looks small from the outside, but there’s so much on the inside.”

Music That Spans Generations

For many attendees, the concert represented more than an evening of live music. The performance brought together multiple generations of listeners who grew up with the music of Queen and Journey while introducing those songs to younger audiences.

Bradleigh Williams, 29, of Lusby, attended her first Calvert Marine Museum concert to see Almost Queen perform. Williams said her family has longstanding ties to the museum, including work her father performed with a former museum art director. A veterinary technician at Prince Frederick Animal Hospital, Williams also creates artwork and jewelry from recycled materials sold through her Etsy shop, carrying on a tradition of creativity and sustainability learned from her father.

“My family is here, and they mentioned that a Queen tribute band was playing — we love Queen,” Williams said. “My dad also did a lot of repair and artwork with the old Calvert Marine Museum art director, so, we love this place and decided ‘let’s go.’”

Williams described herself as a lifelong Queen fan who grew up listening to the band’s music with her parents. She said Queen’s songs continue to appeal to multiple generations because they have become cultural anthems recognized by nearly everyone.

“One of the first Queen songs I learned was ‘Fat Bottom Girls.’ My parents used to play it a lot. I like that one and ‘Bicycle.’ It was a two-disc vinyl, so I grew up knowing those songs,” Williams said. “They’re anthems. They’re standalone songs that you play at any game or pep rally, and everyone’s going to know some part of that song. They’re iconic.”

Williams said she was a rock ‘n’ roll fan, and though this was her first concert at the museum, she said she would likely return if another Queen tribute performance were scheduled.

“If the Queen tribute band comes back, then I will come back,” Williams said. “I would definitely go with friends or family too.”

John Vance of California, Md., attended the concert as a longtime fan of Queen and a regular visitor to the Calvert Marine Museum’s concert series. Vance said he and his family are museum members and they attend summer concerts nearly every year.

“The music of Queen — or Almost Queen. I’ve been a huge fan of that music from when I was a kid,” Vance said. “We’ve been to plenty of concerts here. We usually go at least once a year, sometimes twice a year.”

Vance described Queen as a favorite band from his childhood and said songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody continue to resonate because of their memorable sound and broad appeal. He also shared memories of listening to Queen while traveling with friends when he was younger.

“Queen just has a great beat and a good tone,” Vance said. “Just growing up, being in the car with some friends, going up to the mountains on a cabin trip, listening to that album when it first came out from when I was a kid — it’s memorable music.”

Julie Dobry of Hollywood, Md., attended the concert with friends and described herself as more of a Journey fan, though she said Queen’s music remains powerful because of its unique sound and enduring themes.

“The lyrics still have a lot of symbolism in today’s world,” Dobry said. “No matter what generation, it still speaks to people, and it’s very operatic. It’s really unique music and unique lyrics.”

Dobry has attended Calvert Marine Museum concerts on and off for roughly 20 years and praised the venue for its atmosphere, visibility and family-friendly environment. She said events like the Waterside Music Series continue to draw crowds because they offer a safe and enjoyable community gathering place while showcasing music that resonates across generations.

“It feels safe, and it’s a great venue,” Dobry said. “You can see everything, you can hear everything, and it’s just a great time for everybody.”

Connecting Visitors To Music And Maritime Heritage

Located in Solomons at the mouth of the Patuxent River, the museum serves as one of Southern Maryland’s premier cultural destinations, featuring exhibits focused on regional maritime history, estuarine ecology and paleontology. The campus is also home to the historic Drum Point Lighthouse and a variety of educational programs throughout the year.

As the evening continued, audience members sang along to many of the best-known songs in classic rock, creating an atmosphere that demonstrated how classic rock continues to connect generations decades after the songs were first released.

The Waterside Music Series continues throughout the summer with additional performances scheduled at the museum’s waterfront pavilion.

Calvert Marine Museum Waterside Music Series Concerts

The Waterside Music Series is held at the Motto Mortgage Preferred and RE/MAX One Waterside Pavilion on the Calvert Marine Museum campus. Concerts feature a mix of nationally touring artists and special performances overlooking the Patuxent River. These are the remaining concerts in the 2026 series:

• Warren Zeiders — July 24, 7 p.m.
• Brothers Osborne — Aug. 22, 7 p.m.
• ZZ Top with George Thorogood & The Destroyers — Sept. 11, 7 p.m.

Visiting The Calvert Marine Museum

The Calvert Marine Museum is located at 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Md. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum features exhibits exploring Southern Maryland’s maritime heritage, estuarine environment and fossil record, along with the historic Drum Point Lighthouse and seasonal public programs. Adult admission is $11, with discounts available for seniors, military personnel, veterans, AAA and AARP members. Children under 5 receive free admission.

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