As summer hit full swing, the weather and venue couldn’t have been more perfect on the island in Solomons, MD. The temperature was in the mid-80s, with a slight breeze pairing alongside the sun peeking in and out of the light blue sky and scattered white clouds that gave the night the ideal concert ambience. The outdoor concert was held at the Calvert Marine Museum, which hosts its Waterside Music series each summer, a handful of concerts that bring music to the area and raise money for the museum. This was the second concert of the 2026 season.
Many concertgoers showed up early to wander the area, taking in the gorgeous views of the boardwalk and the Patuxent River that peacefully surrounds the island, before lining up for the chance to be among the first in the venue when the gates opened at 5:30 p.m. With two main entrances and one for museum members, people moved quickly in to locate their seats, grab some of the artist’s merch, and settle in with food and beverages from the vendors on site for the night.
The chatter of friends and family, along with overhead music, gave the family-friendly event a casual and calm atmosphere as the show neared its start time. At 7 p.m., Jeff Murray of the Calvert Marine Museum came out to welcome everyone, thanked the sponsors, and gave a special mention to the Charlotte Hall veterans in attendance.
With a 7:15 start time, show opener Wesko and his band took the stage. Wesko, an up-and-coming country artist from eastern North Carolina dressed in a long-sleeve, light blue denim shirt with black jeans and a beige ball cap, opened the show with a mid-tempo song. Telling the crowd this was his first visit to Maryland, he then moved into his second song, which he noted was written in his “wilder days,” called “Dreamer.” Over his 45-minute set, he kept the music coming with songs like “Hard Times,” in which he channels a bit of an Eric Church sound — a comparison he acknowledged himself before covering Church’s “Springsteen.” His set varied between slow and mid-tempo songs throughout. He thanked Warren Zeiders for bringing him out on the road, and closed his set with a quick bit of the Black Crowes’ “Hard to Handle,” leaving the crowd cheering.
Around 8:15 p.m., with a packed crowd eagerly waiting throughout the venue and the sun starting to set, the sound of squealing tires and sirens rang out as the stage risers and video screen lit up with effects and bright emerald green lighting. Warren Zeiders took the stage at the center of the raised riser at the back, launching into “Intoxicated,” from his 2024 album “Relapse.” Zeiders hit the stage with high energy and kept that stamina throughout his 16-song set, which included “Relapse,” the powerful ballad “Weeping Willow,” and his brand-new song “No Brakes,” the title track from his upcoming album due out Sept. 25, 2026.
Throughout the night, he thanked the crowd for coming out and making the night incredible. Dressed in a black tank top, light blue jeans and his cowboy hat, he showed why his talent and charm leave crowds wanting more. His smile was infectious as he noted it was National Tequila Day and asked where the ladies were, also taking time to introduce his band members. Other fun moments included him telling the crowd, “We haven’t done this in a while,” before getting the whole audience to do a “wall of hands,” waving their raised hands up and down together. He also brought out opener Wesko to duet on a cover of Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man,” and at one point jumped into the crowd.
Zeiders closed the main set with his first No. 1 hit, “Pretty Little Poison,” then returned shirtless to close the night with “Ride the Lightning,” sending the crowd wild between the two songs. Everything about this show was a must-see — from his vocals to the song selection to the stage design, including the catwalk and radiant lighting scheme. Make sure you catch Warren Zeiders if he’s in your area!