Sherwood Forest Singers at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

The Sherwood Forest Singers pose at Cottage Stage

The Sherwood Forest Singers made their debut performance at the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville the weekend of September 6th & 7th. The festival is a celebration of the harvest, set in the fictional township of Revel Grove, an ever-important destination in King Henry VIII’s royal court. Patrons from around the DMV (and beyond) frequent the festival — often dressed in Tudor-era attire, as well — to enjoy the variety of performers, musicians, local artisans, and, of course, the delicious assortment of faire food.

For their debut, the Sherwood Forest Singers gave two different types of performances each day. Their first performance was a feature on Cottage Stage, an intimate amphitheater located towards the back of the festival grounds in the Boardwalk area near the castle climbing wall. Nerves were tense throughout the group prior to taking the stage, sensing a new challenge of performing outdoors and to an audience outside of the local Greater Olney community. However, once the first words of their opening song bellowed, “COME, COME…” the group immediately shifted into what can only be described as a performer’s high. Song after song the Sherwood Forest Singers delivered an exceptional vocal display to an audience packing nearly all the available stage seating and crowding in the pathway beyond. Their music was met with powerful applause and even inspired some to move and dance. At the end of both stage performances, members of the ensemble were greeted by patrons to share their enjoyment of the program.

Following their stage performance, the Sherwood Forest Singers would next appear for a “pathway” performance near the Maypole — a landmark fixture towards the front of the festival grounds. Pathway performances are much more casual in nature, featuring no stage and often no nearby seating for patrons. That did not stop the Sherwood Forest Singers from drawing a crowd. The group once again opened with the thundering beckon of their first song, One Household (High and Low), establishing their presence in the large open area around the Maypole. Patrons quickly flocked towards the group to see what was happening, and in just a few moments a large semi-circle formed around the group to enjoy the music they were bringing to the area. The nerves had long since settled after getting their first performance out of the way, and now the Sherwood Forest Singers were in perfect rhythm singing song after song to their new curious crowd. Some of the more energetic numbers like Sarah and All For Me Grog had patrons clapping, twirling, and dancing around the Maypole.

At the conclusion of their pathway performances, the Sherwood Forest Singers had left their mark on Revel Grove. Many singers stayed for the remainder of the day to enjoy a Maryland Renaissance Festival tradition, Pub Sing, which is held at the White Heart Tavern towards the center of the festival grounds. Pub Sing is a closing ritual of sorts, where many of the festival’s actors gather at the end of the day to sing pub songs, and provide a lyric sheet so patrons may sing the choruses along with them. Pub Sing quickly became an unforgettable experience as the group celebrated their performance and sang along with the talented cast of the Maryland Renaissance Festival.