BE ENTERTAINING THE CROWDS. IT'S A BANJO PICKING. FOOT TAPPING GOOD TIME IN FRONT OF THE VISITOR CENTER AT THE INNER HARBOR WHERE, DRESSED IN THEIR WHITE UNIFORMS, ONE OF THE U.S. NAVY'S MOST UNIQUE BANDS GIVES US A PREVIEW OF THEIR UPCOMING PERFORMANCE. JUST TWO WEEKS TO GO UNTIL THE BIG SALE. 250 MARYLAND AND AIR SHOW BALTIMORE. CELEBRATION COUNTRY IS A THE ONLY FULL TIME COUNTRY AND BLUEGRASS BAND IN THE ENTIRE MILITARY MUSIC SYSTEM. WE. WE DO MUSIC FROM ALL STYLES AND GENRES OF BLUEGRASS AND COUNTRY AND EVEN WESTERN SWING. AND AS A MILITARY BAND, THEY ALSO PLAY A FULL ARRAY OF PATRIOTIC MUSIC AND GUIDE. GIRL NIGHT WITH THE LIGHT FROM ABOVE. COUNTRY CURRENT WAS FORMED IN 1972. AND ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE. THE BAND WAS ORIGINALLY USED AS A RECRUITING TOOL FOR THE NAVY. THEIR MAIN FOCUS NOW IS ON PUBLIC OUTREACH. WE PROBABLY PLAY ABOUT 100 TO 150 PERFORMANCES A YEAR. WE PLAY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. WE PLAY A FAMILY FRIENDLY SHOW AND WE. WE TRY TO INSPIRE PATRIOTISM IN OUR AUDIENCES. EACH MEMBER IS ACTIVE DUTY, MILITARY AND ALL COME FROM A PROFESSIONAL MUSIC BACKGROUND. SALE 250 MARYLAND WILL BE ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST PERFORMANCES AND BANJO PLAYER HALEY STILTNER LOVES THE ENGAGEMENT. CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AS WE TRAVEL AND DO WHAT WE DO, AND I THINK THAT'S THE HUGE PART OF IT. I LOVE LISTENING TO VETERANS TELL THEIR STORIES ALONG THE WAY AND JUST MEETING PEOPLE. COUNTRY CURRENT IS JUST ONE OF SEVERAL NAVY BANDS PERFORMING DURING SALE. 250 ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH, THE U.S. NAVY CEREMONIAL BAND WILL PLAY ON THE INNER HARBOR STAGE FOR A SPECIAL WELCOME CEREMONY. COUNTRY CURRENT WILL TAKE OVER THAT STAGE THAT NIGHT AT 530, AND ON SATURDAY THE 27TH, THE NAVY BAND SEA CHANTERS WILL PERFORM IN FELLS POINT AT NOON AND THAT SAME DAY THE CRUISERS WILL PLAY AT THE INNER HARBOR. JUST A SNEAK PEEK OF SOME OF THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT THAT YOU CAN EXPERIENCE DURING AMERICA'S BIGGEST BIRTHDAY BASH EVER.
‘We try to inspire patriotism’: Navy country and bluegrass band ‘Country Current’ warms up Sail 250
Updated: 5:03 PM EDT Jun 10, 2026
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It’s only two weeks away from America’s 250th birthday celebration in Baltimore replete with live entertainment, including a variety of U.S. Navy bands.| AMERICA 250 INTERACTIVE GUIDE: Moments that Shaped AmericaIt was a banjo-picking, foot-tapping event on Wednesday in front of the visitor center at the Inner Harbor, where Country Current — one of the U.S. Navy’s most unique bands — gave a preview of their upcoming performance at the Sail 250 Maryland and Air Show Baltimore celebration.”Country Current is the only full-time country and bluegrass band in the entire U.S. military system. We do music from all styles and genres, bluegrass and country, even Western swing,” said Joseph Friedman, the chief musician of Country Current.As a military band, they also play a full array of patriotic music, like “God Bless America.”Country Current was formed in 1972 as an acoustic ensemble. The band was originally used as a recruiting tool for the Navy. Now, their main focus is on public outreach.”We probably play 100 to 150 performances a year. We play all over the country,” Friedman told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We play a family-friendly show, and we try to inspire patriotism in our audience.”Each member is active-duty military, and all come from a professional music background. Sail 250 Maryland will be one of their biggest performances, and banjo player Haley Stiltner loves the engagement.”Connecting with people as we travel and do what we do. I think that’s a huge part of it. I love listening to veterans tell their stories along the way and just meeting people,” Stiltner told WBAL-TV 11 News. Country Current is just one of several Navy bands performing during Sail 250. On June 26, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Band will play on the Inner Harbor stage for a special welcome ceremony. Country Current will take over the stage that night at 5:30 p.m.On June 27, the Navy band “Sea Chanters” will perform at noon in Fells Point and “The Cruisers” will play at the Inner Harbor.
It’s only two weeks away from America’s 250th birthday celebration in Baltimore replete with live entertainment, including a variety of U.S. Navy bands.
| AMERICA 250 INTERACTIVE GUIDE: Moments that Shaped America
It was a banjo-picking, foot-tapping event on Wednesday in front of the visitor center at the Inner Harbor, where Country Current — one of the U.S. Navy’s most unique bands — gave a preview of their upcoming performance at the Sail 250 Maryland and Air Show Baltimore celebration.
“Country Current is the only full-time country and bluegrass band in the entire U.S. military system. We do music from all styles and genres, bluegrass and country, even Western swing,” said Joseph Friedman, the chief musician of Country Current.
As a military band, they also play a full array of patriotic music, like “God Bless America.”
Country Current was formed in 1972 as an acoustic ensemble. The band was originally used as a recruiting tool for the Navy. Now, their main focus is on public outreach.
“We probably play 100 to 150 performances a year. We play all over the country,” Friedman told WBAL-TV 11 News. “We play a family-friendly show, and we try to inspire patriotism in our audience.”
Each member is active-duty military, and all come from a professional music background. Sail 250 Maryland will be one of their biggest performances, and banjo player Haley Stiltner loves the engagement.
“Connecting with people as we travel and do what we do. I think that’s a huge part of it. I love listening to veterans tell their stories along the way and just meeting people,” Stiltner told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Country Current is just one of several Navy bands performing during Sail 250. On June 26, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Band will play on the Inner Harbor stage for a special welcome ceremony. Country Current will take over the stage that night at 5:30 p.m.
On June 27, the Navy band “Sea Chanters” will perform at noon in Fells Point and “The Cruisers” will play at the Inner Harbor.
