The Shore Club Evolves as a Maritime Music Icon in Hubbards

Thousands of enthusiastic supporters crowded together along a scenic Nova Scotia inlet to watch the sunset paint the sky in shades of blue and amber, waiting in anticipation for musician Matt Mays to begin playing.

As reported by CBC, the open-air concert was held right outside the Shore Club, a renowned 90-year-old lobster supper spot and music destination in the small village of Hubbards that attracts people worldwide.

Having performed within the timber structure annually for many years, Mays confessed he originally questioned whether its special charm would translate to an open-air setting. It did.

“It’s one of those places on earth that all the vibes are,” Mays said in a new CBC documentary about the club. “It’s a very spiritual event for myself … and if it’s spiritual, that means it’s just bigger than anything.”

These open-air performances at the Shore Club mark a further chapter in how a charming spot located down a winding road in a countryside South Shore village transformed into a globally renowned Maritime landmark.

For more than 80 years, The Shore Club in Hubbards has served up classic lobster suppers and legendary live music to fans worldwide. In a new documentary by Aly Thomson and Dave Irish, the filmmakers show how the Harnish family turned a rural dance hall into a Maritime icon.

Every year, the family-operated establishment welcomes crowds to enjoy its traditional lobster meals, energetic shows, tent sites beneath tall pine trees, and relaxation by its secluded shore.

Renowned performers from Canada and concertgoers alike know the location for its one-of-a-kind vibe and enduring customs, and its distinct East Coast charm has previously welcomed prominent visitors including Mariah Carey, then-Prince Charles alongside Princess Diana, and Kentucky Fried Chicken creator Colonel Sanders.

The club is always evolving, while staying true to its roots. It is a balancing act the Harnish family, which operates the club, has done for nine decades.

Still, its allure isn’t something they can put their finger on.

“At any given night in this room, we’ll have people from almost every continent on earth in here…. You realize this is a really unique and fun and amazing place to be,” Luke Harnish said, sitting in the club’s dining hall and dance floor next to his father, Rhys Harnish.

“Dad and I looked at each other dumbfounded many times this summer, just like, why does this work?” Luke Harnish said.

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