Faces Of Nantucket: Bobby Maguire

Ah, the sounds of summer in downtown Nantucket: crowds, cars, church bells, a foghorn, the Steamship whistle, and of course, Bobby Maguire’s fiddle.

For 30 years, Bobby Maguire has played music at the corner of Main Street and Washington Street as a street performer, or busker, providing what many locals and visitors have come to recognize as the unofficial soundtrack of the summer on Nantucket. The sound of Maguire’s fiddle has become a familiar and enduring part of the Nantucket experience.

"This is my spot. This is my signature spot," Maguire said, standing outside the Ralph Lauren store at 16 Main Street, which was the former home of Nantucket Looms.

Originally born in London, Maguire first arrived on Nantucket as a summer visitor while growing up, and began playing on Main Street at just nine years old. Three decades later, he remains one of the island's most recognizable presences, returning each summer season to the same corner where generations of residents and visitors have stopped to listen.

For many residents, hearing his fiddle signals that summer has finally begun.

"What do I love most about it?" Maguire said. "There's something about presenting art or music to people in a way that they're not expecting that I really enjoy."

Throughout his time playing, he has watched all kinds of reactions unfold in front of him. Some dance, others listen quietly, and some pretend not to notice him at all. Seeing all the different reactions is one of his favorite parts of busking.

"There are so many different reactions," he said. "Watching the way people react is so much fun."

While most know him for his downtown performances, his musical background extends far beyond Main Street. He began studying the violin at age 4 through the Suzuki method before pursuing formal training in piano, composition, organ, and music at a university in England. While doing this, he discovered a love for Irish and American folk music, which continues to shape his performances today.

Over the years, his Main Street performances have led to countless memories and opportunities. Country music star Kenny Chesney once spent nearly an hour listening to him play before introducing himself, and later featuring Maguire on his radio show. In 2021, members of the band Old Crow Medicine Show discovered him while he was street performing and invited him to join them on stage at The Chicken Box.

For Maguire, the most meaningful part of performing as always been the community that has formed around Main Street.

"I don't think I have a meaningful relationship I've ever built with anyone that hasn't been through music," he said.

Those connections are what brings Bobby Maguire back each year. As summer residents and seasonal workers fill the streets, he takes his place on the same corner that has defined so much of his life.

"I love it," he said. "I love all the people."