A packed house shimmied, shook and got salty on the shores on Little Manitou Lake with the Salt Shaker Festival this past weekend at Manitou Beach. The multi-day music event had bands and artists from across Canada stirring up the surf with sounds as varied as one could imagine. The highlight of the event was Friday night’s trio of performances at Danceland. 

Shaker 1Mason Melle and the Honeydews

The show opened with Winnipeg blues rocker Mason Melle and his band, the Honeydews. Stepping out onto the stage, looking for all the world like a cross between an Allman Brothers tribute band and a ‘60s go go group, Melle and his band tore up his hour long set with inspired blues rock. Catchy up-tempo pieces like his self-penned “Realigned” and “Million Dollar Man” got the crowd to its feet. Mixed with slower ballads, like the new offering “Snow Covered Moon,” Melle has a 70’s throwback sound akin to Elvin Bishop or blues master Gary Clark, Jr – a sound that’s both familiar but fresh at the same time. The group stretched from rockabilly to spiritual with a Hammond-like organ sound propelling the music to crescendos. With a little doo-wop thrown in for good measure, Melle and the Honeydews worked their dreamy harmonies to perfectly fit the setting.  

Shaker 4The Bobby Tenderloin Universe

The Bobby Tenderloin Universe was a revelation in the second slot. With a backstory that plays out like a legend infused with myth and magic, the 5-member group, labelling themselves as a collective, launched into their set. The pedal steel, run through a processor, gave the country group a unique ethereal sound. Bobby Tenderloin manned the keyboard through much of the show and delivered catchy, humorous, wry lyrics with a cowpoke baritone. Songs like “Cow Eyes” and “Big Fat Mama” sound like the traditional lonesome trail fare from the Wilf Carter and Gene Autry era. But the lyrical and musical twists are unique to the Tenderloin crew.  

Shaker 3"A white sport coat, and a pink crustacean" - Gage shakes it up with Manitou's saltiest.

The minute The Garrys took the stage, the audience packed the dance floor and boogied with the California surf sounds that are the band's hallmark. The Duane Eddy twang and the clean sound that harkens back to the Ventures, have become an imaginative playground that fits the vibe of Manitou Beach perfectly. The three sisters, and the new addition of brother Matthew, have been fixtures of the community for years. From their base in Saskatoon, the Garrys have travelled worldwide, exporting that sound and their beautifully crafted tunes and harmonies. Many of their songs are firmly planted in Manitou Beach with tunes like “Burger Buoy” and “Danceland (Come With Me) always welcomed on the setlist. They also played newer fare – the Catholic boarding school inspired “Get Thee to a Nunnery” and the haunting “Sintaluta”, penned after the southern Saskatchewan community, show a continued sophistication in song writing and performance. The audience was delighted with a smattering of covers, including the Ventures’ instrumental “Walk Don’t Run”, “We Got the Beat” by the Go Gos, a twist on “He’s So Shy”, and a turn at Linda Ronstadt's version of “I’ve Been Cheated.” 

The salty surf was rolling, as was the rock, at Manitou Beach for another great headlining evening at the Salt Shaker.