.JPG)
Salty the Shrimp and the entire Manitou crew were in the house on Friday, July 12 at Danceland for the opening night of the Salt Shaker Festival. It was a full house for the kickoff cabaret featuring three diverse acts, all from Saskatchewan.
Getting the shoreside festival under way were the Marmalads from Regina. The four piece surf band are Saskatchewan’s premier all instrumental group, bringing a California coast vibe derived from various genres. Andy Beisel sported a requisite Fender Jazzmaster, the guitar embraced by the 60’s surf movement, handling the instrumental insertions for the absent vocals with a great tone.
The band wove surprises like Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ into the mix of surf rock standards like the Theme from Hawaii Five-O and the Ventures’ ‘Walk, Don’t Run.” Even those standards had a special Marmalads twist with custom bass gallops and drum fills.
None of the tunes suffered from lack of vocals with a lush saxophone standing in for Brian Wilson on ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ or deft guitar work handling Burton Cummings’ melody on ‘These Eyes.’ Guest musicians from other weekend bands popped up throughout the set, including Brian Sklar on fiddle, whetting the audience’s appetite for what was to come.
The always popular family group, the Garrys, followed up, returning to their roots for the festival opener. Continuing with the surf theme, the sisters, Lenore, Erica and Julie Maier, with brother Matthew now providing instrumental support, have carved a unique rock niche with rich harmonies, always with a haunting reverb attending them.
Many of their earlier songs like ‘Dance with Me’ and ‘Burger Buoy,’ both part of their Friday night set, were born out of places and experiences at the beach. Their newer songs come with a variety of reflections ranging from somber minor chord inflected musings to upbeat and sun-drenched dance numbers.
Songs like ‘Sintaluta’ are based on names from their extensive road travels, always reflecting a bit of their home wherever they go.
Finally, if there was any fear that in 2024, polka was dying as a cultural force in the province, you can lay those to rest as Brian Sklar and the Western Senators hit the stage. Now the elder statesmen of the genre, the ensemble is dedicated to keeping the catalog alive and kicking, exposing a new generation to the tunes.
Allegedly the product of a post Roughrider victory jam session, the Senators have been making music together since 1973. Thirty-three albums, a Grammy nomination and thousands of performances later, the group display a love for the music matched only by their dexterity and virtuosity.
Classic Cleveland-style shakers like ‘Roll Out the Barrel’ were mixed with boogie beats, a rip-roaring reflection of Danceland’s true heritage. Whether Frankie Yankovic’s 1948 recordings or Charie Daniels Band’s ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia,’ young and old took to the historic dance floor in a remarkable multi-generational celebration.
The festival continued through the weekend at various establishments at Manitou Beach merging young and old with everything from ska to DJ’s spinning in what’s become one of the province’s most unique musical ventures.