Shawanagan
circa 1970 - circa 1973
Shawanagan, sometimes referred to as the Ed Dyke Orchestra, started around 1970. Along with Jerry and the Gipsy Rovers they helped Buster Peace, owner of the Longhouse Restaurant, start up Nanaimo's first full time cabaret. Shawanagan made sure there was live music at the Longhouse every night from Monday to Saturday. Promised the proceeds from the door, many nights, in the beginning the band had 5 or 10 bucks to split between them. Within six to eight months, as the city got used to live music, the Longhouse was successfully full and rockin'.
Alan Burns, July 2004
In Memory of Allen Reimer
Broken Up
