MINNEDOSA -- At Shakin' The Lake Saturday night, it was hard to tell what Manitoba rock fans enjoyed more: I Mother Earth's Summertime in the Void, or the 20 half-naked women who joined lead singer Brian Byrne in a sweaty, jiggling mass on stage. Starting off with fan favourite One More Astronaut, the band showed no signs of suffering the departure of former lead singer Edwin, who also performed at Shakin'.

Replacement front man Byrne makes a gal wonder what the fuss over the change was about. A bundle of potency, Byrne spills it well, dressed in a T-shirt and baggy cargos, his fried shock of blond hair shaking wildly.

Steam between Byrne, brothers Jogori (guitar) and Christian Tanna (drums), and bassist Bruce Gordon provoked absolute wonder during Earth, Sky and C. A Santana electric guitar tribute was riveting as African bongo drums pounded in fans' chests up to 50 feet away.

IME disappointed no-one with When Did You Get Back From Mars, but watching 20 girls in bikini tops rip Byrne's shirt off as he cavorted in a Dr. Seuss hat while shaking maracas was even more out of this world.

Opening for I Mother Earth, Winnipeg's The Harlots' fresh harmonies and quirky passions shook the top stage. The Harlots accomplished one feat that had struggling rockers at Shakin' The Lake stumped all weekend: Short of dragging them by the hair, how do you get drunken campers off their duffs and out to the stages?

Shakin' The Lake organizers are already planning the menu for next year's feast of Canadian music.