In true Men’s Sheds spirit, a simple idea — sharing music — blossomed into a night of connection, creativity, and community-building at Shedstock, a fundraising concert held at Christ Church Anglican in Saskatoon. The event was the brainchild of Mark Kleiner, co-founder of the Toon Town Men’s Shed, musician, and pastor of Christ Church.
For Mark, the evening marked a long-awaited return to the stage. After spending a decade immersed in Vancouver’s music scene — writing, performing, and recording — he put down his guitar to enter seminary. Now, more than 20 years later, Mark stepped back into the spotlight with a collection of original songs that hadn’t been heard live before.
Backed by his band Vintage Youth — featuring Ian McWalter on bass, Perry Wirachowsky on drums, harmonica, and vocals, and Stephanie Sydiaha on backing vocals and kazoo — Mark brought new life to his music. In just five weeks, the band took a set of unfamiliar songs and transformed them into a moving, joy-filled performance.
The sanctuary of Christ Church was filled with a crowd of about 120 people at the peak of the night — a beautiful mix of parishioners, friends, music lovers, and Shedders. Admission was by donation, and the atmosphere was full of warmth and generosity. Homemade samosas (courtesy of church member Mya) and waffles with ice cream (thanks to the Shedders) sweetened the intermission.
In total, the evening raised nearly $1,200 to support the Toon Town Men’s Shed — and in a nod to the Shed’s hands-on spirit, attendees were also encouraged to bring tool donations. These funds and materials will help equip the Shed, which is hoping to move into a dedicated building in the near future.
The name Shedstock and its iconic poster design came from Mark himself — a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Woodstock, but with a distinctly Shed twist. It captured the vibe perfectly: a night that celebrated creative expression, community care, and the power of coming together to build something meaningful.
Whether it was the harmonies, the laughter, or the shared waffles, Shedstock reminded everyone in the room of what a Shed can be — a place not just for tools and projects, but for music, friendship, and new beginnings.