Mead and music in Salem

SALEM — East Grove Mead in rural Salem held its own roots music extravaganza Saturday night, drawing a crowd to a farm the family has owned since 1837.

“We hold musical events … about two to three times a year right now, just getting people out, have some live bands,” Meadery Co-owner Kurt Garretson said. “We took this barn … fixed it up, and turned it into sort of an event area.”

Garretson said the musical events felt natural to the family.

“My family’s been playing forever, so it was not a hard sell for us to start putting on music events just because we all play music and love music,” he said.

Co-owner Joel Garretson, Kurt’s father, said the events were a great way to promote the business.

“It’s a good way for people to come out,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know what mead is. You can sample this and sample that and kind of discover civilization’s oldest beverage.”

The Garretsons said their venue drew around 200 people for the musical events, maintaining a balance between a family-run event and an impressively coordinated show.

“I think that this is a very unique venue and it’s wonderful that it’s here,” said Nikki Lunden, the lead singer for the band Natural Habits, which played at the event. “It’s a good way to get out of your regular old music venue (and) come see a really special show. It’s more like a concert setting, kind of.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com