The lead-up to what has developed into one of the major blues festivals in North America takes place Sept. 3 — and this year promises to be the best ever.
“It’s the 10th anniversary of the Shuffle this summer, so we’re pulling out all the stops for the gala to kick it off in great style,” said Chuck Jackson, the festival’s founder and artistic director.
The event, says Jackson, will feature the atmosphere and charisma of an old Mississippi riverboat, complete with food, dance and music.
“The award-winning Maple Blues Band is back for yet another encore performance. Then we have New Orleans legend Clarence “Frogman” Henry, who was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame last year. The lineup also includes Johnny Pennino, Diana Braithwaite, Ken Whiteley, Krista Blondin and Mississippi’s youngest blues band, Homemade Jamz. These three young siblings, all under the age of 16, have been featured on The Oprah (Winfrey) Show and the CBS Morning Show.”
The Maple Blues Band — Chris Murphy, Pat Carey, Gary Kendall, Tom Bona, Michael Fonfara, Chris Whiteley, Teddy Leonard and Al Lerman — is comprised of house musicians of the Maple Blues Awards, which annually honour Canada’s best. All members are multiple winners and nominees. The band has closed out numerous past Southside Shuffles.
But what’s a Riverboat party without food? The Taste of New Orleans cuisine will be served up by some of Mississauga’s finest chefs.
Ron Lenyk, publisher of The News, will emcee, in character as Maverick, an adventurous gambler roaming the Old West in the eponymous TV series.
“I’ll be in character, down to his string bow tie and flat hat,” Lenyk said. “The Riverboat gala is such a great fundraising endeavour for the Southside Shuffle and Mississauga South local charitable organizations. In its three years, it has raised more than $100,000, so I’m happy to do whatever it takes to help out.”
This year’s beneficiaries are The Distress Centre of Peel and the City of Mississauga’s Youth Outreach Program.
The gala takes place at Oasis Convention Centre (1036 Lakeshore Rd. E.). The evening’s program includes:
• 6:30 p.m. — guests welcomed by Dinny’s Dixieland Jazz Band
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. — martini tasting with entertainment by the Lance Anderson Trio
• 7 p.m. — A Taste of New Orleans
• 8 p.m. — The Maple Blues Band and special guests
Tickets are $175 per person, or 10 for $1,500.
As for the Shuffle itself, 140-plus Canadian and international acts will grace some 50 venues around Port Credit. The Memorial Park Main Stage lineup is headed up by Grammy Award-winning Average White Band, The Funk Brothers, who penned more No. 1 hits than The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys combined, the Pat Travers Band, legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, and Homemade Jamz (the youngest act ever signed to a major blues recording contract).
The free Fram Slokker Street Shuffle — the city’s biggest block party — will take over Lakeshore Rd. Sept. 6, from 3-7 p.m.
For more information, visit www.southsideshuffle.com.
jchin@mississauga.net
