Chuck Jackson is well-known in the music community as the lead vocalist for Downchild. As a singer he is one of Canada’s most treasured icons in the blues genre. But he doesn’t stop there. He was the founder of the Southside Shuffle in Port Credit and for the past 26 years he’s been the Artistic Director of the festival. His enthusiasm and professionalism has made the Southside Shuffle one of Canada’s most prestigious festivals.
Ken Wallis interviewed Chuck Jackson for the radio show BluesSource Canada. The following are excerpts from that interview, edited and amended for brevity and clarity.
Ken Wallis
The 26th annual Port Credit Blues and Jazz Festival, also known as Tim Horton's South Side Shuffle, takes place September 6th, 7th and 8th and joining us to tell us all about it is Chuck Jackson, the founder and artistic director.
Chuck, it's great seeing you again.
Chuck Jackson
Ken, thanks, man. Always a pleasure talking with you.
Ken Wallis
I just can't believe it. 26 years! What an accomplishment, that must feel great.
Chuck Jackson
It feels fantastic. When I started the festival, I thought maybe two years, or something like that. We only had 2 bands. We had Downchild and Fathead, a few sponsors and maybe about 1200 people. Now it's grown into 3 stages, a street shuffle, all the bars in Port Credit. I always jokingly call it a Blues Disneyland in Port Credit that week.
Ken Wallis
Yeah, I often call it a Blues Halloween. You go from one stage to another for a treat. It's just marvellous what you guys do there.
Chuck Jackson
Oh, that's a good call. I like that.
Ken Wallis
Well there's so many different artists to talk about, but let's basically highlight who's on the Brightwater Mainstage?
Chuck Jackson
Friday night we get started with the Durham County Poets. They've had some great albums out lately and they’re really talented guys. We’re looking forward to having them back, we've had them quite a few times at the Shuffle. That's at 7:00 on Friday and then back by popular demand, Bywater Call who we had from the Toronto Blues Society talent search. It was their first year playing and they're touring all over the world now. It's unbelievable and they're on at 8:30 and then we're closing Friday night off with Sue Foley, Ottawa girl that moved down to Texas and is taking the American Blues Awards by storm, four times winning the female traditional Blues artist of the Year.
Ken Wallis
And that's just one evening, then Saturday really starts rolling with the Street Shuffle. Who's on the main stage Saturday night?
Chuck Jackson
Saturday, we start at 4:30 in the afternoon with Philip Sayce from L.A., another fellow Canadian that moved down to the States. Quite the guitar slinger, a great guitar player. Really proud of these two guys, Steve Mariner and Jimmy Bowskill, who both played the Southside Shuffle when they were young lads, 15 and 11 years old. and they are doing so well in the music business now.
Ken Wallis
And that is just scratching the surface. What else is going on?
Chuck Jackson
Well, Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo is going to be playing songs from his new CD release and he's my wife's favourite singer. So I'm kind of hurt by that one, [LAUGHTER] but that's OK.
And then closing off the night with CJ Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band, one of the great zydeco bands, and of course the son of Clifton Chenier, who was known as the King of Zydeco Music. And you know, Downchild always knew for years you never follow a Zydeco band. You let them go out after you, no matter what the billing is.
Ken Wallis
And then Sunday, the wrap up, it just keeps getting better and better. So who's on Sunday?
Chuck Jackson
Well, Sunday we got the ladies of Sweet Soul Music up, featuring 4 fantastic lady singers doing their tribute to Aretha Franklin and Etta James, Tina Turner. And it's going to be a great show. I saw them play a while back at the casino in Mississauga. And they just blew me away. I couldn't believe how good they were, and of course, Quisha Wint dressed up as Tina Turner, it was unbelievable.
Ken Wallis
Looking forward to that and then it just keeps rolling.
Chuck Jackson
One of my favourite bands of all time, the Blackburn Brothers are coming in to play. They've been doing great and nominated for so many awards this year. One of the great histories of blues families in Canada and the United States. Of course, from the East Coast, Matt Minglewood, who's probably been around as long as Downchild and you know we're going to have Matt join us on stage later on and play with us. And of course, the legendary Downchild Blues Band. Our 26th time we've played at the Shuffle, and it's our Farewell Tour, so it's going to be for some people the last chance to see the band. The last chance to dance, I guess.
Ken Wallis
And we have to mention the Farewell Tour. This is going to be spectacular, and you guys have lined up some great dates. So go to the Downchild website and fans can catch up where the band will be playing.
What are the ticket prices for the Shuffle?
Chuck Jackson
Well, you can't beat the ticket prices. A weekend pass is $80.00 and it's $40 Saturday, $30.00 on Friday and and $30.00 on Sunday. And any one of those bands you'd probably pay hundreds of dollars to go see by themselves at a theatre somewhere.
Ken Wallis
I think we really have to mention Tim Hortons. They've been such great supporters for the Shuffle over the years.
Chuck Jackson
We couldn't get this thing off without Tim Hortons. They've been a fantastic presenting sponsor. You know Kristine Kane, who is our co-chair this year, has been fantastic in getting grants and you really can't have a festival without the support of the government. We really appreciate all our sponsors at the Southside Shuffle and of course the volunteers.
Ken Wallis
Yeah, volunteers really make it, don't they?
Chuck Jackson
Yeah, yeah. You know, we've got about 300 volunteers for the weekend.
Ken Wallis
So Chuck, I thank you for your time.
Chuck Jackson
Again, thank you so much and just want to remind everybody, there's two other free stages. We've got the LiUNA! Street Shuffle on Saturday afternoon. It's like a trip down to New Orleans and of course, all the great bars and restaurants in Port Credit, right on Lake Ontario. So come on down and enjoy it. If you've never been there before, you're going to really love it.
Ken Wallis
It's gonna be a great weekend. Thank you, Chuck.
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