Award-winning Ontario music festival returns to Mississauga

An award-winning blues and jazz music festival and street party returns to Mississauga next month.

Recognized as one of the top 100 festivals in Ontario, the Tim Hortons Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival is back in Port Credit and Memorial Park from Sept. 6 to 8.

Held annually the weekend following Labour Day, the event draws thousands of music and festival lovers to the village in Mississauga year after year, organizers say in a press release.

The three-day outdoor event features three stages at Port Credit Memorial Park with more than 40 Canadian and international acts.

Plus the free Saturday (Sept. 7) afternoon street party includes performances from over 20 musical acts. The street party, named LIUNA Local 183 Street Shuffle, is held on Lakeshore Road at Stavebank Road from 1  to 5 p.m.

The party is followed by a second-line parade guided by a Dixieland band, leading the crowd into Memorial Park with colourful umbrellas and whistles for more live music and festivities.

Port Credit bars, restaurants, and coffee shops also have live bands.

Memorial Park opens to the public at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night. The event is fully licensed, there are food vendors and an artisan market, plus two free stages on the south end of the park.

The ticketed Brightwater Mainstage, located at the north end of Memorial Park, will feature Canada’s Jim Cuddy Band, CJ Chenier & The Red-Hot Louisiana Band, Sue Foley, Marriner & Bowskill, The Legendary Downchild Blues Band, Bywater Call, Philip Sayce, Matt Minglewood, The Blackburn Brothers, Durham County Poets, and The Ladies of Sweet Soul Music.

The entire park will be fenced for liquor licensing but only the ticketed stage area requires payment.

The rest of the park, including the Not Another Restaurant Gazebo Stage and Queen Bea Stage, is free and features live entertainment all weekend with acts like The Tonewheels featuring Matt Weidinger, Glen Marais and Mojo Train, Cheryl Lescom and the Tucson Choir Boys, Blues Etc., Big Dan Jeffares, Dwayne Laforme, The Whiskey River Blues Band featuring Annie Q, Ragwax Quartet, Doc McLean, Lance Anderson, Crossfield Bend, Al Lerman, Penny Skolski, James Anthony and Tony Paglia.

Musicians aged 12 to 18 years old will perform on the festival’s Gazebo Stage, competing for studio recording time and musical instruments in the Youth Band Challenge.

The Mississauga Music Walk of Fame will also return, honouring local musicians who have made a significant impact on the city. This year’s inductees are internationally acclaimed classical violinist Adrian Anantawan and multi-platinum-selling guitarist and songwriter for Platinum Blonde, Sergio Galli. This is also a free event at the Gazebo stage and all are welcome to attend.

New this year, the festival will be offering VIP area providing tables and chairs for an additional $10. This new perk will be available at the park on a first-come, first-served basis each day.

For more information on the festival and to purchase tickets visit southsideshuffle.ca.