Alan Black remembers it as “an accident” while Rick Fines recalls it as “a fluke.”

Whatever it was that brought the pair, along with Gary Peeples, to the historic Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee back in 1988 was undeniably a springboard to something very special in the form of Jackson Delta.

“We had gone there for the tour,” recalls Fines of the trio’s gathering at the Union Street landmark and their subsequent encounter with the studio’s owner. “He said there was supposed to be some people recording an album that night but they had cancelled on him. We looked at each other and then asked ‘Well, how much would that cost?'”

Just 250 copies of Delta Sunrise, the trio’s debut recording, were ultimately pressed, of which Fines still has a precious sealed copy.

“We spent 96 bucks making that record — $60 an hour for the studio, $17 for the engineer, and the rest for the cost of the tape,” marvels Fines.

“We had just enough money to put gas in the vehicle to get home,” Black adds.

Home was and remains Peterborough where, 35 years after that initial recording session saw them dig deep and count pennies, Jackson Delta returns to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, April 8th. Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert, billed as ‘True Blue’, cost $30 ($40 for cabaret seating) and are available at markethall.org.

As much as that Memphis coming-of-age moment remains a highlight for Fines, Black, and Peeples, what followed for the trio has left them, and thousands of loyal fans, with much reason to smile.

“We didn’t think anyone was interested in what we were doing,” says Fines. “We were playing rock and roll to make money. We loved the blues but, as far as paying gigs, it was rock and roll. The acoustic thing was a little side project.”

VIDEO: “Sink or Swim” – Jackson Delta (1990)

Beginning with well-received gigs at Trent University’s Hangman Pub, that “little side project” took on a life of its own, garnering the trio wider recognition and more appearances and, in 1991, a Juno Award nomination for Best Roots and Traditional Album for Acoustic Blues, the trio’s second studio album.

Just two years later, Jackson Delta scored another Juno Award nomination for the album I Was Just Thinking That.

As one would expect, invitations to perform poured in. During the early to mid-1990s, there were very few major festivals that didn’t count Jackson Delta among the headlining acts. Those that didn’t wished that they had.

“It just kind of took off,” recalls Black of the trio’s sound and stage presence. “Maybe what people wanted to hear was something that was kind of honest. There was no sort of big plan but it was a lot of fun and people enjoyed it.”

“We did it because we loved it,” adds Fines. “We would do it in each other’s living rooms and in each other’s bedrooms. We’d just bring our instruments and gather around in a circle and play music. We just did it for fun.”

Both Black and Fines acknowledge the two Juno nominations provided a welcome boost at just the right time, with Black adding the disclaimer that, while it’s great to be nominated, “It’s kind of like winning but it really sucks.”

VIDEO: “Back Up From Zero” – Jackson Delta (1990)

Come the new millennium, as is the case with most all bands in all genres of music at all levels, the urge to individually explore other avenues proved too strong to resist and Jackson Delta called it a day.

“I was itching to be touring and playing all the time,” recalls Fines. “At that time, they (Black and Peeples) had young families. We couldn’t be on the road all the time. I needed to go and do that. I had no plan B. I didn’t have the skills the other guys had that they were making a living off of.”

Fines would go on to have an excellent solo career that continues to this day, his impressive resumé overflowing with several collaborations, his work with the touring Blues In The Schools music education program and numerous album credits, including Solar Powered Too which earned him a 2021 Juno Award nomination.

Black and Peeples, meanwhile, have stayed closer to home but have kept busy musically with a number of acts.

Having reunited in 2014 and again in 2017 — both those shows also at Market Hall, with another show planned for April 2019 cancelled because of the pandemic — Jackson Delta has seen a rebirth as of late, the upcoming show following a recent run which saw the band perform at Zimart’s Rice Lake Gallery near Bailieboro, on the cruise boat The Island Princess off Parry Sound, and as part of the 2021 drive-in concert series in the Memorial Centre parking lot.

“Playing with these guys is so much fun,” says Black. “I don’t know what’s going to happen but it’s so comfortable. Blues is a conversation. Sometimes you don’t know where it’s going to go. Musically, they sometimes throw something at me or I throw something at them but we always seem to bail each other out somehow.”

VIDEO: Jackson Delta at Showplace Performance Centre (2012)

Asked what their longtime fans can expect during this go-round, Fines can’t resist a playful reference to the longevity the band shares with them.

“Considering the state of the memory of our audience, the whole show will be brand new,” he laughs. “Just kidding. We’re going to do a lot of the things that people expect of us, and we’ll have a couple of little surprises in there for sure.”

“Collectively, we have one memory, so when we get together it just falls back into place. Some of these songs we’ve been playing for decades. People think of us as good times from the past — good times from decades ago. That’s what we want to give them.”

In the meantime, the trio continue to follow their own musical pursuits.

“I’ve been writing songs and having fun with my new little baby, a jazz guitar,” Fine says. “I’m messing around with some stuff so we’ll see where that goes.”

Black, meanwhile, continues to provide the backbeat for his Steady Band, comprised of Andy Pryde, Jim Usher, and Peeples. He’s also playing with Charlie Horse, which performs rarely heard country songs recorded by The Rolling Stones and, better still, performs a lot of the band’s hit songs “in a country manner.”

“I like to think of myself as a mentor,” says Black, adding “I like playing with young musicians. They keep me on my toes. You’re never too old to learn anything.”

AUDIO: “T.V. Mama / Bad News Blues” – Jackson Delta (live)

As for Peeples, he was not in on the chat to let us know what he’s up to, which provided an opening for Black to have some fun.

“I think he’s renovating a bathroom,” he laughs. “I don’t know, but he tells me he plays every day and I know he does. We had a rehearsal a few days ago and he’s on top of things. He plays all the time.”

When all is said and done, with all signs at this point indicating there remains plenty to say and do, the trio shares an unwavering friendship that has respect for one another firmly at its centre.

“We all came from a different place,” reflect Black. “When I met Rick, I was tired. I had been playing on the road. I was tired of peanut butter and trying to pay bills. I met Rick and he was very inspiring to play with. There was excitement playing with somebody young and new and very talented. Gary was a tradesman with a huge amount of musical talent. We all came into it very differently, but we all had a passion for the kind of music that we’re playing.”

Fines, meanwhile, says he feels to this day like “the fortunate one who got to have two mentors from a really young age.”

“Gary played guitar like I wanted to be able to play guitar,” he reflects. “I got to play right beside him and learn a whole lot. Alan brought with him a whole library of music. Then it was off we’d go, on another trip down some old blues alley that three guys from Peterborough had no business being in.”

With the arrival of spring, it’s time to get your tickets for Westben’s 2023 season of 26 musical performances and more this July and early August in Northumberland County.

This year, the not-for-profit arts organization in Campbellford is welcoming a range of Canadian artists at various stages in their careers, from up-and-coming Warkworth-born country music artist Sacha to Grammy award-nominated soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (who will open the season), to veteran singer-songwriter Dan Hill.

For classical music aficionados, Westben’s own Brian Finley will perform a selection of favourite piano music of Liszt, tenor Ben Heppner will sing with the internationally acclaimed ensemble The Elmer Iseler Singers, five favourite Westben musicians will perform “Mozart in the Meadow” with music for clarinet and string quartet, and Juno award-winning concert pianist Janina Fialkowska will perform piano concertos by composers such as Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, and more.

Along with Dan Hill and Sacha, other singer-songwriters featured at Westben this season include Juno and Grammy award-winning Chantal Kreviazuk, folk musicians Del Barber, Ben Caplan, and Lennie Gallant, and golden-voiced songstress Jill Barber.

Jazz vocalist Emilie-Claire Barlow will lead her band through innovative arrangements of American songbook treasures and more. Her father, Canadian jazz drummer and arranger Brian Barlow, will join award-winning singer-songwriter and pianist Laila Biali with his big band to perform the music of Joni Mitchell and more.

Unique performances coming to Westben this season include the Juno award-winning quartet The Fretless, who perform both traditional and original music on violin, viola, and cello, and an improvised concert where Ben Finley and a group of musicians team up with a mime artist to explore a series of silent movies.

Westben is welcoming Indigenous performers this season, including the award-winning Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney. A special event called “Natural Balance” will see Westben’s Michi Saagiig neighbours from Alderville First Nation sharing stories, music, and conversation about their life, history, hopes, and dreams, with a special introduction to the creation and caretakership of Alderville’s Black Oak Savanna, the largest intact tract of native grassland in Central Ontario.

Westben will also be celebrating the music of Les Misérables, one of the most moving and beloved musicals in history, with a multiple-day performance of “Les Mis in Concert” featuring musicians Adam Fisher, Robert Longo, Caitlin Wood, David Michael Moote, Maher Pavri, and Kim Dafoe.

In 2021, Westben reconfigured its main performance venue and created two new outdoor venues to accommodate public health restrictions during the pandemic. The Barn, which seats 400 and has doors that roll open onto a meadow, has new circulation fans and movable seats to allow for greater flexibility and physical distancing. Willow Hill, where audiences bring their own chairs, is a natural grassy amphitheatre located north of The Barn. The Campfire is an intimate space where audiences and enjoy music, stories, and campfire treats such as smores and baked brie.

Here’s the full line-up for Westben’s 2023 season along with dates and ticket prices (which do not include tax and fees):

• Measha Brueggergosman-Lee – Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Brian Finley – Friday, July 7 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Morgan Toney – Friday, July 7 at 7 p.m. – Willow Hill – Tickets $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Sacha – Saturday, July 8 at 7 p.m. – Willow Hill – Tickets $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• The Fretless – Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Sounds of Silence – Thursday, July 13 at 7 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $35 adults, $33 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Ben Heppner with the Elmer Iseler Singers – Friday, July 14 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Mozart in the Meadow – Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Del Barber – Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. – The Campfire – Tickets $50 adults, $48 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Dan Hill – Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Natural Balance – Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $45 adults, $43 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Emilie-Claire Barlow – Friday, July 21 at 7 p.m. – Willow Hill – Tickets $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Janina Fialkowska – Saturday, July 22 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Ben Caplan – Saturday, July 22 at 8 p.m. – The Campfire – Tickets $50 adults, $48 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Chantal Kreviazuk – Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Les Mis in Concert – Thursday, July 25 to Wednesday, August 3 at 2 p.m., with 7 p.m. performance on Friday, July 28 – The Barn – Tickets $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Lennie Gallant – Friday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. – Willow Hill – Tickets $55 adults, $53 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• Jill Barber – Saturday, Aug 5 at 7 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18
• The Music of Joni Mitchell & More – Sunday, Aug 6 at 2 p.m. – The Barn – Tickets $65 adults, $63 seniors, $30 under 30, $5 youth under 18

Single tickets for Westben’s 2023 season are available online at www.westben.ca, by calling the Westben box office at 705-653-5508 (toll free at 1-877-883-5777), or in person at The West Schoolhouse (6788 County Road 30, Campbellford) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

A new theatre company in Haliburton Highlands called Ctrl-ART-Del is working to “reboot” theatre for young adults, with its inaugural production — the Canadian premiere of the irreverent black comedy Cherubs — coming to the stage at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in Haliburton on March 31 and April 1.

According to Ctrl-ART-Del production manager Amy Leis, the theatre company was formed to present contemporary theatre that appeals to young working age adults as opposed to families with young children or seniors, and also to provide local younger people with opportunities to participate in theatrical production.

“We want to make space for younger adults in the local arts community and encourage them to put down roots in their own town, rather than move on to bigger cities,” says Leis, a Haliburton County resident who speaks from experience. “I did my professional theatre training in Toronto because there weren’t local options. Now that I’ve graduated, I want to be able to work in my own town. Ctrl-ART-Del gives me the chance to do so.”

Leis says Ctrl-ART-Del will give priority to hiring young local actors and technicians for all productions, which will only include contemporary plays written no earlier than the 2000s.

“Theatre companies have been asking the question ‘How do we get young people in seats?’ for as long as I can remember,” Leis says. “The reality is young people have little place in most theatre companies, either onstage or in the audience. Companies aren’t programming with them in mind. You can offer student pricing to as many college kids as you want, but if the shows are all picked to appeal to their grandparents, most 20-year-olds aren’t going to bite. I can’t say I blame them.”

In keeping with this vision, Ctrl-ART-Del is presenting as its inaugural production the one-act play Cherubs by Toby McShane, a writer and educator living in Switzerland who teaches literature at an international school outside of Geneva. Writing for both the stage and the screen, McShane’s work has been produced in both London in the U.K. and Los Angeles in the U.S., and now in Canada.

Written by McShane in 2020 during a pandemic lockdown, Cherubs is described as “a wild ride that hits somewhere between Beetlejuice and Blackadder.” It was given a full online table reading by the New Works Playhouse in London U.K. in January 2021, with McShane completing the final script this past January.

Ctrl-ART-Del’s production of Cherubs is being directed by Tim Nicholson, an established professional actor and producer who is also mentoring Ctrl-ART-Del’s core team, who are mostly in their twenties and thirties. Written by a young playwright, Cherubs is a perfect fit for Ctrl-ART-Del according to Nicholson.

“Cherubs is a very funny play that looks at religion from a unique point of view,” Nicholson explains. “Two disgraced guardian angels, exiled to Earth for insubordination, are drawn into a plan to blackmail their way back into heaven. With nods to Terry Pratchett and Martin McDonagh, this play will have the viewer laughing at one moment, and somberly reflecting the next.”

“It’s both wickedly entertaining and challenging,” Nicholson adds. “It should be a welcome refresh for audiences who prefer their theatre without fluff. There are guardian angels, but it’s definitely not It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Cherubs premieres at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion (5358 Haliburton County Road 21, Haliburton) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 31st with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 1st.

Tickets are $30 (plus fees) for assigned seating and are available at eventbrite.ca/o/ctrl-art-del-theatre-59084052373. Note that Cherubs is recommended for audiences ages 14 and older, as the play contains strong language, drug use, and dark themes including suicide.

For more information about Ctrl-ART-Del, visit www.ctrlartdel.ca.

Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, March 16 to Wednesday, March 22.

If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.

With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).