A true rockabilly pioneer, she is responsible for some some of the genre’s most memorable songs. The haunting “Funnel Of Love” has been recorded by – among many others – Tav Palco’s Panther Burns and The Fall, while “Let’s Have A Party” and “I Gotta Know” have been covered by bands as diverse as The Go-Go’s and Frantic Flintstones, respectively. As for “Fujiyama Mama”, its risqué lyrics (“when I start erupting ain’t nobody gonna make me stop […] I can cause destruction just like the atom bomb”) didn’t prevent it from going to number one... in Japan.

Like many 1950s rock’n’roll artists, Jackson was a victim of the lack of interest in rockabilly in the late ’60s and throughout the ’70s. As a result, she reinvented herself as a country singer and then, having become a practising christian, tried her hand at gospel. And like many ’50s rock’n’roll artists, she was rediscovered, thanks to the worldwide rockabilly revival, circa 1980.

This second wind led to collaborations with contemporary artists who had always adored her, such as The Cramps, who helped her revisit her very own “Riot In Cellblock #9”. Then earlier this year came The Party Ain’t Over, an album recorded with former White Stripes frontman Jack White at the helm, and featuring covers of songs by Eddie Cochran (“Nervous Breakdown”), Bob Dylan (“Thunder on The Mountain”), Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (“Shakin’ All Over”) and, more incongruously, Amy Winehouse (“You Know I’m No Good”). Perhaps unsurprisingly – White had, after all, already helped out country veteran Loretta Lynn to great acclaim – the project once more gained her a new generation of fans.

Now in her 70s, Jackson is about to play the venerable Ancienne Belgique, backed by none other than Antwerp’s very own Seatsniffers. If you are surprised by this unlikely pairing, you may be baffled to hear that it has actually been going on for a while.

“A few years ago, the Trix venue in Antwerp had the idea to book Wanda, with us as a backing band,” says singer and guitarist Walter Broes. “We have backed her up six times in total, and it seems like both parties enjoy working together.”

Formed in 1996, The Seatsniffers quickly became Belgium’s leading rockabilly combo. They have now released six studio albums and one live collection (the terrific Flavor Saver), and plans are afoot for a next album. Gaining in confidence with every release, they are now a regular fixture on the UK’s particularly demanding rockabilly festival scene (Hemsby, the Rockabilly Rave) – proof, if it was still needed, of the band’s international stature.

In fact, it isn’t just The Seatsniffers. The whole Flemish rockin’ scene, mostly centred around Antwerp and Ghent, is in rude health, with bands such The Baboons and Moonshine Reunion holding their own against more established acts. Flanders hosts several international rockabilly festivals, such as the Rockabilly Psychosis in Antwerp and the Monster Mash in Geel, the popularity of which is largely explained by the quality of the bands on the bill, but also by the fact that many overseas fans, from nearby cities such as Eindhoven, Düsseldorf and Lille, will use these events as de facto meeting points. It is far from unusual these days to see local bands high on the bill, whereas a decade ago they would have been lucky to play a handful of numbers just as the doors opened.

The “Wanda Jackson with The Seatsniffers” joint venture will not be confined to Brussels. After the Ancienne Belgique, the party moves on to the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. Which doesn’t mean that The Seatsniffers will be putting their feet up – far from it. More Dutch shows await them before Christmas, then in early 2012 they will be in the spotlight in more ways than one: they will be playing live in the studio, for four consecutive nights, on De Laatste Show – possibly the most high-profile programme on Flemish television.

Afterwards, there is the new album (“there are no dates or deadlines yet,” Broes adds) and, as always, more dates in Flanders and abroad. Here’s to a career as long as Wanda Jackson’s.

Wanda Jackson &
The Seatsniffers
25 October, 20.00
Ancienne Belgique
Anspachlaan 110, Brussels
www.abconcerts.be