Jump and Jive with Blues in Bicentennial

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is thrilled to welcome award winning blues band, the Sean Carney Band to Bicentennial Park this Friday at 8:00 p.m. for a free performance as part of the Rhythm on the River series.

Sean Carney was born into the blues, with that gritty emotion so characteristic of blues music flowing through his veins. Growing up around multiple jazz musicians helped him lay the foundation for his career, which began over thirty years ago. Carney began his career by backing well-known local and national R&B artists such as Chrisitine Kittrell and Jimmy “T-99” Nelson proving his talents as a fantastic blues guitarist and vocalist.

A one-man ambassador for the blues, Columbus, Ohio native Sean Carney has brought his music to far-flung locales such as Switzerland, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Hungary, Ecuador and Costa Rica. He served three terms as president of the Columbus Blues Alliance, and promotes concerts as the creator of “Blues for a Cure,” an annual blues festival that has donated over $50,000 toward cancer research.

Carney has performed worldwide with Big Joe Duskin, Duke Robillard, Charlie Baty, Columbus standby Willie Pooch, Hank Marr, Joe Weaver, Johnnie Bassett, “King Saxe” Gene Walker, Sir Mack Rice and Hal Singer as well as his own group. In 2007, the Sean Carney Band won the International Blues Challenge (IBC), and Carney was awarded the Albert King Best Guitarist Award, presented by the Blues Foundation.

Acclaimed vocalist Shaun Booker will join the Sean Carney Band during this special Rhythm on the River performance. With her her larger than life voice and dramatic stage personae, Booker has captivated audiences throughout the country and has recently been crowned Empress of Beale St at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

Rhythm on the River features an eclectic series of touring artists, local musicians and arts organizations. Produced by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, the 2012 series will present seven free outdoor performances in Bicentennial Park. In addition to Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park is also home to Movies on the Mile and FountainSide presented by Sunny 95 (94.7 FM). All performances and programs are free and open to the public. For more information on Rhythm on the River, please visit https://www.sciotomile.com/events/rhythm-on-the-river/.

ARTIST WEBSITES:
http://www.seancarneyblues.com/
http://www.shaunbooker.com/

EVENING SCHEDULE:
6:30 p.m. – Food and beverage sales begin
8:00 p.m. – Performance

LOCATION:
Bicentennial Park | 233 Civic Center Drive, Columbus, Ohio