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BARTON AND SWEENEY

About the Artist

Photo of Barton and Sweeney

George Barton and Mark Sweeney met in the mid-1970s in the small Oklahoma town of Tahlequah. They immediately recognized their musical kinship and began performing together in local bands. After going their separate ways and leading their own bands throughout the 1980s, the pair teamed up again in Tahlequah in the early 1990s. Since their reunion as a duo, Barton & Sweeney have gained considerable recognition as performing songwriters, showcasing at Crossroads in Memphis and South by Southwest in Austin. Sweeney was chosen as a Kerrville New Folk finalist in 1994 and 1995. The release of their debut album, ôRiver Red,ö on Tinder Box Records in 1996 led directly to a return to the Kerrville Folk Festival as mainstage performers. Invitations to showcase at the Napa Valley Music Festival, the Falcon Ridge Festival, and Northeast Regional Folk Alliance followed. The result of this attention has been the natural expansion of their touring from a regional to a national scale.

Past Performances

Photo of August 22, 2000 Performance

August 22, 2000

Powerful vocals, passionate lyrics and exceptional musicianship are hallmarks of a Barton & Sweeney performance.

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Photo of June 15, 1999 Performance

June 15, 1999

Barton and Sweeney perform their award-winning blend of folk music.

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