Barton & Sweeney – Official Artist Bio

Short Bio (for posters + flyers)

Barton & Sweeney are an Oklahoma-based acoustic duo known for warm harmonies, handcrafted songwriting, and a stage presence honed across America’s most respected folk festivals. Their music blends folk, blues, and country influences into a sound that is intimate, honest, and unmistakably their own. Though their performance schedule has slowed in recent years, the duo still reunites for select shows, offering rare and memorable listening experiences.

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Full Bio (Press Kit Version)

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Barton & Sweeney have been a fixture of the American folk music landscape for more than three decades. Based in Oklahoma, George Barton and Mark Sweeney formed their acoustic duo in the early 1990s after years of performing together in larger ensembles. Their musical chemistry was immediate—two guitars weaving effortlessly together, two voices blending into warm, close harmony, and original songs rooted in heart, humor, and lived experience.

Their talent carried them far beyond their regional scene. Barton & Sweeney performed at some of the most notable folk and acoustic music events in the country, including the Wheatland Music Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Napa Valley Music Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival (where Sweeney was a two-time New Folk artist), Mississippi River Music Festival, and even the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. They also showcased at South by Southwest and graced legendary listening rooms such as the Bluebird Café in Nashville and Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.

Along the way, they shared stages with artists who helped define Americana and contemporary folk: Arlo Guthrie, Guy Clark, Leon Russell, REO Speedwagon, Béla Fleck, the Dixie Chicks, Leo Kottke, Jimmy LaFave, Susan Werner, and Trout Fishing in America, who notably covered the duo’s song “Safer Haven.”

Though Barton & Sweeney no longer tour year-round, their occasional performances remain heartfelt, intimate, and deeply appreciated by longtime fans. Whether it’s a festival slot, a special event, or a small listening-room concert, the duo brings the same warmth, musicianship, and connection that built their reputation in the first place.

For the audiences lucky enough to catch one of their rare appearances, Barton & Sweeney deliver what they always have: two guitars, two voices, and songs that stay with you.