Sean Ardoin is an American Zydeco musician, singer and four-time Grammy award nominee, who is known for high energy, live performances from Carnegie Hall to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Born in Eunice, Louisiana, Sean is a descendant of Amédé Ardoin (the Father of Zydeco) and noted creole musician Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin. Ardoin’s 2009 album, How Great Is Your Love, marked the first notable zydeco Gospel album. The release of his 2018 Kreole Rock and Soul album redefined the genre of zydeco music and was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award in the category of “Best Regional Roots Music Album.” Ardoin was also nominated in the category “Best American Roots Performance” for the song “Kick Rocks.”
Ardoin has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, MTV’s Road Rules, Real World, Fraternity Life, Sorority Life, BET’s Comic View, and was featured on CBS Primetime’s NCIS New Orleans, Bravo TV’s Southern Charm New Orleans, and Queen Sugar on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. In 2020, Ardoin released a single, “What Do You See,” which became a viral anthem of the George Floyd Protests and appeared in a feature on the Grammy.com website. Ardoin and his band, Kreole Rock and Soul, were nominated for a 2023 Grammy in the “Best Regional Roots Music Album” category, for Full Circle, which featured groundbreaking recordings with LSU’s Golden Band from Tigerland, of which Ardoin was a member.
Part of the “Our Louisiana Heritage in Arkansas” Series
Part of the Eclipse Festival Series
Part of the Windgate Collection Concert Series
Public Presentation: Zydeco Music Speaks!
Apr. 2, 2024 | 1:40-2:30 pm | Windgate Center Concert Hall
Class Visit and Q&A with FREN 3312 Students (French Civilization)
Apr. 2, 2024 | 2:40-3:30 pm | Windgate Center Art Lecture Hall 167
Eclipse Festival Kickoff and Community Extravaganza
Apr. 4, 2024 | 1:40-2:30 pm | Estes Stadium
Public Concert: Sean Ardoin and the Kreole Rock and Soul Band*
Apr. 4, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Windgate Center Concert Hall
*UCA students can obtain two free tickets to this event by visiting the box office at Reynolds Performance Hall or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts. Students must present their UCA Bear Card to receive tickets. Tickets at uca.edu/reynolds or call the Box Office 501-450-3265.