Saracen Casino Resort recently announced that a lineup of well-known entertainers will be among the first to appear at the Saracen Event Center.
Comedian Leslie Jones will perform at 8 p.m. April 18. Tickets for the show start at $39 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
Known for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” Jones is a three-time Primetime Emmy Award, Writer’s Guild Award and NAACP Award nominee.
She has also been honored as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. Jones recently wrapped production on season two of the HBO Max series “Our Flag Means Death.” The week of Jan. 17, 2023, Jones kicked off a new era of “The Daily Show” as the program’s first guest host. In 2021, she starred opposite Eddie Murphy in “Coming to America,” for which she won an MTV Movie Award and was nominated for a People’s Choice Award.
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Jones will next produce an untitled Christmas comedy for Lionsgate, which she is developing as a potential future starring role, according to a news release.
Saracen Event Center will present Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Kool & The Gang at 8 p.m. May 9. Tickets for the show start at $79 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
“From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & The Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history,” according to the release. “Known for their undeniable funk and jazzy arrangements, they are also the most sampled R&B band of all time. Even after more than half a century on the road, the group maintains a nonstop global touring schedule.”
With hits like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame,” Kool & The Gang has earned numerous accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018, and most recently, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. Their music continues to resonate across generations and is featured throughout popular culture, from major film soundtracks to television commercials, including “Rocky,” “Saturday Night Fever,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” according to the release.
GREAT WHITE & SLAUGHTER
Rock legends Great White and Slaughter will perform at the Saracen Event Center at 8 p.m. May 16. Tickets start at $29 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
“Great White and Slaughter unite for a powerhouse night of legendary hard rock that defined an era. With over four decades of music history, Great White rose to global prominence with blues-based swagger and chart-topping hits like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Rock Me” and “Save Your Love,” earning Grammy nominations, multi-platinum albums and more than 10 million records sold worldwide. Known for their electrifying live performances, Great White continues to deliver hard-hitting riffs and unforgettable anthems that resonate with rock fans across generations,” according to the release.
Since 1990, Slaughter has become an instant force in rock with hits like “Up All Night” and “Fly to the Angels,” dominating radio, MTV and global tours alongside rock icons including Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne.
“With platinum albums, American Music Award wins and a reputation as one of the most powerful live bands of their generation, Slaughter’s high-energy performances and fan-favorite anthems have kept them touring nonstop for more than 30 years. Together, Great White and Slaughter bring a night of pure, unapologetic rock that celebrates the sound, spirit and legacy of classic hard rock,” according to the release.
JAKE OWEN
Country star Jake Owen will perform at the Saracen Event Center at 8 p.m. June 4. Tickets for the show start at $79 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
“Jake Owen is a country music super star whose career includes a collection of gold and platinum records, 10 No. 1 singles and more than 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams. The ACM Award winner is signatured by his laid-back style and chart-topping hits including “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Beachin’,” “Anywhere With You,” “Alone With You” and “The One That Got Away,” according to the release.
The recording artist, headlining entertainer and actor has released 10 studio albums, including his most recent, the critically acclaimed album “Dreams to Dream” (co-produced alongside Shooter Jennings). Owen has headlined tours around the world.
He was scheduled to launch his “Dreams To Dream” tour in February. The 12-date tour will canvas Washington, D.C.; York, Pa.; St. Paul, Minn.; and Des Moines, Iowa.
Beyond the stage, Owen is a music business executive, philanthropist, and father of two, serving as a partner in Nashville-based Good Company Entertainment and founder of The Jake Owen Foundation, a charity organization that provides financial support to children suffering with life-threatening and catastrophic childhood diseases, as well as youth organizations in his hometown of Vero Beach, Fla.
JOHN LEGEND
Saracen Casino Resort’s grand opening event, “An Evening With John Legend, A Night of Songs & Stories,” will be at 8 p.m. June 13. Tickets start at $149 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
Legend is a critically acclaimed multi-platinum artist and producer who has garnered 13 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and four Emmy Awards, among others.
Legend has released 11 albums throughout his career. After releasing the 20th anniversary digital deluxe version of his Grammy-winning debut album, Get Lifted — featuring new remixes and collaborations with artists including Tems, Simi, Killer Mike and Lil Wayne — Legend launched his “Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour” in May.
The North American leg kicks off in August, bringing his debut album back to the stage for a new generation of fans.
Beyond music, Legend is a producer and storyteller. Alongside partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius, he co-founded Get Lifted Film Co., which has created a wide range of acclaimed projects across major networks and streaming platforms. Recent highlights include the Emmy -winning HBO documentary “1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed,” Paramount+’s “Loudmouth” and Netflix’s hit series “Rhythm & Flow.”
JEFF FOXWORTHY
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will perform at the Saracen Event Center at 8 p.m. July 11. Tickets for the show start at $59 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country.
“He is the best-selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and the author of over 26 books,” according to the release.
In 2014, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. While widely known for his redneck jokes, his comedy also explores everyday family interactions and human nature — often compared to the style of Mark Twain.
Foxworthy will be filming a new comedy special in April, which is set for release later this year. His latest comedy special, “The Good Old Days,” is currently streaming on Netflix. He also has his own comedy channel, Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup, on SIRIUSXM, which showcases the best in American comedy.
Foxworthy has created multiple games, including “Relative Insanity” and “See What I Mean,” which use his humor for interactive fun. His television hosting credits include A&E’s live auction show “What’s It Worth?,” NBC’s comedy competition “Bring The Funny” and several seasons of FOX’s “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” He also hosted “The American Bible Challenge” for GSN, narrated Lifetime’s “The Week the Women Left” and led CBS’s “The American Baking Competition.”
A pioneer of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, Foxworthy co-created and starred in “Blue Collar TV” on the WB network. The Blue Collar Comedy Tour films were among Comedy Central’s highest-rated programming, selling millions of units and earning a Grammy nomination. His other comedy specials include “Them Idiots Whirled Tour” (2012) with Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy. As an author, Foxworthy has released several New York Times bestsellers, including “The Redneck Dictionary” series, “How to Really Stink at Golf,” “How to Really Stink at Work” and children’s books such as “Dirt On My Shirt” “Silly Street” and “Hide!!!,” the latter winning a Mom’s Choice Award.
Foxworthy has voiced characters in various animated films, including Handy Smurf in “The Smurfs” and “Smurfs 2,” Reggie the Rooster in “Racing Stripes,” Lyle in “The Fox and the Hound II” and more. His final solo comedy album, “Have Your Loved Ones Spayed or Neutered,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard comedy charts. From 1999 to 2009, he hosted “The Foxworthy Countdown,” a syndicated country music radio show, earning a CMA nomination for Broadcast Personality of the Year. His achievements also include an HBO special, two Showtime specials, a Cable ACE Award nomination and a People’s Choice Award for “The Jeff Foxworthy Show.”
Beyond comedy, he founded Foxworthy Outdoors, a brand dedicated to outdoor products. His You Might Be A Redneck If… calendars have sold millions of copies through Andrews McMeel Publishing.
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW
The Australian Pink Floyd Show will perform at the Saracen Event Center at 8 p.m. July 18. Tickets for the show start at $39 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.
“The Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS) is widely regarded as the world’s leading Pink Floyd tribute production. Formed in Adelaide, Australia, in 1988, the band has sold more than four million tickets worldwide and has performed in over 35 countries, touring extensively throughout Europe, the UK, North America, South America and Australia,” according to the release.
The production is known for its note-for-note re-creations of Pink Floyd’s catalogue, presented in full concert-length performances that carefully mirror the sound and atmosphere of the original live shows. TAPFS regularly performs material spanning Pink Floyd’s entire career, incorporating extended instrumental passages, authentic vocal arrangements and precise musical detail. Each performance is supported by a large-scale production that includes synchronized lighting and lasers, high-resolution LED screens, bespoke video content and signature inflatables, all designed to reflect the visual style associated with Pink Floyd’s own tours.
“The show is continuously refined to incorporate modern production technology while remaining true to the source material,” according to the release.
TAPFS has appeared at major theaters, arenas and festivals worldwide, consistently playing to capacity audiences. The band has also performed at high-profile private and industry events, including David Gilmour’s 50th birthday celebration, and has been joined on stage by David and Rick Wright. Members of Pink Floyd’s touring bands — including Guy Pratt, Durga McBroom and Lorelei McBroom — have previously collaborated with the production. Lorelei McBroom has been a featured performer with TAPFS for more than 15 years. Often described as more than a tribute act, TAPFS was the first Pink Floyd tribute to successfully move into large-scale international touring. With more than 35 years of live performance history, the show continues to attract a broad, cross-generational audience. Today, TAPFS operates as an international ensemble, with band members based in Australia, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
SARACEN’S HOTEL AND EVENT CENTER
Saracen Casino Resort’s hotel and event center construction is nearing completion, according to the news release. The event center will host headliner entertainment as well as events and conventions. For details, call (870) 686-9001, visit www.saracenresort.com, info@saracenresort.com or connect via social media.