Local singers to open for Booker T. at Larcom

BEVERLY – Local rising stars Sarah Seminski and Eric Reardon will open for Booker T. Jones and his new, young band when they make a rare New England stop at Downtown Beverly’s fully restored Larcom Theatre next Saturday.”I’ve been following Sarah and Eric for some time now and this new project of theirs is truly inspiring,” said Peter Van Ness, president of gimmeLIVE, the group presenting the concert.”Their honest, soulful music is a perfect fit for this show. I predict these two have an excellent career ahead of them.”Jones is founder of Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and the greatest Hammond B3 groove-master of all time.”We are honored to present Memphis Soul legend Booker T. Jones for his only New England concert on his U.S. tour,” said Van Ness.”This is a rare chance to experience what happens when you bring together a great master and bright young talent. Exciting and unexpected things will happen.”Booker T. will perform his legendary Stax Records hits like “Green Onions,” “Hip Hug Her,” “Hang ?Em High,” “Time Is Tight,” “Melting Pot” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” along with new music with his young band.Reserved seats are $29, $39 and $49.The show begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7.Tickets online can be obtained at gimmelive.com/?c=38There is more information online at htttp://gimmelive.com/BookerT.cfmSeminski and Reardon will present a show called “Cozy Covers,” a project and series where they’ll perform songs that inspire them.Some songs they wrote, others they wish they wrote, they say.Seminski is a Boston-based singer/songwriter who’s been the lead singer for several indie bands including Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket (funk), Vanilla Manvelope (roots/rock) and Search Party.She also collaborates with Boston bands Eight Feet Tall and Nephrok Allstars, among others.Reardon says he first picked up the guitar at age 9, getting lessons from his father. He said his early musical influences mirrored his father’s: Stevie Ray Vaughn, the Allman Brothers and his personal favorite which is Gov’t Mule.”He certainly is way beyond I was at his age,” says blues legend James Montgomery. “What impresses me and my other band members about him is that he is a very inventive player, way beyond his years in terms of being able to just jam and go with it. His solos are seamless. He’s got really great ears, not only for someone his age, but for anyone.”