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KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD announces 30th anniversary tour celebrating groundbreaking debut “Ledbetter Heights”

By Larry Philpot on September 30, 2025

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026
BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER IN NASHVILLE, INDIANA

Featuring full-album performances and career-spanning set
Tickets on sale this Friday, October 3 at 10 a.m.

Nashville, Ind. (September 29, 2025) – Platinum-selling, five-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock icon Kenny Wayne Shepherd has announced a major new tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut album, Ledbetter Heights. The “Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour” will bring Shepherd and his band to the Brown County Music Center in Nashville, Ind., on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Tickets will go on sale with a special artist pre-sale tomorrow, Tuesday, September 30 and general on-sale Friday, October 3 at 10am local time at www.browncountymusiccenter.com, www.ticketmaster.com, and at the venue box office (open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturdays through Mondays open only on event days, at 3 p.m.) via outdoor ticketing windows and phone sales at (812) 988-5323). The box office accepts cash, debit and credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Any box office related inquiries beyond purchasing tickets for an upcoming show should be directed to bo*******@********************er.com.

The tour will feature songs from Ledbetter Heights, performed in its entirety as well as songs highlighting Shepherd’s remarkable 30-year career. This anniversary celebration marks a new chapter for Shepherd – one that revisits the fire and grit of his 1995 debut while showcasing his evolution as one of modern blues’ most vital and enduring voices.

Thirty years ago, a young Kenny Wayne from Shreveport, Louisiana – armed with a Fender Strat – brought the blues roaring back into the mainstream. With fiery fretwork, pop-rock hooks, and a deep reverence for the genre, Shepherd’s debut album, Ledbetter Heights, became a breakout success – going Gold within months, Platinum by early 1996, and eventually landing the guitarist at No. 3 on Guitar World’s list of top blues artists, behind only B.B. King and Eric Clapton.

“In a lot of ways, this is the album that gave me everything,” says Shepherd. “Revisiting it put me back in touch with the wonder and excitement of those days. I didn’t know what lay ahead. I just knew I loved playing the blues.”

Originally recorded while Shepherd was still in high school, Ledbetter Heights was the culmination of years spent absorbing Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix licks on cassette, then translating them into a sound all his own. He wrote or co-wrote nearly every track on the record – uncommon for a teenage blues guitarist at the time – and named the album in honor of an historic neighborhood in his hometown, paying tribute to local blues legend Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter.

The album catapulted Shepherd into the national spotlight and set the tone for a career that’s seen him tour with the likes of Bob Dylan, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, and Lynyrd Skynyrd; earn five GRAMMY nominations; and release a string of chart-topping albums that bridge blues tradition with modern rock swagger.

Far from resting on early success, Shepherd has remained one of the genre’s most restless and respected innovators. His 12-album discography (plus two albums with supergroup The Rides, alongside Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg) reflects a deep commitment to blues history – and a refusal to stand still. His recent collaboration with 91-year-old blues icon Bobby Rush (Young Fashioned Ways) and the genre-busting double album Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1 & 2 are proof of an artist still stretching, still growing, still listening.

This 30th anniversary chapter promises to bring things full circle, especially for longtime fans who will finally get to hear vocalist Noah Hunt perform the Ledbetter Heights material live. Hunt has appeared on every other Kenny Wayne Shepherd album since his debut, but never sang on the original release – making this tour a meaningful and long-anticipated moment. As Shepherd puts it, “That’s always been the missing piece – and now the circle feels complete.”

The Brown County Music Center opened its doors on August 24, 2019, featuring country music legend Vince Gill as its first headliner. Nestled on the banks of Salt Creek and located less than one mile from the largest state park in Indiana and the Town of Nashville, the Brown County Music Center is a visual and auditory masterpiece. Since its opening, the 2,000-seat live performance venue has hosted artists spanning world-class rock, blues, country, pop, jazz, oldies, throwback artists, and more, offering an incredibly intimate experience for each show with the farthest seat from the stage only 106 feet away. Nationally renowned performers have included Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, The Beach Boys, Jason Isbell, Chicago, Graham Nash, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ray LaMontagne, Ben Folds, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, America, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Gladys Knight, Air Supply, YES, Sara Evans and many more. Please check www.browncountymusiccenter.com for the latest show updates and follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | X

About Brown County, Ind.: No matter what you’re looking for, escape comes naturally in Brown County. Eclectic boutiques and galleries, breathtaking scenery, welcoming accommodations, and endless outdoor adventures await in one of America’s original artists’ colonies. From art to the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, and for most, it’s only a short drive away. Unplug from daily life and reconnect with one another as you experience the rustic beauty and artisanal charm of Brown County. Brown County is a place for many diverse tastes and interests. Plan your escape today! You’ll be glad you did.