Five-time GRAMMY-nominated blues-rock powerhouse Kenny Wayne Shepherd is hitting the road in 2026 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Ledbetter Heights. The “Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour” kicks off on February 19th in Dallas, Texas, and will take Shepherd and his band to theaters and performing arts centers across the U.S. through spring 2026. Fans in Austin and Nashville will enjoy performances alongside blues legend Jimmie Vaughan, while those in Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale will see Shepherd joined by guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson.
The tour will showcase the full Ledbetter Heights album, a landmark release that skyrocketed Shepherd to fame, alongside a selection of hits from his three-decade career. This milestone tour celebrates the raw energy of his 1995 debut while highlighting his growth as a leading figure in modern blues.
Tickets go on sale starting with an artist pre-sale on September 30th, followed by venue pre-sales on October 1st, and general public sales on October 3rd at 10 a.m. local time. Visit KennyWayneShepherd.net/Tour for details.
Hailing from Shreveport, Louisiana, a teenage Kenny Wayne Shepherd burst onto the scene with Ledbetter Heights, an album that blended blistering guitar work, catchy pop-rock melodies, and a deep respect for blues traditions. Recorded while still in high school, the album went Gold in months, Platinum by 1996, and earned Shepherd a spot among guitar greats like B.B. King and Eric Clapton on Guitar World’s top blues artists list.
“This album was a turning point for me,” Shepherd reflects. “Going back to it reminds me of the passion and possibility I felt back then. I was just a kid who loved the blues, with no idea what was coming next.”
Named after a historic Shreveport neighborhood and inspired by blues icon Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, Ledbetter Heights featured original songs written or co-written by Shepherd—a rare feat for a young artist in the genre. His influences, from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Jimi Hendrix, shaped a distinctive sound that resonated widely, propelling him to share stages with legends like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and Van Halen.
Shepherd’s career spans 12 albums, including two with the supergroup The Rides (featuring Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg), five GRAMMY nominations, and a string of chart-topping releases that fuse blues roots with modern rock flair. Never content to rest on his laurels, Shepherd continues to push boundaries, as seen in his recent work with blues legend Bobby Rush and the genre-defying double album Dirt on My Diamonds Vol. 1 & 2.
The anniversary tour also holds special significance for longtime fans. Vocalist Noah Hunt, a fixture on every Shepherd album since the debut, will perform Ledbetter Heights live for the first time. “Having Noah sing these songs feels like completing a journey,” Shepherd says. “It’s the piece we’ve been missing.”
2026 Tour Dates
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Feb 19: Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX
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Feb 20: ACL Live – Moody Theatre – Austin, TX*
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Feb 21: House of Blues – Houston, TX
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Feb 24: The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK
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Feb 26: Graceland Soundstage – Memphis, TN
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Feb 27: Atlanta Symphony Hall – Atlanta, GA
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Feb 28: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN*
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Mar 6: Wind Creek Event Center – Bethlehem, PA
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Mar 7: Chevalier Theatre – Medford, MA
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Mar 8: The Paramount – Huntington, NY
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Mar 10: Bergen PAC – Englewood, NJ
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Mar 11: Garde Arts Center – New London, CT
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Mar 12: Mayo PAC – Morristown, NJ
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Mar 13: Paramount Hudson Valley – Peekskill, NY
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Mar 14: Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, ON
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Apr 10: Joe Bonamassa’s Beach Vacation – Miramar Beach, FL
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Apr 11: Tampa Bay Blues Festival – St. Petersburg, FL
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Apr 12: Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL
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Apr 14: Broward Center @ Au-Rene Theater – Ft Lauderdale, FL**
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Apr 15: Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL**
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Apr 16: Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
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Apr 18: Hollywood Casino – Charles Town, WV
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Apr 19: Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
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Apr 22: Brown County Music Center – Nashville, IN
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Apr 23: Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH
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Apr 24: Hard Rock – Gary, IN
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Apr 25: MGM – Northfield, OH
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Apr 26: Hollywood Greektown Casino / Music Hall – Detroit, MI
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Apr 29: GLC Live @ 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
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Apr 30: Pabst Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
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May 1: Blue Gate PAC – Shipshewana, IN
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May 2: Hard Rock – Rockford, IL
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May 3: Hoyt Sherman Theatre – Des Moines, IA
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May 5: Virginia Theater – Champaign, IL
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May 7: Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, MO
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May 8: Walker’s Bluff Casino – Carterville, IL
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May 9: The Factory – St. Louis, MO
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Jun 13: Paradise Theater @ Margaritaville Resort Casino – Bossier City, LA
*With special guest Jimmie Vaughan
**With special guest Eric Johnson
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