Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Danny Zelisko Presents (https://dzplive.com/ )
Venue: Celebrity Theatre (https://celebritytheatre.com/ )
Date: June 19th, 2026
Tour: Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour
I saw Kenny Wayne Shepherd for the first time when his was on tour with Steven Stills and The Rides in 2016. I have been a CSN fan forever. So, I decided to see this show. I was super impressed by Kenny’s performance. Both Kenny and Stephen put on an amazing show.
Years later I saw Kenny when he was touring with his own band. He is one of the best blues guitars around. His style is very similar to that of Stephen Stills.
In 2024 I was lucky enough to see the celebration of probably the greatest rock/blues guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. It was the Experience Hendrix concert. Some of the greatest rock/blues guitarist performed at the show I saw. Kenny was part of this amazing group of guitarists. He held his own with such greats as Zakk Wylde and Taj Mahal.
Listening to Kenny play reminds me a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Kenny even has the drummer Chris Layton from Stevie’s Double Trouble Band. Joining Kenny was vocalist Noah Hunt, bass player Kevin McCormick, keyboardist Joe Known. Providing the horns were Doug Wollveton and Charlie DiPuma.
With someone with a large catalog, it was nice to see that he performed 19 songs and over 2 hours (see setlist below). This tour is a celebration of his first album, Ledbetter Heights, 30 years ago. Over the next 2 hours we got to hear every song on the Ledbetter Heights album. He also mixed in a couple of songs by other great blues players including Elmore James and Howlin’ Wolf. Throughout the show, the audience gave him multiple standing ovations. One of the real highlights was the end of the show when they performed “Turn To Stone” by Joe Walsh. By this time the audience was cheering and clapping non-stop.
If you like Stevie Ray Vaughan or Steven Stills, then I can highly recommend seeing Kenny Wayne Shepherd. He should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one of the great Blue’s Rock guitarists. His performance is spectacular.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Social Media sites:
Website: https://www.kennywayneshepherd.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennywayneshepherd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennywayneshepherd
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/KennyWShepherd
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kennywayneshepherd
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2026, All Rights Reserved
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Setlist:
Ledbetter Heights
Born With a Broken Heart
What’s Goin’ Down
Deja Voodoo
Shame, Shame, Shame
Riverside
Aberdeen Mississippi Blues (Bukka White cover)
One Foot on the Path
I’m Leaving You (Commit a Crime) (Howlin’ Wolf cover)
Everybody Gets the Blues
(Let Me Up) I’ve Had Enough
While We Cry
I Got a Woman
Watch You Go
Talk to Me Baby (Elmore James cover)
I Found Love (When I Found You)
Dark Side of Love
Blue on Black
Turn to Stone (Joe Walsh cover)
