30 Years Later: Experiencing Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Ledbetter Heights” in 1996

In April 1996, Kenny Wayne Shepherd was on tour promoting his debut album Ledbetter Heights, which had been released in September 1995. There was a growing buzz about him in the blues community, and he was often described as a disciple of Stevie Ray Vaughan. He gained national attention when he opened for the Eagles’ “Hell Freezes Over” tour in Austin, Texas. The following concert review and photographs have never been published and are from his performance in Portland, Oregon.

At the time, the 18-year-old guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd was often being compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Kenny finished recording Ledbetter Heights in May 1995, when he was just 17 years old. His reputation as an exceptional guitarist earned him and his band an opening slot on the Eagles’ “Hell Freezes Over” tour at Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. He also toured as the opening act for legendary blues guitarist B.B. King.

Kenny headlined his own tour that year, playing to numerous sold-out crowds. On Friday, April 26, 1996, he performed for a capacity audience at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon. Shepherd and his band played every track from Ledbetter Heights, released on the Giant record label.

The entire set was excellent. Kenny delivered extended guitar solos and reworked several songs with fresh variations. Included was the album’s single, “Deja Voodoo,” which was receiving radio airplay at the time. For the finale, he performed Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return).” His performance brought down the house, and any questions about his guitar virtuosity were answered by the end of the night.

The same band that backed him on the album joined him on tour. The lineup included Corey Sterling on vocals, Will Ainsworth on bass, Jimmy Wallace on keyboards, Chris Moore on drums, and Joe Nadeau on rhythm guitar. Without a doubt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd was on the path to becoming a guitar legend.

That early momentum now comes full circle, as Shepherd prepares to release a newly recorded 30th anniversary edition of Ledbetter Heights. Set for release on May 8, the project revisits the album that launched his career and arrives alongside a new version of “Deja Voodoo.” Originally released in 1995, the album quickly went Gold and later Platinum, spending 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart while establishing Shepherd as a leading young voice in blues rock.

The anniversary edition features Shepherd re-recording the material with decades of experience behind him. The sessions include longtime collaborator Chris “Whipper” Layton and co-producer Jerry Harrison, with Shepherd also returning to his original 1995 guitar rig. “This is the album that put me on the map, and I still enjoy listening to it because my goal has always been to make music I want to listen to,” Shepherd says. “Unfiltered and straight from the heart.”

2026 Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour:

Friday, April 10th – Joe Bonamassa’s Beach Vacation – Miramar Beach, FL
Saturday, April 11th – Tampa Bay Blues Festival – St. Petersburg, FL
Sunday, April 12th – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL
Tuesday, April 14th – Broward Center @ Au-Rene Theater – Ft. Lauderdale, FL**
Wednesday, April 15th – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL**
Thursday, April 16th – Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
Saturday, April 18th – Hollywood Casino – Charles Town, WV
Sunday, April 19th – Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
Wednesday, April 22nd – Brown County Music Center – Nashville, IN
Thursday, April 23rd – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH
Friday, April 24th – Hard Rock – Gary, IN
Saturday, April 25th – MGM – Northfield, OH
Sunday, April 26th – Hollywood Greektown Casino / Music Hall – Detroit, MI
Wednesday, April 29th – GLC Live @ 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI
Thursday, April 30th – Pabst Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
Friday, May 1st – Blue Gate PAC – Shipshewana, IN
Saturday, May 2nd – Hard Rock – Rockford, IL
Sunday, May 3rd – Hoyt Sherman Theatre – Des Moines, IA
Tuesday, May 5th – Virginia Theater – Champaign, IL
Thursday, May 7th – Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, MO
Friday, May 8th – Walker’s Bluff Casino – Carterville, IL
Saturday, May 9th – The Factory – St. Louis, MO
Saturday, June 13th – Paradise Theater @ Margaritaville Resort Casino – Bossier City, LA
Sunday, June 14th – The Buddy Holly Theatre – Lubbock, TX
Wednesday, June 17th – Kiva Auditorium – Albuquerque, NM
Thursday, June 18th – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
Friday, June 19th – Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, June 20th – Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts – Cerritos, CA
Sunday, June 21st – Oxnard Performing Arts Center – Oxnard, CA
Tuesday, June 23rd – California Center for the Arts – Escondido, CA
Thursday, June 25th – Capitol Theatre – Salt Lake City, UT
Thursday, September 10th – Big Blues Bender – Las Vegas, NV
Friday, September 11th – Sunset Center – Carmel, CA
Saturday, September 12th – Blue Note Summer Sessions – Napa, CA
Sunday, September 13th – Center for the Arts – Grass Valley, CA
Tuesday, September 15th – McDonald Theatre – Eugene, OR
Wednesday, September 16th – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA
Thursday, September 17th – First Interstate Center for the Arts – Spokane, WA
Friday, September 18th – Alberta Bair Theater – Billings, MT