Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour coming to Iowa

One of the top blues artists, Kenny Wayne Shepard, is headed for Iowa as part of his 30th anniversary tour.

The tour, taking place in 2026, honors the 30th anniversary of his debut album, “Ledbetter Heights.”

Who is Kenny Wayne Shepherd?

Shepherd is a blues-rock star from Shreveport, Louisiana, who has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. Guitar World ranks him No. 3 on its list of top blues artists, behind B.B. King and Eric Clapton.

The “Ledbetter Heights” album became a breakout success and reached Platinum status in 1996. Its success helped Shepherd reach the national spotlight and launched him on tours with artists like Bob Dylan, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

During his 30-year career, Shepherd has released 12 albums, plus two albums collaborating with The Rides alongside Stephen Stills and Barry Goldbert, according to a news release.

What can fans expect on Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour?

Fans will hear “Ledbetter Heights” performed in its entirety during the tour, along with other highlights from Shepherd’s other albums, the news release said.

“Revisiting it put me back in touch with the wonder and excitement of those days,” Shepherd said in the release. “I didn’t know what lay ahead. I just knew I loved playing the blues.”

Vocalist Noah Hunt will perform with Shepherd during the tour, the release said. He has appeared on every other album Shepherd has released, but never sang the original release of “Ledbetter Heights.”

When is Kenny Wayne Shepherd performing in Iowa?

Sheperd will come to Iowa for one of the final stops on his Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary tour, which kicks off Feb. 19 in Dallas and ends after nearly 40 shows on June 13 in Bossier City, Louisiana.

His show will take place on Sunday, May 3, at the Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines.