Kenny Wayne Shepherd

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“Honoring Jimi Hendrix, the greatest guitar player of all time”: The Experience Hendrix Tour is returning for the first time in 5 years, with a mega lineup including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Samantha Fish and Zakk Wylde

By Phil Weller published 24 April 24

The all-star lineup will tour the US later this year, marking the 20th anniversary of the multi-artist celebration of Jimi Hendrix’s trailblazing guitar-playing

“I had Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player, out on tour with me, and he showed up with a $120 Squier Strat. He played it on stage that night and killed it”: Kenny Wayne Shepherd on why tone is in the hands (but it helps to have a trio of Dumbles)

By David Mead published 16 November 23

The blues-rocker shares the story of his decade-long search for a 1960 Les Paul, why his Marshall amps just wouldn’t stop blowing up, and what made him convert to the single-cut after decades of Stratocaster monogamy

Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays Duane Allman’s 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, as used on Layla

Kenny Wayne Shepherd swaps his Fender Strat for Duane Allman’s ‘Layla’ Les Paul and sounds immediately at home

By Matt Parker published 14 June 23

The Louisiana blues rocker made the most of his chance to perform with one of rock’s most historic Gibson Goldtops, worth $1.25m

Kenny Wayne Shepherd performs at the Jim Irsay Collection Concert at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on December 10, 2022 in San Francisco, California

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: "Once I found out we were going to be playing Comfortably Numb, I was quietly hoping Jim Irsay would ask me to play the Black Strat"

By Andrew Daly published 14 December 22

The blues guitar ace reflects on what it was like to play one of the most famous Stratocasters in history, and why he chose to give listeners "a bit of old and a little bit of new" with a re-recorded version of Trouble Is…

(from left) Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Billy Cox, Eric Johnson and Dweezil Zappa perform onstage

Billy Cox, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson, Dweezil Zappa and more to headline Experience Hendrix concert in Austin, Texas

By Jackson Maxwell published 4 November 22

The one-off show – a celebration of what would have been Hendrix’s 80th birthday – will also feature Zakk Wylde, Chris Layton, Doyle Bramhall II, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas

Ally Venable: “What got me into the blues was discovering Stevie Ray Vaughan – that turned my whole world upside down”

By Andrew Daly published 2 November 22

The Texas-bred, Les Paul-toting blues wunderkind talks collaborating with Kenny Wayne Shepherd on her latest full-length, Heart of Fire, releasing her debut EP at 14, and why performing onstage is the ultimate antidote to social anxiety

Buddy Guy performs at the Ryman Auditorium on March 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee

From divisive prog-pop to a slice of classic blues: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche, Matt Owen published 22 September 22

With these guitar-led tunes from the likes of In Flames, Mars Volta, TERMINA, Buddy Guy, Living Colour and Steve Vai and Hannah Jadagu, fall's off to a flying start

Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays David Gilmour's Black Strat

Watch Kenny Wayne Shepherd play Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb on David Gilmour's Black Strat

By Jackson Maxwell published 13 September 22

The performance – a celebration of the kickoff of the Indianapolis Colts' 2022 season – was the legendary guitar's most prominent public outing since its sale in 2019

Ann Wilson on enlisting Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Warren Haynes and Tom Bukovac for new solo album Fierce Bliss

By James Wood published 25 April 22

Wilson talks covering Queen, Eurythmics and Robin Trower at Muscle Shoals, and recalls her fondest memories from a decades-long career with Heart

Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Christone Ingram

Kenny Wayne Shepherd recruits Buddy Guy and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram for inaugural Backroads Blues Festival tour

By Matt Owen published 8 April 22

The six-date event, which takes places this August, has been envisaged as an annual show, and aims to revive the "traditional touring blues festival" format

Hear Kenny Wayne Shepherd “play his butt off” on Ann Wilson’s new single, Missionary Man

By Matt Parker published 9 March 22

The blues ace makes a scorching detour into classic rock territory in his guest appearance with the Heart singer

(from left) Ann Wilson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Warren Haynes

Ann Wilson recruits Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Warren Haynes for new solo album, Fierce Bliss

By Jackson Maxwell published 8 February 22

The Heart singer's third solo effort also features Vince Gill, and is set for release in April

Eric Johnson and Howard Alexander Dumble

Eric Johnson pays heartfelt tribute to late amp-building icon Howard Alexander Dumble

By Matt Owen published 21 January 22

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has also paid his respects to the legendary designer, who personally built amps for both players

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's Blues Music Award nomination rescinded over confederate flag imagery

By Sam Roche published 19 March 21

“I condemn and stand in complete opposition to all forms of racism and oppression and always have,” the blues guitarist says

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: “For years we’ve been trying to replicate the neck from my ’61 Strat... And this one comes the closest“

By Richard Bienstock published 10 March 21

Avowed Strat addict Kenny Wayne Shepherd discusses his new signature offering from Fender – and a new live DVD/album

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Signature Stratocaster

Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s stunning new signature Fender Stratocaster officially launched

By Michael Astley-Brown published 15 September 20

KWS's latest sig features a chambered ash body, custom pickups and Transparent Faded Sonic Blue finish

Kenny Wayne Shepherd performs as part of Experience Hendrix at ACL Live on September 30, 2014 in Austin, Texas

Kenny Wayne Shepherd reveals his onstage Fender amps are actually Dumbles in disguise

By Richard Bienstock, Jonathan Horsley published 10 September 20

Revered amp builder Alexander Dumble hand-wires his own circuit within KWS's Fender cabinets

Watch Kenny Wayne Shepherd shred acoustic and electric blues on a Fender Acoustasonic Strat

By Richard Bienstock published 10 April 20

The blues-rock whiz is joined by Double Trouble’s Chris Layton for the jam sesh

The Blues Podcast launches with Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kris Barras and more

By Richard Bienstock published 25 February 20

New interview series goes deep with “tall tales from the blues trail”

Kenny Wayne Shepherd: those SRV clone accusations came from a jealous place

By Mark McStea published 17 December 19

There aren’t many roads this Strat-wielding blues whiz hasn’t been down, but his new album, The Traveler, still breaks new ground