This anniversary celebration marks a new chapter - one that revisits the fire and grit of his 1995 debut while showcasing his evolution as one of modern blues’ most vital and enduring voices.

Thirty years ago, a Fender Strat-wielding teenager from Shreveport, Louisiana by the name of Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought the blues back to the mainstream. It was 1995, the era of furrow-browed grungesters, when a sandy-haired guitar prodigy unapologetically celebrated a genre often pushed to the margins. With his fiery fretwork, pop-rock hooks, and reverence for the blues, Shepherd’s arrival was a much-needed palette-cleanser from the existential dread of the times.

Now, three decades later, Shepherd is as vital as ever. No longer the child prodigy, he has ascended to master.  Still touring, recording, collaborating, and evolving, he’s returned to where it all began. Shepherd and his band will be hitting the road for the Ledbetter Heights 30th Anniversary Tour. The shows will include a performance of the full 12-track album, along with another set featuring highlights from his 30-year career.

“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 - Unfiltered and straight from the heart." Shepherd reflects. "I’m so grateful for this album – it gave me everything.”

Shepherd’s longevity is rare for an artist who broke through so young, rooted in a niche genre such as the blues. That could be because of Shepherd’s refusal to stand still. He’s a restless creative who has always had one foot firmly planted in the blues tradition and the other roaming the vast rock n’ roll landscape.



For more, visit:

• www.kennywayneshepherd.net
• www.facebook.com/kennywayneshepherd
• twitter.com/kwshepherd
• instagram.com/kennywayneshepherd
• www.youtube.com/user/KennyWShepherd
• www.tiktok.com/@kennywayneshepherd

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The Champaign Park District is proud to welcome Big Grove Tavern to the historic Virginia Theatre for bar service.

Located just two blocks from the Virginia in the heart of downtown Champaign, Big Grove Tavern has been providing upscale casual American classics, elevated dishes with a Latin flair, and a legendary Sunday brunch menu since 2012. Big Grove also offers an extensive bar menu of craft cocktails, regional draft beers, and curated wines to loyal locals and curious visitors to C/U alike

Big Grove Tavern brings its regional expertise and a commitment to inclusivity, seamless service, and unmatched quality to every experience. At the Virginia, you’ll find their servers in the theatre’s lobby both before the show and during intermission (when included), offering a special selection of wine, local beer, and the occasional custom-themed cocktail!

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A VT SERIES EVENT

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PLEASE NOTE: The Virginia Theatre is pleased to bring diverse programming to the stage and screen. The Theatre cannot always provide advisories about subject matter for events, as sensitivities vary. Not all events may appeal to, or be appropriate for, every person. Patrons are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the shows offered in order to make informed decisions prior to purchasing tickets.

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