The bluesman will support his upcoming album
Celebrated for modernizing the essence of American roots music, the five-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd has announced a series of live performances for winter 2024, which will follow the release of his highly anticipated new album, Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol. 1. These newly revealed dates for kick off on February 6th at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL and will then head west for a Texas run, beginning in Tyler at the UT Cowan Center on February 14th, before wrapping up at the famed ACL Moody Theater in Austin on February 17th. The tour will also include standout performances at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on February 24th and the iconic Beacon Theatre in New York City on March 15th.
Tickets are on sale to the general public this Friday, September 22nd at 10 am local time.
Shepherd’s newly announced 2024 shows follow his extensive journey across the US, performing at renowned venues from the Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO in September, to the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in late January.
Shepherd’s upcoming album, poised for release on November 17th via Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group, boasts the intoxicating lead single “Sweet & Low,” encapsulating modern urban influences blended with traditional blues undertones, bringing together the quintessence of Shepherd’s musical expertise. The track offers a fresh perspective on the old-fashioned courting ritual, emphasizing the irresistibly captivating groove. Shepherd recalls, “People I’ve played the album for, they consistently have the biggest reaction to that one.”
Birthed from the legendary Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol. 1 chronicles Shepherd’s journey of musical evolution, touching on stories of loss, redemption, and memorable melodies, all crafted by an elite team of songwriters. As Shepherd himself describes it, “Every record I make is a moment in time. And this is a really special moment.”
Since the release of his debut album, 1995’s Ledbetter Heights, this multi-platinum bandleader still sounds like the future of the blues. Approach Dirt On My Diamonds Volume 1 expecting autopilot twelve-bars and you’ll instead be thrown a volley of curveballs, from the modern urban edge of “Sweet & Low” to the speaker-tearing production from Shepherd and his partner-in-sound of recent years, Marshall Altman. “Working with Marshall, it’s like any productive relationship,” considers the guitarist. “We put our strengths together and push each other.”
With material this strong, no polish was needed. As on any KWS album, songs are the currency, and the seven originals from Dirt On My Diamonds Volume 1 demand to be heard, lifting listeners above their circumstances at a time when life often feels bleak and bone-raw. Shepherd also dipped into his mental jukebox for a rabble-rousing cover of Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting.”
Kenny Wayne Shepherd 2024 Tour Dates:
Jan 28 – Ft Lauderdale, FL @ Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise 2024
Feb 6 – Orlando @ Hard Rock Live
Feb 7 – Ft. Myers, FL @ Barbara Mann Performing Hall
Feb 8 – Sarasota, FL @ Van Wezel PAC
Feb 9 – Ft. Pierce, FL @ Sunrise Theatre
Feb 14 – Tyler, TX @ UT Cowan Center
Feb 15 – Tulsa, OK @ River Spirit/Margaritaville
Feb 16 – Dallas @ Majestic Theater
Feb 17 – Austin, TX @ ACL Moody Theater
Feb 22 – Huntsville, AL @ Mark C Smith Concert Hall
Feb 24 – Nashville @ Ryman Auditorium
Mar 7 – Prestonburg, KY @ Mountain Arts Center
Mar 8 – New Buffalo, MI @ Four Winds Casino
Mar 9 – Lawrenceburg, IN @ Hollywood Casino
Mar 10 – Greensburg, PA @ Palace Theatre
Mar 12 – Wilkes Barre, PA @ Kirby Center
Mar 13 – Reading, PA @ Santander PAC
Mar 15 – New York City @ Beacon Theatre
Mar 16 – Charles Town, WV @ Hollywood Casino
Mar 17 – Concord, NH @ Chubb Theatre
Mar 19 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
Mar 20 – Rutland, VT @ Paramount Theatre
Mar 21 – Erie, PA @ Warner Theatre
