Kenny Wayne Shepherd

The hard-rocking, blues-playing, cigar-smoking, muscle car collector Kenny Wayne Shepherd will bring the blues to The Kent Stage with his modern twist on rock n' roll on Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets will go on sale July 2 at 10 a.m. at www.kentstage.org or 888-718-4253 and at The Kent Stage box office Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Gold Circle tickets are $50.50 and Reserve seats are $37.50.

Still barely in his 30s, the Louisiana born axeman and songsmith has been selling millions of albums, throwing singles into the Top 10, shining a light on the rich blues of the past and forging ahead with his own modern take on a classic sound he has embodied since his teens. He met Stevie Ray Vaughan at 7, shared the stage with New Orleans legend Bryan Lee at 13. As an adult, he continues to create genre-defining blues-infused rock n' roll.

"My approach from day one was that I was not going to record anything that I couldn't wrap my mind around and that I wasn't prepared to play for the rest of my career," says Shepherd. "I still enjoy playing all of the songs off my first album."

Many say the name "Kenny Wayne Shepherd" is synonymous with "young blues guitarists by Shepherd says he doesn't consider himself a blues musician exclusively. The chart-topping lyricist considers his sound a more contemporary one, a fresh interpretation of the music he has loved since childhood. "I started writing and recording music when I was a teenager and that energy has been consistent throughout my career," he says.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is cognizant of the emotional role music can play in the lives of his listeners. He's in awe of that responsibility and works hard to bring happiness to people with his considerable gifts. With that said, he's bound and determined to be remembered as a guy who just straight-up kicked a lot of butt.

"If I can make people feel good for an hour and a half to two hours and forget about whatever might be stressing them out, then I'm doing my job."

Since 2002, the historic Kent Stage has hosted Grammy award winning artists of multiple genres and drawing audiences from across the country. With more than 150 shows a year, the iconic venue pumps millions of dollars into the local economy on an annual basis. The Kent Stage is managed by the Western Reserve Folk Arts Association, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.

July 20 and 21, downtown Kent will have the blues when the annual Kent Blues Fest hits the streets! Friday will feature FREE entertainment in 14 downtown venues. Saturday, The Kent Stage will be rockin' when Monica Robbins and The Whiskey Kings hit the stage at 8pm followed by the one and only, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels who will close the festival in fine fashion. Click KENT BLUES FEST for more info!

For tickets, call 888-718-4253. For more information visit www.kentstage.org.
Media Contact: Tom Simpson, (330) 677-5005.

Just check out this short list of some upcoming concerts:

6/29 Todd Snider & The Burnouts w/ special guest Rosi Golan
7/19 Mary Chapin Carpenter w/ special guest Tift Merritt
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KENT BLUES FEST!
7/20 The Numbers Band kicks off the Kent Blues Fest - FREE
7/21 Mitch Ryder w/ Special Guest: Monica Robins & the Whiskey Kings
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7/22 Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band w/ Bhi Bhiman
7/29 An Evening with Kris Kristofferson
8/2 Shawn Colvin
8/8 Steve Earle & The Dukes