Blues Rock icon and five-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd has announced his second annual Backroads Blues Festival featuring veteran blues guitarist Eric Gales and NYC-based blues star King Solomon Hicks. The tour will make its way across the US, stopping in Huber Heights, OH on Wednesday, June 7 for a performance at Rose Music Center.
“I wanted to offer a traditional touring blues festival,” Shepherd shares. “One that will give people a chance to see the best of the best all in one place.” The announcement follows a hugely successful inaugural run of the Backroads Blues Festival in 2022, which featured Buddy Guy and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.
The Backroads Blues Festival is an extension of Shepherd’s award-winning, Platinum-selling 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads film and album project, which saw him travel the country with his band and a portable studio alongside the world’s most renowned blues players, as well as some of the genre’s lesser known, but rare and towering talents. Featured artists included Etta Baker, Pinetop Perkins, Honeyboy Edwards, Lazy Lester, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Hubert Sumlin, and B.B. King, among others.
Greensky Bluegrass is thrilled to announce summer tour dates with special guest Neighbor. This year the band will stop in Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center on Friday, June 30.
Greensky Bluegrass are widely known for their thoughtful lyricism, edgy and genre-expansive sound, dazzling live performances and relentless touring schedule.
However, that is only the tip of the complex tale of the five musicians that make up Greensky Bluegrass: Anders Beck [dobro], Michael Arlen Bont [banjo], Dave Bruzza [guitar], Mike Devol [upright bass], and Paul Hoffman [Mandolin]. The five are connected through a deep bond, just as they are seasoned road warriors, they’re a band of brothers who have seen each other through decades of ups and downs, personal and collective highlights, and the moments when life turns it all upside down.
For the past century, bluegrass music has traditionally relayed real tales of American life, struggle, tragedy, and triumph. It gives a voice to the quiet, yet colorful stories woven into the fabric of the country itself. Greensky Bluegrass live these stories through their records and performances.
“Greensky is and always has been very unique in our world,” says Paul Hoffman. “We put our love, energy, and focus into what we appreciate about our music. We come together as a band in a way that’s organic. We take a lot of pride in how we grow and challenge each other too. We’re maturing together. I think we get more Greensky all of the time.”
NEIGHBOR
With a diverse catalog of hundreds of songs, the musical juggernaut Neighbor has become one of the most exciting and unpredictable live bands on the music scene today. Grown in large part by the passion and devotion of the fans called Neighbors, their symbiotic relationship inspires and touches every performance. The creation of childhood neighbors Richard James (vocals, keys) and Lyle Brewer (guitar), Neighbor combines ambitious composition, soulful balladry, and a fearless approach to their lengthy improvisations. The quartet is rounded out by Dan Kelly (bass) and Dean Johnston (drums) who fuel the groove and lay a solid foundation for Neighbor’s “down home” sound. Come see what’s good in the neighborhood.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10am on Friday, March 24 at Ticketmaster.com and RoseMusicCenter.com.