January 2026 • Volume 52, Number 03 • www. illinoisentertainer. com
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KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD rowing up, blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd was privy to a wealth of musical knowledge, as his father, Ken, was a local radio personality, a part-time concert promoter, and an avid music collector. These behind-the-scenes experiences led the youngster on the path to a future in the music business.“ I would say yes, although I didn ' t realize it at the time,” Shepherd explains during a recent phone interview.“ I was so young, and my dad was always taking me with him to every concert that he went to. I spent a lot of time up at the radio station with him, and it was music 24 / 7.
After meeting blues guitar god Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1984 at one of his father’ s promoted concerts at the age of seven, Kenny knew he had to buckle down and start learning his craft.
On Sept. 19, 1995, Shepherd released his stellar debut full-length album, Ledbetter Heights, at just 18 years of age; it became a surprise yet immediate success, achieving Gold status( selling over 500,000 copies) within months and Platinum by early 1996. Kelley Simms caught up with KWS getting the latest on 30th anniversary Ledbetter Heights events coming to the area this Spring.
06 HELLO MY NAME IS ROLAND...
Roland Gift, this ordinarily busy singer / actor was between projects this late in 2025. is currently it’ s revolving around a brand-new, career-spanning Fine Young Cannibals retrospective called FYC40, a completely remastered collection that dates back to the trio’ s self-titled 1985 debut disc. The anthology includes that album’ s first two breakout hits,“ Johnny Come Home” followed by a cavalcade of signature anthems like” Good Thing,”“ She Drives Me Crazy,” up to the farewell 1996 single“ The Flame” plus a special bonus disc of top-flight remixes. It’ s a pretty inviting, uhh, Gift, it must be said. Tom Lanham spoke to Gift.
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CinemaScopes
January film preview.
Spins
The Replacemets, Green Day, Split Enz and more.
Best of 2025
Albums, Reissues, Concerts.
Media
In Remembrance.
Calendar
1300 shows and 3200 bands, it’ s IE’ s live music calendar.
Classifieds
Music services, musicians and more.
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Publisher John Vernon
Contributing Editors Curt Baran Tom Lanham Lori Vernon
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Calendar Editor Aubrey Vernon
Classified Advertising David Gedge
Founder Kenneth L. Voss
Publisher Emeritis
David Roberts Publisher John Vernon
4 illinoisentertainer. com april 2019 Contributing Editors Curt Baran T L h illinoisentertainer. com january 2026
Advertising Sales Scott Assmann Mike Engel
Advertising Director John Vernon
Website Direction Notion Pool
Senior Columnists
Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
- Sweet Home Rick Kaempfer- Media
Kelley Simms- Caught In A Mosh
David C. Eldredge- East Coast
Advertising Sales Scott Assmann Mike Engel
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Contributors: Andy Argyrakis, Guy Arnston, Penelope Biver, Patrick Conlan, Deena Dasein, Jaime de ' Medici, Andy Derer, Jeff Elbel Terrence Flamm, Steve Forstneger Michael Gallucci, Michael C. Harris, Max Herman, Tom Lanham, Aubrey Vernon Carter Moss, Michael Obrecki, Greg Olma Arsenio Orteza, Rodney Pawlak, Steven Kikoen Bruce Pilato, Matthew Pollock, Jason Scales, Kelley Simms, Ed Spinelli, Riley Vernon, Tim Shockley, James Turano
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