Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who first picked up a guitar at the age of four, has spent nearly his entire life performing music.
He’s released nine albums, been nominated for five Grammys, and developed a reputation as one of the world’s best blues guitarists, even as he’s dabbled in a variety of genres throughout his career. But when asked what excites him about music now, he always goes back to the classic blues.
“I always default to the music that inspired me,” he said. “There’s just something about that music that is real.”
He will find lots of agreement when he comes to Aurora to perform at the Blues on the Fox festival, which returns to RiverEdge Park after a two-year hiatus June 17 and 18.
“I can’t tell you how excited we are to be back this year,” said Jim Jarvis, vice president of programming for RiverEdge Park. “People who come to this festival love it — it’s like a Woodstock, a kind of celebration of this music they love. When the doors finally open, and we’re able to let people in and get together again, it’s going to be special.”
This year’s festival includes an all-star lineup of performers, starting on Friday night with Shemekia Copeland at 7 p.m., followed by Shepherd at 9 p.m. The two most recently collaborated on a single, “Hit ‘Em Back,” last year, which earned praise for taking aim at the country’s divisive politics.
“I’ve known Shemekia since we were both teenagers — we both grew up in music,” Shepherd said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that she’s become the modern-day queen of the blues. I love her talent, and I love how she handles herself. We’ve grown even closer on a personal level, and that’s meant a lot to me.”
Saturday’s performances start with Melody Angel at 3 p.m., followed by Billy Branch at 5 p.m., Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers at 7 p.m. and Buddy Guy at 9 p.m.
“I think it’s one of the best lineups we’ve ever had,” Jarvis said. “Start to finish, you’re like ‘wow.'”
He’s particularly excited to introduce more people to Melody Angel.
“She’s kind of like a female Lenny Kravitz,” he said. “Her style and the presentation of her voice is something else. She has this combination of rock and R&B and hip-hop and blues all in one. When I first saw a video of her, I thought, we have to get her to come here. I’m so glad that it’s worked out.”
Another highlight is having Buddy Guy return to the Blues on the Fox stage.
“I’ve been lucky enough to see some legends on our stage, and Buddy is a legend,” Jarvis said. “Just one name and everyone knows who it is. He played here the very first year we opened the park (in 2013), and we haven’t had him back since. So I’m grateful to have him back on stage.
“The thing about him is he couldn’t be a nicer person,” Jarvis continued. “He just shows up with his guitar and does what he loves. It’s incredible to be around someone like that. He’s a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall-of-Famer, won the National Medal of Arts, and he doesn’t care about any of that. He loves what he does, and it’s super cool to watch somebody like that.”
Tickets to the show are $25 to $35, with children 12 and under free. The low ticket prices are part of Aurora’s efforts to make events at RiverEdge Park accessible to as many people as possible.
“The park is owned by the City of Aurora, and its goal is to make every concert and event there as reasonably priced as possible,” Jarvis said. “This is a family-friendly event. We want people to be able to hang out and enjoy this incredible music without spending a fortune.”
Across the street from the festival on Saturday, Aurora will be hosting the Party on the Promenade from noon to 7 p.m. This free event celebrates the grand opening of the Wilder Park Promenade at 350 N. River Street, and it will feature food trucks, live music and kids’ activities.
“You can start there before the festival or go back and forth between the two,” Jarvis said.
Tickets to Blues on the Fox are available in advance, and Javis said more than 5,000 have already been sold for each performance. They are typically available at the door until the venue is sold out.
“I think one of the things that makes this festival different is that it appeals to all music lovers,” Jarvis said. “So much of our music is rooted in the blues. You might like country or rock or rap or whatever else, but it started with the blues. People appreciate that and love it. You can tell how much the audience appreciates being a part of it.”
Blues on the Fox
When: 6-11 p.m. June 17 and 2-11 p.m. June 18
Where: RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora
Tickets: $25-$35
Information: 630-896-6666; paramountaurora.com
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
