KENNY Wayne Shepherd is a five-time Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum selling rock-blues artist whose collaborations over the years have seen partnerships with legends such as Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh.

Now, ahead of his date at Salisbury City Hall on Friday, April 10 Shepherd catches up with the Journal about his recording life and plans for a new album. In addition we will be giving five lucky readers the chance to win VIP tickets to the show.

It has now been 20 years since Kenny Wayne Shepherd burst onto the music scene with his unique blend of blues/rock which has seen him break into the US Blues Billboard top ten seven times.

Now he is planning a new release with his blues-supergroup The Rides, which sees him perform alongside Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg.

He said: “Well it is kind of similar in the theme to my last album (Goin' Home) in that it straddles the line between blues and rock, but what is great about this album is that it is all new material that we have all written together.

“The last record was half new songs and half cover songs so this album starts to more clearly define the sound of the band and us as a unit and the kind of music that we create together.”

Shepherd says that when it comes to writing a new record it is best to set aside time from his busy touring schedule but if inspiration comes to him on the road he is quick to put down his ideas.

“I have to say that for the next few days, few weeks I am going to concentrate on writing,” he said.

“But over the course of the few months before scheduling some time for writing I might have put away hundreds of different guitar riffs and lyric ideas that have crossed my mind.

“I jot them down or record them onto my phone so then when it is time to sit down and write I am pulling ideas from those little bits that I have come up with.”

The show at City Hall will showcase all of his work over the last 20 years and feature special guest Ben Poole, whose Live at the Albert Hall album went to No 4 in the official Amazon UK blues chart.

“We touch on many different records during the gig,” he said. “We start off with some songs from the How I Go record then we go even further back with the Trouble Is album.

“We try and touch on as many of the records as possible. I even do a couple of songs from the first Rides album too.

“There are probably people coming to see us for the first time but have been hearing my music for years so I try to do as many of the songs that they would want to hear.”

On stage Shepherd will be heard using his “signature” Stratocaster and he spoke about his love for the simple effect, keeping his live sound as close as possible to his recorded sound.

“You know it is a rather simple set-up - really I am a Strat guy,” he said. “I have a 1961 Strat, which is like my baby - it's my number one guitar. I also have a '59 and a '58 that I use very frequently in the studio and sometimes on the road as well.

“The foundation of my sound is a Stratocaster plugged into various Fender amplifiers. They have all been completely rewired by this guy Alexander Dumble, who is probably the greatest amp builder of all time, so on the surface they look like any other amp but inside something very special is going on.”

His most recent album, Goin' Home, featured guest performances with musical legends including Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes, Keb' Mo', Robert Randolph, Kim Wilson Pastor Brady Blade, Sr. and the Rebirth Brass Band.

“Well it is incredible playing with guys like that. It is an honour, a privilege, all of those things,” Shepherd said.

“But one of the greatest things that has come from my career in music - aside from meeting people like that and playing with them - is the personal relationships that develop as a result.

“These guys are my friends and for me to be able to call them a friend and to be able to spend time on a personal level outside of music, talking with them relating, that is really super valuable to me.

“Playing with them is fantastic but calling them up on the phone and saying: 'Will you join me in making music on one of my records?' And for them to say yes is amazing.”

Tickets for the Salisbury date cost £25 and are available from 01722 434 434, from the 24-hour ticket hotline on 0844 478 0898 or online from thegigcartel.com.

The Journal has five pairs of VIP meet and greet packages to be won, with winners also receiving one copy of his latest studio album, Goin' Home.

Winners are entitled to: Entry to soundcheck at 4:30pm, meet and greet with Kenny, photo and signing opportunity and a commemorative tour laminate and tour poster. Winners can take their CD to the concert to be signed by Kenny.

To enter send an email entitled: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD COMPETITION to alex.rennie@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your name, address and contact number. Winners will be selected at random. The competition closes on Wednesday, March 25 at 5pm.