ASU Kerr

Blue Bayou: A Linda Ronstadt Tribute
2027-01-23 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Phoenix)
Tickets for our first release of 2026-2027 shows go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28. Want early access? Become a Friend of Kerr by joining the VIP Club! Learn more at https://asukerr.com/vipclub.

Arizona’s Big Zephyr Band brings a rich blend of rock, blues, country, soul and R&B to the ASU Kerr stage for an evening of timeless grooves and heartfelt musicianship, with songs that feel both familiar and freshly alive. On this special night, the band turns its focus to the extraordinary life and legacy of Linda Ronstadt.

Formed in the Valley, Big Zephyr is known for its tight musicianship, thoughtful arrangements and the natural chemistry that comes from years of performing together. Drummer and bandleader Bill Babin anchors the group with crisp, steady rhythms, while Jaime Lee Frank delivers powerful vocals, expressive guitar work and flute textures. Mike Edwards drives the bass and vocals, Russ Edwards and JP Escobedo add layered guitars and harmonies and Dave Herring rounds out the sound on keyboards and vocals.

“The Blue Bayou: A Linda Ronstadt Tribute” celebrates one of the most versatile and beloved voices in American music. A 12-time Grammy Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree, Ronstadt’s career moved effortlessly across rock, country, Latin music and the Great American Songbook as it shaped generations along the way.

From Laurel Canyon-era rock classics to country duets with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris, heartfelt traditional Mexican songs and lush Nelson Riddle arrangements, this performance honors the full spectrum of her artistry. Whether you know her as a rock icon, a voice of Americana or a trailblazer who refused to be confined by genre, this evening invites you to rediscover the depth and beauty of her legacy.

Join us for a soaring night of music and celebration where timeless songs meet a live performance designed for listeners of every generation, from lifelong fans to the next wave of music lovers discovering Linda for the first time.

Big Pete Pearson
2027-02-13 19:30 - 21:30
Tickets for our first release of 2026-2027 shows go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28. Want early access? Become a Friend of Kerr by joining the VIP Club! Learn more at https://asukerr.com/vipclub.

Join in celebrating Big Pete’s 80 years on stage and his 90th birthday!

Big Pete Pearson was born on October 4, 1936, and was raised in Austin, Texas. At nine years old he gave his first performance at a local bar. He became a regular at juke joints such as the Victory Grill, Charlie’s Playhouse, Big Mary’s Bar & Grill, Ernie’s Chicken Shack and Sam’s Showcase. Big Pete has not left the stage since. He is a veteran performer and songwriter of 80 years and has been on many festival and club stages throughout the world.

Pete came to Phoenix In the 1950s and has been involved in the Phoenix blues scene ever since. His physical stature and strong voice command attention. He is a father figure to many blues men and women who have developed their skills while playing in his band. Being one of the first two people inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame in 1995 and in the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Big Pete is well-known throughout the world.

In recent years, Big Pete has been performing with his European band, The Gamblers. In the United States, he performs with his other band, The Big Pete Pearson Blues Band.

Over his career, Big Pete has worked with musicians such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Tina and Ike Turner, Big Joe Turner, Etta James, Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Koko Taylor, Gate Mouth Brown, Johnny Ace, T.D. Bell, Big Mama Thornton, T-Bone Walker, Screamin’ J. Hawkins, Pinetop Perkins, Joey DeFrancesco, Buddy Guy, Janiva Magness, Erbbie Bowser, Blues Boy Hubbard, Candye Kane and many others.

Big Pete has recorded several albums. His most notable releases include “One More Drink,” “I’m Here Baby” — which reached No. 1 worldwide and won best blues album at the Independent Music Awards in 2007 — “Finger in Your Eye,” and his 2009 release, “The Screamer.” Since its release, “The Screamer” has reached No. 1 on blues charts worldwide.

In April 2012, Big Pete released “Choose,” his first album recorded with the Italian blues band, The Gamblers.

Today, Big Pete can be seen performing in Europe with The Gamblers. Songs from his latest album, “Stepping Out,” are played on the TV shows “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.”

Pete’s band:

Lead guitar: Scotty Spenner

Rhythm guitar: Jim Robertson

Bass: Curt Arndt

Saxophone: Chris Scowron

Drums: Claire Griese

Dave Stamey
2027-02-25 19:30 - 21:30
Tickets for our first release of 2026-2027 shows go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28. Want early access? Become a Friend of Kerr by joining the VIP Club! Learn more at https://asukerr.com/vipclub.

Dave Stamey has made it his life’s work to celebrate the rural American West. Over the past two decades, he has recorded 11 albums of original music, traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and performed thousands of shows in pursuit of that mission.

He lives in the far northeastern corner of Tulare County, California, where the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains begin just outside his back door.

This is cowboy poetry and western song from one of the great heroes of the genre. Dave has sold out every previous ASU Kerr show and prices will go up as the show gets closer; purchasing your tickets ASAP is highly recommended so you don’t miss out on this one!

Charles Lewis Quintet + 1
2027-03-03 19:30 - 21:30
Tickets for our first release of 2026-2027 shows go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. July 28. Want early access? Become a Friend of Kerr by joining the VIP Club! Learn more at https://asukerr.com/vipclub.

Join us for an evening of Latin jazz with perennial ASU Kerr favorite Charles Lewis. Settle in for an uplifting night of lively rhythms and glorious grooves inspired by the music of Latin America, performed by a true Phoenix jazz legend.

Pianist Charles Lewis shares a special connection to ASU Kerr, having been a close friend of our namesake, the late Louise Lincoln Kerr. Through his engaging stage presence and charming storytelling, he brings to life the music, the history and spirit of the venue itself.

With lush ensemble arrangements and an inviting jazz-club atmosphere, this performance promises an energetic and joyful evening of live music in one of the Valley’s most intimate listening spaces.

Ken Koshio: A Story of Migration with Our Heartbeats
2027-03-13 19:30 - 21:30
Tickets for our first release of 2026-2027 shows go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. July 28. Want early access? Become a Friend of Kerr by joining the VIP Club! Learn more at https://asukerr.com/vipclub.

Ken Koshio: A Story of Migration with Our Heartbeats

A powerful, one-night-only experience of rhythm, spirit, and connection.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, and based in the United States since 1998, Ken Koshio is a singer, songwriter and taiko artist whose life journey bridges cultures, histories and traditions. From his early days as a folk-rock musician in Los Angeles to his Thousand Cranes Tour honoring 9/11, where he carried 10,000 origami cranes across America to Ground Zero, Ken’s work has always been rooted in healing, hope and human connection.

Now based in Phoenix, Ken discovered taiko drumming as a calling within his DNA. Trained by a Hiroshima atomic bombing survivor and certified in Hiroshima Jidaiko, he carries forward the spirit, memory and message of peace through rhythm.

“A Story of Migration with Our Heartbeats” is a deeply moving journey through music and storytelling, tracing the migration of humanity. Blending Japanese taiko, American folk rock and Native American influences, including collaborations with Hopi artists, Ken creates a performance that transcends borders and time.

At its core is the heartbeat, the rhythm shared by all life. Each beat carries resilience, prayer and the footsteps of our ancestors, connecting the memory of Hiroshima with the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures.

This concert is a living prayer.

Come experience the heartbeat that connects us all.
