October 31, 2026

Slash + Others Lead Epic Sho-Bud Steel Guitar Showcase

Editor’s Note: This story is a contribution from writer and photographer Kevin Smith. Photos by Kevin Smith and Kelly Smith.

What is it about a pedal steel guitar that captivates us so? Perhaps it’s the swirling ethereal and mysterious sounds conjured out of wood, machined parts, wires and metal strings. In the hands of a highly skilled musician, it has the power to fill people with awe and trigger emotions in an instant while delivering melodies that haunt our very mind and soul. And for the past 70-plus years, this glorious instrument has been a staple in country and Western Music. Not surprisingly, it’s often featured in other genres as well including blues, gospel, and rock.

Undeniably the Sho-Bud Company produced some of the finest instruments that ever met a stage or a studio. Company co-founder Harold Shot Jackson considered it to be “the Stradivarius of pedal steel guitars.” Renowned for their sublime tone, the instruments are also physically beautiful, often featuring elaborate wood veneer inlays and exotic grains and colors.

Legendary Hall of Fame steeler Buddy Emmons was the other founder of the company, and the instruments ruled the ’60s and ’70s era of music. In 2024, the grandchildren of Shot Jackson, Will and Dawn Jackson, bought back the company name from Baldwin who bought the company out in 1980, and since that time have devoted themselves to making superb instruments that their grandfather would approve of.

All of this led to a stunning event that took place Tuesday October 27, 2026 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Billed simply as “The Show-Bud Showcase At the Ryman,” it boasted a line-up of staggering names including Country and Rock Hall Of Famers, legendary sidemen and studio players like Lloyd Green and Dan Dugmore, as well as young up-and-comers to the scene like Pedal Steel Noah, Bode Barker Jr. and Brady Gandy.

Spanning nearly 4 hours in length, the show featured an absolutely stacked house band that included heavy hitting multi-instrumentalists and an enviable collection of players. There were special guests and appearances galore, making for absolute ear and eye candy for music fans and musicians alike. People traveled from all over, even overseas, just to see or participate in the grand spectacle.

Upon arrival to the auditorium, the vast stage was quite literally stacked with pedal steel guitars, so many in fact that Marty Stuart remarked he had never seen that many pedal steels on the stage in one place. At one point a quick count revealed at least 25 of the instruments were visible, waiting to be played.

Musicians chosen for the event were all mostly Sho-Bud artists, which will explain to the casual reader why “their favorite player” may not have been included. After all, this was Sho-Bud’s official event to promote their new line of guitars, showcase signature artists, promote their new record label Sho-Bud Records, and raise money for select charities.

Here are some highlights, pictures and observations from the amazing night in no particular order:

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives

Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives took the stage featuring young pedal steeler Brady Gandy and proceeded to throw down some classic songs including “Sundown In Nashville” and “Bridge Washed Out” to a super enthusiastic audience. Then Stuart introduced the crowd to his wife, the legendary Connie Smith for a rendition of her monumental hit “Once A Day”—a song that now is included in the Smithsonian American Music catalog. It was a killer set from a true legend and the pedal steel added solid authenticity to the music. Brady Gandy is a gun.

Dan Dugmore with Wendy Moten and Emily Ann Jones:

Dan Dugmore is an absolute legend and it’s easier to list who he hasn’t played with than attempt to catalog his sessions. On this night he played with two sensational lead vocalists including local Nashville star Wendy Moten who dazzled with a Linda Ronstadt inspired version of “Blue Bayou.” His other guest was Emily Ann Jones, singer/performer and wife of Roberts Western World owner Jesse Lee Jones.

In a surprise appearance, Country Hall Of Famer Wynonna strode onto the stage to introduce Emily to the excited crowd. Emily went on to perform “Strawberry Wine” while Wynonna watched from the wings. Emily Jones put on a spectacular performance that drew massive cheers. Watching Dan Dugmore in action was a rare but rewarding experience and the big grin on his face told it all.

Marcus King with Charlie Starr

Fans of country and southern rock were thrilled to see the renowned Marcus King on pedal steel, performing the Marshall Tucker Band classic “Fire On The Mountain” with his fellow band-mate from Toy Factory Project, the great Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke.

He and Starr traded vocal lines as King played the gorgeous familiar Toy Caldwell steel licks on an orange Sho-Bud Pro V. King would also play later in the program, backing steel player Ed Williams and playing some impressive leads on his Les Paul. Marcus King was a crowd favorite and a definite highlight of the show.

Don Felder with Asher Roseman

Fans of the California country rock sound were also not disappointed when rock legend and former Eagles member Don Felder took over the stage playing one of the most popular and recognizable songs from the era, “Take it Easy,” which was an instant sing-along. Young up and coming pedal steeler Asher Roseman got to play the famed Bernie Leadon parts and he was all smiles, thrilled to be playing with the legend. This version was high energy all the way and kept the crowd engaged.

The US Navy Band – Country Currents

The US Navy has a country/bluegrass band called Country Currents. They have a pedal steel player named Nick Krol. The band put on an impressive performance that legitimately excited the audience. Lead vocalist Sally Sandker who just happens to be the daughter of Rhonda Vincent sang an epic version of “Stand By Your Man” while Nick Krol dazzled on steel.

Additionally, they invited pedal steel legendary sideman and instrument builder, Johnny Cox to play Willie Nelson’s “Night Life.” Finally, young up-and comer Walker Robinson paid tribute to Robbie Turner the former steel sideman to Waylon Jennings, performing “Lonesome Onry’ And Mean” with Struggle Jennings providing vocals. It was a terrific set in all.

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is an absolute rock legend. As a former member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, he laid down some masterpiece guitar lines and solos over the years. But what many don’t realize is he is also an impressive pedal steel player as well. Recently he told Rick Beato that steel guitar is his favorite instrument. He indeed played steel on early Steely Dan tracks.

On this night, Baxter treated us to a scorching instrumental and then followed it up with the Steely Dan anthem “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.” Singer Lauren Morrow knocked it out of the park and had everyone hanging on to her every line. Then came the epic guitar solo which Baxter himself originally composed and played, but on this night he left it to young protégé Saxon Weiss, a youngster currently making quite an impression in the six-string community. Though plagued with guitar connection problems, Weiss was able to deliver impressively at the exact moment needed.

A Tale of Two Eddies: Eddie Gossien and Eddie Dunlap

Eddie Dunlap

The great Eddie Gossien, known for his work with Mel McDaniel, Daryl Worley and many others took to the stage and was quite the spectacle dressed in purple and playing a glittery gold Sho-Bud Maverick II. His smoking instrumental version of Harlan Howard’s classic “I Don’t Believe I’ll Fall In Love Today” pulled out all the stops and fancy licks you could imagine. Anyone needing a definition on what country music is needed to look no further than this performance.

Taking a completely different approach, steel great Eddie Dunlap—a master of numerous styles including Western swing and country—put on an awe-inspiring rock-oriented take on Jeff Becks “Never Alone.” His ability to convey not only Beck’s sophisticated licks but the actual tone accurately was stunning. Watching him deftly work his effects pedals back and forth while working the guitars pedals was a show unto itself.

Junior Brown with Mike Borque

Junior Brown

Mike Borque

Of course, the newly inducted Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame member Junior Brown was going to make an appearance, and why wouldn’t he. Brown explained that when he plays pedal steel he’s always favored Sho-Bud instruments. Fittingly he had brought along his brand-new world’s first “Pedal Guit-Steel” built by Sho-Bud and displayed alongside him onstage.

Opting to play his standard Guit-steel for this performance he launched into a version of “Long Walk back To San Antone” accompanied by Gene Watsons pedal steel player Mike Borque who juggled both telecaster and pedal steel while trading solos with Brown. A performance like only Junior Brown can deliver.

Sarah Jory and Andrea Whitt

Sarah Jory

Andrea Whitt

If you haven’t heard of her, it’s likely because she’s from the UK, but once you see Sarah Jory play, you won’t ever forget her. She’s a true master of the instrument and her impressive resume includes gigs with Glen Campbell, Van Morrison, Ricky Skaggs and many others.

On this night she would play a few times on the stage, but the showstopper was a side-by-side pedal steel duet with the elder statesman of pedal steel, Lloyd Green. Playing an instrumental take on “Danny Boy,” the two put on a mesmerizing performance that had the audience silent and in awe. Afterwards she gave her hero a giant hug while the applause thundered and reverberated throughout the Ryman. It was one of several epic performances of the night.

Famed multi-instrumentalist Andrea Whitt also got her moment to duet with Lloyd Green, choosing an instrumental cover of Elliot Smith’s “Waltz #2.” Its a gorgeous and haunting tune, and seeing her and Green each take part while complimenting each other made for unforgettable moments.

Whitt also performed mightily later on in the evening sitting in with Slash and Saxon Weiss on a sizzling version of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” where she got to demonstrate the talk box effect plugged into her pedal steel, duplicating the Joe Walsh parts while paying tribute to the man who had pioneered the effect, the late great Pete Drake. Whitt also played fiddle throughout the evening, backing nearly everyone with the house band. She was a stunner in every way.

Robert Randolph

Robert Randolph

Grammy winning pedal steel master Robert Randolph really brought the energy and excitement to volcanic levels, playing Jimi Hendrix’s epic “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return),” a song that is most commonly a right of passage for journeyman guitarists looking to impress. But seldom if ever is the song played on a pedal steel and in the manner that Randolph can deliver it in. He specializes in exotic tunings that other players might find difficult.

Watching Randolph effortlessly manipulate steel strings using the levers and pedals with total ease, moving the slide bar rapidly, while running the sound through a fuzz pedal made for an entertaining visual, and it left onlookers shaking their heads at the sheer ferocity and virtuosity of the performance. As Randolph concluded the song, he quickly grabbed the entire pedal steel with one arm and threw it over his shoulder striding off the stage with the attitude and swagger of a man who knows he has just pulled out a performance no one can follow. It was a genuine WOW moment.

Slash

Slash on Steel

Undeniably the biggest musical star in the room was none other than Saul Hudson, better known to the world as Slash. Making numerous appearances throughout the later parts of the evening, the audience got a rare opportunity to see different facets of his legendary playing up close. To say he brought the excitement is a massive understatement.

Slash first hit the stage playing with Cody Parks and The Dirty South playing his brand of ferocious six string shredding on the legendary Les Paul guitar that is his trademark. The ensemble was joined by Austin Duhaime fittingly playing a black Sho-Bud pedal steel. The band did a metal version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” that was unbelievably over the top. To watch Slash play solos in all his glory, was an absolute pleasure to see up close.

Slash on Guitar

Next Slash appeared with Andrea Whitt, Will Jackson (grandson of Shot Jackson and co-owner of Sho-Bud) and the young rising star Saxon Weiss to play a smoking hot version of “Rocky Mountain Way” that stretched out and allowed the collective musicians to shine. Most touching perhaps was watching Slash mentor the young man Saxon, and you could see him leaning down to the young man’s level and inspiring him to further musical heights.

Saxon Weiss with Slash

And yet what really brought Slash to the event wasn’t about playing a six string electric guitar at all, it was the opportunity to play pedal steel. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter revealed in a recent interview that it was he who had encouraged and prodded Slash to take up the steel, even loaning him one of his own instruments.

Over the past couple years there has been talk about Slash’s steel playing and videos have appeared online taken in various small clubs where he has appeared. On the night prior to this performance, Slash was seen in Nashville on stage at Third and Lindsley playing pedal steel with Western swing band The Time Jumpers, and expectations were high that the finale to this show could be epic.

Enter Lloyd Green, a player said to have played on 30,000 recording sessions in his 89 years on this earth. Green is undoubtedly the most prolific pedal steel player in history and to even try and catalog all his work is a fool’s errand at best. Not only is he most influential in the history and formation of country music, but in American popular music, he has also had a significant influence. He is unquestionably the living elder statesman of the instrument and the biggest name by far among the living in the pedal steel realm.

Lloyd Green

And so it was fortunate that the two men, both legends in their respective worlds, would share the stage together. Each sat in front of a Sho-Bud Lloyd Green signature model steel. Anticipation was through the roof as the two were announced. The chosen song fittingly was one Slash knew well; it was in fact one he helped compose and a song that quite literally took him to the largest stages in the world. As the opening riff notes were played through the majestic instrument, the audience immediately recognized the song “Sweet Child Of Mine” and they erupted accordingly.

This song is so famous its become unarguably one of the greatest rock anthems of all time. Its influence on guitarists and musicians cannot be overstated. As the house band joined in on the song, a lone figure strode out of the stage shadows. It was vocalist Wendy Moten, quite possibly the only person in the building capable of pulling off the difficult vocal range needed to perform it. Her voice soared to the rafters as she put everything she had into the performance, and a big grin appeared on the face of Lloyd Green who recognized the greatness of the moment.

Lloyd Green, Wendy Moten, and Slash

The two men played on through the song trading licks and melodies while the audience sat entranced. It was quite literally a moment for the ages and perhaps the defining moment of the entire show.

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The Sho-Bud Showcase At The Ryman was superb. It brought multiple generations of players and fans of differing genres together, and it was all based on a love for an instrument that is both glorious and yet at times intimidating for beginners. This event proved that young generations are willing to embrace the sounds and take up playing the mighty pedal steel, an instrument that is still relevant today and likely will be in the future.