Sho-Bud Showcase Live Fills Ryman Auditorium
The four-hour concert honored the steel guitar brand's legacy while benefiting two foundations.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Folk
Live Poll
Would you buy a ticket to a steel guitar concert in your area?
Sho-Bud presented the Sho-Bud Showcase Live concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, featuring Slash, Marcus King, Robert Randolph, and Lloyd Green. The four-hour event was billed as a benefit for the Peter Frampton Myotosis Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Why it matters
The concert marks a revival of a brand that was once the marquee name in pedal steel guitars during the 1960s and 1970s. Dawn and Will Jackson re-acquired Sho-Bud in 2024 and restarted production after it had trailed off following Gretsch's 1979 acquisition.
The concert ran four hours and was billed as a benefit for two foundations, while Sho-Bud's ownership moved from Gretsch's 1979 acquisition to Dawn and Will Jackson in 2024. Fundraising totals and current production output were not reported.
The players
Sho-Bud
A steel guitar manufacturer created by Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons that was the marquee brand of the 1960s and 1970s.
Lloyd Green
A veteran session steel guitarist, age 89, with more than 30,000 studio recordings to his credit.
Slash
A guitarist known for his work with Guns N' Roses who performed at the concert and joined Green on the "Sweet Child O' Mine" intro.
Marcus King
A guitarist and bandleader who performed at the Sho-Bud Showcase Live concert.
Robert Randolph
A pedal steel guitarist who performed at the Sho-Bud Showcase Live concert.
The details
Slash picked out the intro to "Sweet Child O' Mine" alongside Lloyd Green during the show. The lineup also included Marcus King and Robert Randolph, and the event centered on the steel guitar legacy of Shot Jackson and Buddy Emmons, who created Sho-Bud guitars.
Timeline
1979: Gretsch acquires the Sho-Bud brand.
2024: Dawn and Will Jackson re-acquire Sho-Bud and restart production.
Last week: The Sho-Bud Showcase Live concert is held at the Ryman Auditorium.
Folk
The revival of Sho-Bud follows the decline in production that began after Gretsch bought the brand in 1979, and the Jacksons' 2024 return to ownership restarted manufacturing. The concert's pairing of rock guitarists with veteran steel players reflects the instrument's continued presence across genres.
Fans interested in Sho-Bud guitars can track the Jacksons' restarted production as they resume manufacturing. Concert attendance details beyond the Ryman event were not reported in the source.
The takeaway
Sho-Bud's revival under the Jackson family shows how a discontinued instrument brand can return when its legacy is maintained by people with a personal stake in it. The steel guitar remains a bridge between country, rock, and session work.
Further reading
For more on the roots music scene, explore Folk coverage from Nashville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rolling Stone.
Live Poll
Would you buy a ticket to a steel guitar concert in your area?
