Shelby Lynne Pleads for Return of Stolen Guitars, Ukulele

Shelby Lynne left town after her show in Norfolk, Va. last month a little lighter than when she arrived: three guitars and a ukulele lighter, to be precise. After an April gig 5 in the seaside city, Shelby discovered that the instruments had been stolen, including her beloved 1967 Gibson B-25, the guitar on which she wrote all of the songs on her latest CD, Revelation Road. The theft occurred just as she wrapped the spring leg of her first-ever solo, acoustic tour.

Photos of the stolen instruments can be seen at the singer's Facebook page, and a reward has been offered to the person who provides information that leads to the recovery of the items. The other missing instruments include a 1968 Gibson B-25, a 1995 Gibson AJ Acoustic, and a 1968 Martin Baritone Ukulele, all in their cases.

Revelation Road is the third project released (and self-produced) on Shelby's own independent label, EVERSO Records. It seems an appropriate title for the album, given that one of the more jarring tunes on the disc is "Heaven's Only Days Down the Road." The chilling, autobiographical track addresses her father's mindset the week he decided to murder her mother and take his own life when Shelby was just 17, leaving her and her sister Allison Moorer alone.

Shelby penned every song on the soul-baring collection, and played all of the instruments on it as well. She's been touring the country the last few months debuting songs from the new CD, and says she's definitely connected with concertgoers while performing the ultra-personal songs.

"Since I have toured this album solo I found a deeper relationship with the audiences and the songs get to really shine," Shelby tells the Fredericksburg Patch. "It has been wonderful. Everyone who has heard the album is so sweet and supportive of my work. I am so touched to be surrounded with amazing love every night, everywhere I go."

With the pressures of the road, however, and the recent theft of her instruments, it's not surprising that Shelby often enjoys just hanging out at her home in California.

"I've gone the road and I love the road, but it is really hard," she told The Boot in 2010. "I'm one of those people who have a hard time getting out of the house even though I'm an old road dog, and I do love to get out there and sing. I have to leave my dogs and my garden. I've just turned into such a homebody. You do what you have to do, and I love traveling and being on tour out there with the guys and playing. It's hard for me. I'll sit here going, 'Oh my god, I've got five more days at home before I leave for 40 days.' I'm freaking out."

Anyone with information about Shelby's stolen instruments is encouraged to email her camp at stolenitems@shelbylynne.com.