Event Information

2023 Melissa Road Tribute Fest

Saturday, September 16, 2023

3:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 

The unmistakable hard-driving beat of southern rock, the velvety crooning of a Texas balladeer, and the smooth versions of blues, R&B, and rock will fill the air in Melissa as the City presents the inaugural Melissa Road Tribute Fest on Saturday, Sept. 16.

The free event takes place on the stretch of Melissa Road between Central St. and Sherman St., just east of Hwy 5 and under the watchful eye of the City’s iconic water tower. “We are extremely excited to host this inaugural event,” said City Manager Jason Little. “We are, of course, hoping that we can make it an annual affair. It’s called the Melissa Road Tribute Fest because we have lined up some very entertaining tribute bands.”

Tribute bands are a category of entertainers that honor and pay tribute to admired, successful, and venerated musical acts by playing their music and mimicking their style and stage presence. For the 2023 Melissa Road Tribute Fest, three well-known tribute bands will provide the entertainment, Lone Star Skynyrd, King George, and Chaz Marie.

Lone Star Skynyrd is a Texas-based tribute band playing the songs of legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Band members add to their authenticity by wearing distinctive clothing and accessories from the 1970s. The tribute band, based in Fort Worth, won the 2022 Tribute Band of the Year award at the worldwide Josie Music Awards. 

King George is a tribute to George Strait, known to many as the king of country music. The tribute band strives to replicate the soothing melodic songs and music of Strait, one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. 

Chaz Marie is sometimes referred to as the “Hillbilly Aretha,” singing the unforgettable songs of Aretha Franklin as well as other singers of the blues, rhythm and blues, and rock genres. Chaz Marie’s vocal range has been described as a unique fusion of her musical influences including many female country artists. 

Event planners have arranged a partnership with The Nest, a locally-owned alliance which has relationships with independently-operated food trucks that offer a wide-range of prepared foods. During the Melissa Road Tribute Fest, food truck operators will be offering food for purchase throughout the event. 

"Bringing our community together through music, food, and shared experiences is the goal of our initial event," said Little. "The Melissa Road Tribute Fest will mark the beginning of what we hope will be an exciting tradition, and we are eager to learn from this year’s event to make each subsequent event even better.” 

Officials stress that this event is being marketed specifically for the Melissa community and while vendor booths will be present, they will be limited in number. Event staff will maintain their focus on proper event management and traffic flow to provide a safe environment for all who attend. “We expect the event will continue to grow in vendor and entertainment offerings in the future,” he added. 

The Melissa Road Tribute Fest marks the start of community gatherings planned by the City of Melissa. Free shuttle service will be provided from various off-site parking lots to the event. Details will be shared on www.cityofmelissa.com and social media sites.