Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Journey Tribute Bands To Rock Roanoke Island Festival Park

Posted By Matt Artz on April 6, 2017

The unforgettable music of ’80s rock icons Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, and Journey will come alive on the Outer Banks this summer, when the tribute bands Slippery When Wet, Pandora’s Box, and Trial By Fire take the stage for a concert event in Manteo at Roanoke Island Festival Park on Labor Day Weekend.

Named for Bon Jovi’s classic 1986 album, Slippery When Wet (pictured below) is billed as “the ultimate Bon Jovi tribute,” formed in 2003 by Jason Morey after answering many inquiries of “Are you Jon Bon Jovi?”. Most notably comedian Dave Chappelle invited Jason backstage following one of his comedy shows thinking that he was the New Jersey icon. It was then that Jason knew he had to take advantage of the resemblance.

Slippery When Wet has taken exact live arrangements from Bon Jovi’s 2000 Crush tour , 2002’s Bounce tour , 2005’s Have a Nice Day tour, 2008’s Lost Highway tour, and 2010’s The Circle tour to form what Morey refers to as an “Arena-Club Show.”

In 2007 the band was officially authorized by Bon Jovi to perform their highly entertaining show, according to their official website.

A tribute to the legendary Aerosmith, Atlanta-based Pandora’s Box brings authentic sounds and powerful energy onstage, consisting of a brotherhood of musicians who have known each other and played together for many years. Most notably, guitarist and backing vocalist Troy McLawhorn has played with Seether and is a current member of the internationally known band Evanescence. When he’s not recording or on tour with Evanescence, McLawhorn chooses to play all of your favorite Aerosmith classics in Pandora’s Box.

Guitarist Steve Taylor and lead vocalist Nathan Utz started working together back in 1990 with Sony Records artist The Blonz, and toured with bands such as Dokken and Poison. They have been working together ever since and their long career together makes for the same intense and entertaining chemistry onstage that Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry share.

That chemistry, along with Nathan’s uncanny resemblance to Steven Tyler in both voice and appearance, will transport you to the front of the stage at an Aerosmith show, according to the band’s official website.

The band is rounded out with the rhythm section of drummer Michael Foreman and bassist Trent Horne, as Pandora’s Box is on a mission to rise to the very pinnacle of the tribute band world in record time.

In 1996, arena rock superstars Journey put the band back together to record their tenth studio album, Trial by Fire, but the highly anticipated tour that was to follow never happened after lead singer and signature voice Steve Perry injured himself while training for the show. The tribute band Trial By Fire presents an experience that imagines if Steve Perry had never injured himself on that fateful day and what the reunion tour would have looked like.

The band is born out of the hearts of five seasoned North Carolina-based musicians who share a vision to bring that 1996 tour to fans across the country, embracing the sound and visuals of the Steve Perry era of Journey.

You won’t be able to help but sing along to such powerful choruses as “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Wheel in the Sky”, “Lights”, “Separate Ways”, and “Faithfully”, to name just a few.

The tribute rock bands Slippery When Wet, Pandora’s Box, and Trial By Fire will be live in concert during Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 2 in the spacious outdoor pavilion at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo. Gates open at 4pm.

Tickets are $30 plus taxes and fees for general admission and $60 for VIP (which includes entry, meet and greet, and chair on front lawn), available online now at itsallgravyobx.com, or call (252)473-7460 or (252) 473-7326.

Parking in advance is $20, or there will be a shuttle available for $5.

Food, beer, and wine will be available inside Festival Park gates, as no coolers or outside food is permitted. Chairs, tarps, and blankets are welcome; however, dogs, umbrellas, or tents are not allowed.