The annual celebration honors the legacies of the three rock and roll pioneers, whose final performances took place at the Surf Ballroom on February 2, 1959. Each year, fans from across the country and around the world gather in Clear Lake to celebrate the music, history, and lasting influence of early rock and roll.
Festivities will begin Wednesday, February 3, with a free sock hop open to the public, followed by three nights of live entertainment featuring legendary performers, returning favorites, and musicians with personal connections to the original Winter Dance Party tour.
Thursday, February 4, 2027
John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party
John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party” is the official live re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper’s final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens, and Richardson estates. The production brings the music of the 1950s back to the stage with more than two hours of entertainment featuring classics such as “That’ll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “La Bamba,” and “Chantilly Lace.”
Friday, February 5, 2027
Richie Lee & The Fabulous 50’s
Iowa native Richie Lee and The Fabulous 50’s bring audiences back to the roots of rock and roll with authentic renditions of the music that defined a generation. Having shared the stage with many of the original rock and roll greats, Lee and his band recreate the sounds of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, and more.
The Sweethearts
The Sweethearts celebrate the golden age of rock and roll with a tribute to the music of the 1950s. Featuring vocal harmonies, choreography, and audience interaction, the group performs favorites such as “Rock Around the Clock,” “Only You,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Rockin’ Robin,” bringing the classic sounds of doo-wop and early rock and roll to the stage.
Richie & The High Street Rockers
Philadelphia-based power trio Richie & The High Street Rockers are introducing the music of the 1950s and ’60s to a new generation. With tens of millions of online views, the group has gained attention for its performances of classics by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Dion, and The Everly Brothers, combining traditional rock and roll with their own signature style.
Saturday, February 6, 2027
Kevin Montgomery
Nashville-born singer-songwriter Kevin Montgomery carries on a special connection to Buddy Holly through his father, Bob Montgomery, Holly’s early musical partner and songwriting collaborator. With a career spanning Americana, country-rock, and folk, Montgomery has toured with artists including Sheryl Crow and David Crosby. At the 2027 Winter Dance Party, he will pay tribute to his father and Buddy Holly by performing songs from their early years as the duo Buddy and Bob.
Cornell Gunter’s Coasters
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, The Coasters helped define the sound of early rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Known for their memorable storytelling and vocal harmonies, the group's hits include “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown,” “Searchin’,” “Young Blood,” and “Poison Ivy.” Their recordings, many written by the legendary songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, remain an important part of rock and roll history.
Albert Lee Band: Tribute to The Everly Brothers and more!
Grammy Award-winning guitarist Albert Lee is internationally recognized for his exceptional musicianship and distinctive guitar technique. With a career spanning more than five decades, Lee has performed and recorded with legendary artists including Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, Bill Wyman, and The Everly Brothers. His Winter Dance Party performance will feature the music of The Everly Brothers, along with favorites from throughout his extensive career.
Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chubby Checker returns to the Surf Ballroom to “twist again” with The Wildcats as the headliner of the 2027 Winter Dance Party. Best known for his groundbreaking 1960 hit “The Twist,” Checker helped transform popular music and dance, becoming the only artist to take the same recording to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in two separate chart runs. His catalog of hits includes “Pony Time,” “Let’s Twist Again,” “The Fly,” and “Limbo Rock.” A Grammy Award winner with a career spanning more than six decades, Checker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, recognizing his lasting impact on music and popular culture.
Grand Finale Led by Austin Allsup
The 2027 Winter Dance Party will conclude with a grand finale led by returning fan favorite Austin Allsup, continuing a family tradition deeply connected to the Surf Ballroom and the original Winter Dance Party tour. His father, Tommy Allsup, played guitar with Buddy Holly on the 1959 tour and remained a familiar face at the Surf for decades. A former contestant on NBC’s The Voice, Austin has built his own career in the Red Dirt music scene while honoring his father’s legacy. Since first performing at the Winter Dance Party in 2017, he has returned each year, carrying on a tradition that remains a meaningful part of the annual celebration.