St. Louis Area · Solo Acoustic · Guitars and Vocals

Mel HughesHundreds of songs.
Takes requests.

Portrait of Mel Hughes sitting in a chair by the door of a weathered storefront, playing his acoustic guitar beneath wooden MEL HUGHES MUSIC and For Booking signs, with a mug of beer on a small table beside him and chickens pecking under the window

Not the same old cover act. Mel's book runs deeper than the usual setlist, and the list backs it up: one night can run from Waylon Jennings to Pink Floyd. Americana like Jason Isbell's "Last of My Kind" and Zach Bryan's "Something in the Orange." Classic country like Waylon Jennings' "Luckenbach, Texas" and Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried." Outlaw country like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," Waylon Jennings' "Good Hearted Woman," and Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road" — the one that gets the line dancers out of their seats. Classic rock done his own way — Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." Folk like Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" and Jim Croce's "Operator." And today's hits like Chris Stapleton's "Starting Over" and Shaboozey's "Good News."

For booking: [email protected]

Solo acoustic · St. Louis area · 3-hour sets · Own Bose L1 sound provided — no house PA needed · Fits a corner to festival crowds of 500+ · Private parties, community and corporate events too

A quick sample

Eight songs, four minutes — real clips from real rooms. Press play.

Promo reel · 4:04 · Eight live clips

Mel covers Starting Over

The reel is the highlights. Here's the full song, start to finish — just guitar and voice, no amp, no backing tracks.

“Starting Over” · Chris Stapleton · 3:36 · Unplugged

Upcoming shows

What's on the calendar — the dates still to come. Come out, request a song, and stay for the second set.

Sat7Nov 2026

Café Smok N Pi

DeSoto, Missouri — an evening set in DeSoto. Prine story songs early, sing-alongs once the room warms up.

Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 6–9 PM
Fri20Nov 2026

Crossroads Sports Bar

S. Lindbergh, Concord Village — St. Louis, Missouri. Back at Crossroads for a Friday night set.

Friday, November 20, 2026 · 7–10 PM
Sat26Dec 2026

Café Smok N Pi

DeSoto, Missouri — the day after Christmas, back in DeSoto to close out the year.

Saturday, December 26, 2026 · Time to be announced
Wed19May 2027

Sunset Nights: Aloha Summer!

Minnie Ha Ha Park, Sunset Hills, Missouri — Mel kicks off the Sunset Nights summer series.

Wednesday, May 19, 2027 · 6–8 PM

Want Mel at your room or party on another date? Booking is open — dates fill around these.

Mel Hughes in a red Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, singing into the mic with his guitar on a dark stage
Mel Hughes standing on a creek bank in a plaid shirt, holding his acoustic guitar

The show

Built for bars, patios, and listening rooms around St. Louis. People stay longer when they hear their song. That's the whole idea.

Mel Hughes sitting on a stool at a pub bar in Hythe, England, playing his acoustic guitar
Mel entertaining in Hythe, England.
  • Takes requests — ask between songs; hundreds of songs, over 40 artists covered.
  • Three hours, no repeats needed — story songs early, sing-alongs when the room is warm.
  • Right-sized for the room — corner, patio, or full bar; easy load-in, volume that still lets people talk.
  • Private parties too — birthdays, backyard parties, and company gatherings across the St. Louis area.
  • The gear — a Martin 6 and a 12-string through a top-of-the-line Bose L1, sized for intimate rooms up to festival crowds of 500+.

Some of Mel's personal favorite artists by genre

Americana, folk & songwriters

  • John Prine
  • Jason Isbell
  • Tyler Childers
  • Todd Snider
  • Guy Clark
  • Townes Van Zandt
  • Bob Dylan
  • Zach Bryan
  • The Avett Brothers
  • Jimmy Buffett

Country & outlaw

  • Willie Nelson
  • Waylon Jennings
  • Johnny Cash
  • Turnpike Troubadours
  • Whiskey Myers
  • Red Clay Strays
  • Chris Stapleton

Classic rock

  • Tom Petty
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • Eagles
  • The Rolling Stones
  • Bob Seger

Classic rock · cont.

  • Marshall Tucker Band
  • Ozark Mountain Daredevils
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
  • The Band
  • America

A few from the list

  • All The Best · John Prine
  • Sam Stone · John Prine
  • Something in the Orange · Zach Bryan
  • Last of My Kind · Jason Isbell
  • Cover Me Up · Jason Isbell
  • Folsom Prison Blues · Johnny Cash
  • The Housefire · Turnpike Troubadours
  • Runnin' Down A Dream · Tom Petty
  • Mama Tried · Merle Haggard
  • Play a Train Song · Todd Snider
  • Desperado · Eagles
  • Old Man · Neil Young

Recent rooms

Regularly playing around the St. Louis area — river towns, sports bars, and neighborhood rooms where the crowd shapes the set.

Marquart's Landing

Washington, Missouri

Crossroads Sports Bar

Concord Village · St. Louis, Missouri

Top Shooters

St. Louis area

Caddyshack Saloon

St. Louis area

The Sand Bar

Washington, Missouri

Community events

Beyond the bar rooms — Mel plays the festivals, conferences, and community stages around the region too.

Washington Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference

Music for the Washington area's business community at its annual gathering.

Community event · Washington, Missouri

Union Missouri Wingfest

Wings, crowds, and a set built for a festival afternoon in Union.

Community event · Union, Missouri

Washington Missouri Arts and Crafts Festival

Live acoustic music among the makers and artists at Washington's arts and crafts festival.

Community event · Washington, Missouri

Sunset Nights

Part of the Sunset Hills Park and Recreation Department's Sunset Nights series — outdoor summer music, and Mel kicks it off.

Upcoming · This coming summer · Sunset Hills

Book Mel for your room

Write an email

Also find Mel Hughes Music on Facebook for gig announcements and upcoming dates.

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