Selena, Jimmy Buffett and other legends live on at Minnesota State Fair

Having grown up mimicking her favorite singer’s videos and learning all her dance moves, Karla Pérez did not need to be sold on the value of keeping Selena’s music alive. She thinks maybe some other people do, though — especially in 2025.

“Selena opened up so many doors for Hispanic people, and her music is so positive,” Pérez said of the Texas singer who was murdered in 1995. “I think now, more than ever, people appreciate me honoring her.”

Based in Phoenix, Pérez herself is honored to be invited to the Minnesota State Fair for the first time to perform her Selena the Show tribute concert for two nights on the fair’s biggest free stage, the Bandshell, on Aug. 28 and 29.

Hers is one of many tribute shows scattered across the fair’s free music lineup. Not only can you sing along to Selena’s songs at the fair 30 years after her death, but you can hear live performances of music by other long-deceased artists such as John Denver and Janis Joplin.

Other tributes include a new show on Jimmy Buffett, who died in 2023, and another on the medically sidelined Neil Diamond.

Nate Dungan, entertainment supervisor for the Minnesota State Fair, said we’re seeing an uptick in tribute concerts like these on the free stages for one obvious reason: They are popular.

“Our goal is simple: Give the people what they want,” Dungan said. “We try to keep up with trends, and tribute bands have soared in popularity in recent years. I think they are here to stay.”

“Tribute bands are an essential part of that mix,” said Ernest, whose band kicked off music at the Bandshell this year.

The Church of Cash ringleader takes pride knowing “both casual listeners and devoted fans have a chance to celebrate the music of legendary artists, whether they missed the chance to see them live or simply want to relive the magic.”

Ernest also plays bass in another tribute band making its State Fair debut a week later: Parrothead Paradise, honoring “Margaritaville” icon Buffett. The group began performing around Minnesota in 2022, a year before Buffett’s death. As with Pérez and her Selena tribute, though, Parrothead Paradise’s members see a deeper meaning to what they do since he passed.

“We updated some of the dialogue to better reflect who Jimmy truly was and the lasting legacy he left behind,” Ernest said.

“Jimmy Buffett was one of those rare artists whose songs weren’t just music, they were a way of life. With Parrothead Paradise, we aim to take audiences back to that beachy dream, where the margaritas are cold, and the memories are warm.”

“The songs are so innocent and full of love, and she was so young when she sang them,” she said, “it takes people back to a different time.”

Pérez sings many of Selena’s Tejano/Spanish-language hits, including “Amor Prohibido,” “Como la Flor” and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” as well as “Dreaming of You” and other songs from the English-language album she was working on at the time of her murder.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Pérez said, but she also reiterated that it’s more than that.

“When I look out and see people crying and I hear everyone singing along, to me that’s proof I’m doing something important.”

Here’s a rundown of the top tribute acts playing the free stages at this year’s State Fair, including a handful scheduled for the Bandshell (no longer called the Leinie Lodge Bandshell amid sponsorship changes). There’s also a tribute act booked on the grandstand the last day of the fair.

Parrothead Paradise – A Jimmy Buffett Tribute: Aug. 27 & 28, 3:45 and 4:45 p.m., Bandshell

Karla Perez’s Selena the Show: Aug. 28 & 29, 8:30 p.m., Bandshell

Matt Vee & the Killer Vees Celebrate Neil Diamond: Aug. 31 & Sept. 1, 1 and 2:30 p.m., Bandshell

Pamela McNeill – Janis, Stevie, Dolly & Me: Aug. 31, 8 p.m., Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m., International Bazaar

The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Taylor Swift and More for Kids: Sept. 1, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., grandstand, $10-$19