Miss Melanie and The Valley Rats

Miss Melanie and the Valley Rats specialize in all aspects of the blues, as well as performing roots, soul and New Orleans infused grooves. They have shared stages and/or jammed alongside B.B. King, Allen Toussaint, James Cotton, Johnny Winter, The Nighthawks, Clarence Spady and JJ Grey & Mofro.

Melanie Morrison Zeigler can flat out sing. Zeigler's powerful, soulful, and sultry voice can whip a barroom dance floor into a frenzy or turn them quiet enough to hear a pin drop when serving up a soul bearing ballad. Her range and emotionality are as good as it gets. One listen and you are hooked!

Combine her exquisite talent with the well-received Queen Bee & the Blue Hornet Band guitarist Mark Ross' straight from the gut, honest, tone filled guitar playing for some infectious chemistry. Add to that chemistry the soulful, innovative, sympathetic stylings of organist Rev. James Harton and drummer Jordan Thompson. Watch out as they lay down the perfect groove-laden floor to express themselves.

"...a simmering, smoldering set of vintage, sixties R&B that drew several standing ovations mid-set." — Elmore Magazine - July 2015

"Morrison has a voice that is reminiscent of Etta James, sultry, smoky and very highly emotionally charged. This woman could charm the robes off the Pope… no offense intended. The band is equally emotionally charged, coming from the school of feelings rather than technical perfection. Don't get me wrong, this band can hold their own with the best of them from either standpoint." — Bill Wilson - Billtown Blues News - October/November 2011

"Do yourself a favor. Go see this band and buy the CD. You won’t be disappointed." — Don Bedell - The Centre County Gazette

"Her sultry voice hearkens from another era, a time of smoky nightclubs and rough-and-tumble juke joints." — Chris Rosenblum - Centre Daily Times

"...a rapport, discipline and tonal color not unlike a classic organ trio from Blue Note or Verve Records’ mid-’60s heyday." — Dan Kunz - Centre Daily Times "Her deep, sultry voice ... certainly upped the concert’s energy - Jamke Abbate - The Daily Collegian