The Highway Companions
Overview
Rick Hornyak and The Highway Companions are a polished band playing crowd-favorite songs that people recognize instantly.
Music from the 60s, 70s, and a few other favorites... Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, The Cars, Elton John, Jim Croce, Stevie Wonder, and more. We'll get the room singing along and keep the dance floor full! We’re professional, easy to work with, and regularly booked to entertain audiences of all ages.
We keep a full calendar, so please book early!
Reviews
8 reviews
Angela N.
October 18, 2026Great Cover Band
Rick Hornyak and The Highway Companions have played at our location, Green River Eddy's Tap Room & Grill, in Saluda, NC, several times over the last couple of years and we plan to continue our relationship with the band in 2027. We are picky about who we book for our customers' entertainment, and we've had nothing but rave reviews for this group. Rick and his band mates are super people, easy to work with and are very professional.
Hired as: Cover Band
Curry D.
October 8, 2026Seamless, Professional and Loved
This band had about a ten year residency gig at North by Northwest Restaurant and Brewery in Austin, TX. They were genuinely loved by our guests and our staff, easy to work with set a great vibe. They were well plugged into the Austin music scene and even helped me book other bands if they weren’t available when I needed an extra gig. Great Band and Great People.
Hired as: Cover Band, Party Band
Sam R.
October 8, 2026Packa’s Place Venue Review
I am the owner of a small venue in Horse Shoe, North Carolina called Packa’s Place. Rick and his highway companions have been playing at Packa’s Place for two years. They provide a superior sound and quality that is rarely found amongst locally gigging bands. They are very professional, they follow their schedule, and provide our guests with a very enjoyable beer garden experience. I hope they move on to large venues and concert halls, but they are always welcome here in Horse Shoe.
Hired as: Cover Band
Emily B.
October 18, 2026Super awesome band
Rick Hornyak and his band The Highway Companions played at our wedding and were a highlight of the night. Planning with Rick was easy. He replied quickly and accommodated our specific requests we had. Guests of every age danced to songs they knew. Friendly, punctual, and fun to dance to. Everybody loved them! I would hire them again!
Hired as: Party Band
John B.
October 14, 2026Awesome Band!
Rick Hornyak and The Highway Companions have performed at my venue a few times over the last few years and they definitely brought the crowd! Great musicians with some of their own originals as well as a good mix of classic cover hits that made for an enjoyable evening! I would highly recommend this band!
John Bianco
The Corinthian Event Center
Sharon, PA
Hired as: Cover Band
Booking information
Price range: $500 – $2,000 per event
Languages: English
Gig length: 120 - 240 minutes
What to expect
Rick Hornyak and The Highway Companions is a polished '60s & '70s band playing crowd-favorite classics that people know instantly. We like to get the room singing along and keep the dance floor full.
SONGS EVERYONE LOVES
- You'll hear classic songs from Americana and Classic Rock greats like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, The Cars, Elton John, Jim Croce, and Stevie Wonder.
- We perform for all ages. Our songs are family-friendly and kids love to dance to them.
A FUN, ENGAGING STAGE PRESENCE
- We love what we do, and it shows.
- Relaxed, formal, or themed— we dress for the occasion.
- High quality sound. Each member of our band has years of performing professionally, and we use quality sound equipment. We rehearse frequently and play each song as it was intended. You'll choose the volume that suits your event.
- A smooth performance. Recorded music plays during band breaks. If you need to make announcements, we'll help you do that.
WE MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU
- You'll book and plan your event with Rick Hornyak. He'll answer any and all questions, make recommendations, and ensure everything is taken care of— so you can focus on your event.
- We can provide all the necessary equipment. We own and maintain a complete set of professional-grade sound equipment, including in-ear monitors, as well as simple stage lighting.
About
The Highway Companions is based in western North Carolina and has been performing as a group since 2025. We like to get the room laughing, dancing, and singing along— and we've found the best music to do that.
The band is led by Rick Hornyak, an established Americana singer-songwriter and recording artist out of Austin, Texas. His original music has been played on radio stations across the country and has placed in the Top 50 on the Americana charts.
Each member of our band has years of performing experience. Our group includes professionally-trained musicians, sound engineers, and recording artists of a mix of genres. We're professional, easy to work with, and regularly booked to entertain audiences of all ages.
Services offered
Upcoming booked events
January 2027
16
Saturday
Asheville NC
5:00pm - 8:00pm
October 2026
23
Friday
Sylva NC
8:00pm - 11:00pm
November 2026
03
Tuesday
Fairview NC
6:00pm - 8:30pm
December 2026
01
Tuesday
Fairview NC
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Past booked events
October 2026
17
Saturday
Saluda NC
7:00pm - 10:00pm
16
Friday
Horseshoe NC
6:00pm - 9:00pm
10
Saturday
Marshall NC
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Set list
We perform music people know and love. We draw primarily from the 60s, 70s, and a few other hit songs. Our set list rotates and currently includes:
Tom Petty / You Wreck Me
Tom Petty / I Won’t Back Down
Tom Petty / Time to Move On
Tom Petty / Last Dance with Mary Jane
Tom Petty / Billy The Kid
Traveling Wilburys / Handle with Care
Jim Croce / Don’t Mess around with Jim
Jim Croce / Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Hal Ketchum / Small Town Saturday Night
Mudcrutch / Six Days on the Road
Chuck Berry / Thirty Days
Alejandro Escovedo / Castanets
Steve Miller Band / Jet Airliner
Willie Nelson / On The Road Again
The Beatles / When I’m Sixty-Four
The Beatles / Birthday
The Beatles / Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles / I Saw Her Standing There
John Lennon / Watching the Wheels
The Cars / Just What I Needed
The Cars / Bye Bye Love
The Cars / Let’s Go
Jerry Reed / East Bound and Down
Stealers Wheel / Stuck in the Middle with You
John Prine / Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian
John Denver / Thank God I’m a Country Boy
Paul LeMond / Kitty in the Cadillac
War / Low Rider
Stevie Nicks / Stop Dragging My Heart Around
Fleetwood Mac / Say You Love Me
Creedence Clearwater Revival / Green River
Carole King / I Feel the Earth Move
Joe Walsh / Life of Illusion
The Clash / Train in Vain
Edgar Winter Group / Free Ride
Elton John / Tiny Dancer
Elton John / Bennie and the Jets
Stevie Wonder / Superstition
Dobie Gray / Drift Away
If you have a special song you'd like us to play, let us know in advance— we'll do our best to accommodate it!
Influences and inspiration
Tom Petty
Bob Dylan
Van Morrison
John Prine
The Rolling Stones
The Band
Levon Helm
Neil Young
Linda Ronstadt
Robert Plant / Led Zepplin
Meryl Haggard
Lyle Lovett
Woody Guthrie
The Beatles
Rod Stewart
Setup requirements
Access to electrical outlets.
A list of your sound equipment or back line, if you'll be providing it. (We're happy to provide this and basic lighting.)
A covered stage, if outdoors. (Only applicable if we are providing our own sound equipment, to protect it from rain/snow.)
Two hours to set up. One hour to break down.
Report The Highway Companions
Cover Band