---
title: "Zaxbys Franchisee Teams Up with Jackson State’s Celebrated Marching Band"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/bed6e500-a8e7-4908-a537-14578cc2c4a1
source: "QSR Magazine"
original_url: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/zaxbys-franchisee-teams-up-with-jackson-states-celebrated-marching-band/
author: "Ben Coley"
category: "Chicken"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Chicken"
published: 2026-08-27T14:23:07.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T15:31:16.302Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555396273-367ea4eb4db5?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Zaxbys Franchisee Teams Up with Jackson State’s Celebrated Marching Band

**TL;DR:** Zaxbys has announced a partnership with the Sonic Boom of the South, the marching band of Jackson State University. The partnership will bring select band members to a Jackson-area Zaxbys restaurant and provide support to the university and its students.

*By Ben Coley, originally published in QSR Magazine on 2026-08-27. [Read the original](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/zaxbys-franchisee-teams-up-with-jackson-states-celebrated-marching-band/).*

## Story

Zaxbys, the Southern-rooted fast-casual brand behind Chicken Fingerz, Zalads and signature Zax Sauce, has announced a partnership with the Sonic Boom of the South, the celebrated marching band of Jackson State University and one of the most recognized collegiate ensembles in the country.

The partnership pairs two Southern institutions with deep local followings and will bring select Sonic Boom members to a Jackson-area Zaxbys restaurant for appearances later this year, with additional details to be announced. Beyond in-person activations, the collaboration is designed to channel meaningful support to the university and its students.

“The Sonic Boom is one of the things that makes Jackson, Jackson,” said Drew Gressett, CEO of Roost & Rise Holdings. “This partnership is about showing up for a program that means so much to this city and to Jackson State. When we open restaurants in a community, we want to be a real part of it — not just a place people drive past.”

For Zaxbys and its local franchisee, the partnership continues a pattern of investment across the Jackson market. This month, the brand welcomed students back to the classroom with free Big Zax Snak offers. Roost & Rise also recently named Mississippi team member DJ Pretty Peech its Chief Vibe Officer, a role created to connect the brand more closely with the culture and community it serves.

Zaxbys and Roost & Rise intend to announce additional partnerships with Jackson-area organizations and initiatives in the months ahead.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- partnership (topic)
- Ben Coley (person)
- Zaxby's (company)
- local marketing (topic)
- community investment (topic)
- Drew Gressett (person)
- brand activation (topic)
- Roost & Rise Holdings (company)
- DJ Pretty Peech (person)
- Sonic Boom of the South (company)

---
Originally reported by Ben Coley, QSR Magazine (https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/zaxbys-franchisee-teams-up-with-jackson-states-celebrated-marching-band/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/bed6e500-a8e7-4908-a537-14578cc2c4a1).