MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The city of Morgantown has released the 2026 Ruby Summer Concert series lineup for the summer of 2026.
Last year, the Ruby Summer Concert Series pulled in more than 50,000 people from 13 states and the Netherlands who spent about $180,000 in food and beverage revenue and $50,000 in artist merchandise.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” director of arts and culture for the city Vincent Kitch said the series will start with an award-winning Queen tribute with some 80s and 90s rock favorites, a Michael Jackson tribute, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hanson, and 38 Special to name a few.
“They are actually considered one of the best Queen tributes nationally and in the world,” Kitch said. “They’re endorsed by the Freddy Mercury Foundation for their work they do in philanthropy and giving back, but they are professionals and they put on a really good show.”
Two bands from the 80s and 90s will be in the middle of the schedule with Everclear on July 19 and Tonic on July 26. These are two bands that don’t do a great deal of touring and have been on the Ruby Summer Concert wish list for quite a while.
“We’ve had Everclear and Tonic on our list of desires to be in the series for a long time,” Kitch said. Everclear is a 90’s alternative rock band out of Portland, and they’ve been around for a long time as well.”
The band Dark Side of the Moonshine, made up of West Virginians, will blend bluegrass and classic rock for Pink Floyd on July 10.
“They play roots music doing Pink Floyd, and they are West Virginia artists, and it’s always great when we can do that,” Kitch said.
The brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie will bring his band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, to the waterfront on July 31.
“The Fabulous Thunderbirds that you remember from the 80s Are You Tough Enough out of Austin, Texas,” Kitch said. “It’s the lead singer Jimmie Vaughn and the same band he’s been touring with for 30 years.”
Who’s Bad, a Michael Jackson tribute, will play the waterfront August 7, and the series will wrap up with 80’s rock band 38 Special.
“I always knew the power ballads like Hold on Loosely and things like that from the 80s, so that will be a big show for us.”