Big news on new stage: 2026 Rockin' on the River concert schedule released

LORAIN — Renovations to Black River Landing are on track to be complete in time for the 2026 Rockin' on the River concert series, with a lineup organizers say will live up to its newly improved home. Despite a harsh winter, construction of the Lorain Port and Finance Authority's new $11 million Black River Landing amphitheater is on track and Operations Director Tom Brown said Friday that it will be ready for the 2026 season, albeit with a slightly delayed start date compared to previous years. "It was such a horrific winter with the cold and everything, but since our crew, our construction manager and all of the men and women contracting for us worked so hard, we are on schedule," Brown said. "We are doing the weather guarding on the roof now, and you will start to see the shingles go up probably in the next week. "Over the next month, you are really going to see the change." The new amphitheater will be larger and feature more advanced lighting and sound technology. Perhaps most importantly, Brown said, the new lowered bowl that the amphitheater sits in will allow for better views of the stage not just from inside the bowl, but from anywhere in Black River Landing. Along with the update on the Black River Landing renovation, Brown announced a stacked lineup for the 2026 concert series. The public will be able to share in the new viewing experience on June 5, when the Lorain Port Authority will hold a ribbon-cutting prior to the first Rockin' on the River show of 2026, which will feature fan favorite Disco Inferno, with cover band 1988 opening. All shows in the concert series will see gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the first act going on at 6:15 p.m. and the main act performing by 8:45 p.m. unless otherwise specified. All shows are priced at $10 per person, with entry free for kids 12 and younger unless otherwise noted. On June 5, the ribbon-cutting will be held around 6 p.m. before the show begins, Port Authority Executive Director Tiffany McClelland said. Traditionally, Rockin' on the River kicks off over Memorial Day weekend in late May, but Brown said that the start date was pushed back to the first weekend of June to make sure that the new and improved venue was ready. This season will have three Saturday shows, with the first making for a double feature on 4th of July weekend. Medusa will open for the Mr. Speed KISS tribute band on July 3, and then the 7 Summers Morgan Wallen tribute band and Cleveland-based original band Country Honk will light up the river on July 4. Boy Band Review and the Almost Taylor, Taylor Swift Tribute will perform on July 18, when kids 5 and under will receive free admission, and Saturday, Aug. 22 will feature Wish You Were Here, a Pink Floyd tribute band and Colin Dussault's Blues Project. Brown waited until the end of his presentation to announce what he said was one of the Port Authority's biggest gets in its now two years programming Rockin' on the River: National recording country artist Chris Lane will play the Sept. 4 concert. "We wanted something special this year for the new amphitheater," Brown said. The Port Authority is in negotiations to secure another national recording country artist to open for Lane on Sept. 4, Brown added. Tickets for Lane's show will be $25 in advance and $40 on the day of the concert, but tickets will still be included for Rockin' on the River season ticket holders and VIPs. Brown said that the 2026 series would end with a unique new twist; local favorites Bad JuJu and Old Skool would face off in the final concert on Sept. 18 to win the support of the crowd, with the winner taking home a special bonus. Brown and McClelland took time prior to the announcement of the 2026 schedule to thank all the private and public partners who had made the new Black River Landing and the continuation of Rockin' on the River possible. The $11 million renovation is funded in part by a $5 million bond, $995,000 each from the city and county's American Rescue Plan Act funds; $750,000 over five years from the Lorain County Visitors Bureau; $650,000 in philanthropic commitments; $500,000 from the state; and $250,000 from the Lorain Port Authority's budget. "We had a great group of people that really put a lot of time and effort into bringing this dream of ours to fruition," McClelland said. "We are ready to take it to the next level. I would say that everyone is on the same page with us, we are the number one tourist destination here in Lorain County. We are proud to be that and proud to grow the number of people that are coming into the city of Lorain, to really continue to push economic development here in downtown and our community. We are really excited about this." For more information, and to buy tickets as they become available, visit https://www.rockinontheriver.com/2026. The full 2026 Rockin' on the River schedule is: Friday, June 5 - Disco Inferno with 1988 Friday, June 12 - Dirty Deeds AC/DC tribute with Invincible Pat Benatar Experience Friday, June 19 - 24K Magic, Bruno Mars tribute with Rock The House Live Friday, July 3 - Mr. Speed, Kiss tribute with Medusa Saturday, July 4 - 7 Summers, Morgan Wallen tribute with Country Honk Friday, July 10 - Forever Segar with The Michael Weber Show Friday, July 17 - 7 Bridges Eagles tribute with Straight On, Heart tribute Saturday, July 18 - Boy Band Review with Almost Taylor, Taylor Swift tribute Friday, July 24 - Queen Nation with Into The Blue, ELO tribute Friday, July 31 - Who's Bad, Michael Jackson tribute, with The Sunrise Jones Jukebox Friday, Aug. 7 - In The End, Linkin Park tribute with Truss Friday, Aug. 14 - E5C4P3, Journey tribute with Best of Times, Styx tribute Friday, Aug. 21 - Dancing Queen, ABBA tribute with Boaterhead Saturday, Aug. 22 - Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd tribute with Colin Dussault's Blues Project Friday, Aug. 28 - Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne Experience with Billy Morris & Sunset Strip and Shawn Perry Vice City Friday, Sept. 4 - Chris Lane, supporting act to be announced soon Friday, Sept. 11 - The Seven Wonders, Fleetwood Mac tribute with The Evil Ways Band Friday, Sept. 18 - Bad JuJu with Old Skool Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.