If you listed out all the things that Morganton, NC is known for, it is guaranteed that the Historic Morganton Festival would be on that list. The stage is warmed in early May, and anticipation for the festival is built with the TGIF summer concert series. To conclude all of the town’s summer festivities, the Historic Morganton Festival brings in over 250 local vendors and artists, blocking off all of downtown to showcase their food, work, and shops, giving the citizens an opportunity to become acquainted not only with the businesses but each other. Each night of the festival comes to a close with two to three heavy-hitting, up-and-coming names in the music industry. The 2026, 44th Historic Morganton Festival was no exception, featuring names like Eddie 9V, Johnny Mullenax, Dirty Grass Soul, as well as tribute acts to Prince and Earth, Wind and Fire.

FRIDAY-

September (earth, Wind, and Fire Tribute)

September opened the first night of Morganton Festival 2026, with a groovy recreation of all the classic hits. Featuring everyone's favorite songs, September, Let’s Groove, Boogie Wonderland, and many more. The 11-piece act captures authentic their 70s funk with 3 vocalists, drums, keyboard, guitar, bass, trumpet, saxophone, and trombone coming together to create melodic sounds that get your body moving as it used to. September’s three vocalists maintained a lively onstage presence with synchronized dance routines and high notes that almost felt like you were actually watching Earth, Wind and Fire Live.

PURPLE MADNESS (Prince Tribute)

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SATURDAY-

Johnny Mullenax

Kicked off by Oklahoma’s finest, Johnny Mullenax, night two shifted from 70’s groove to a country theme while keeping the funky party of night one going. The sounds of Mullenax’s music manage to make you feel like you are listening to a classic tune with your pals around an old campfire deep in the Oklahoma plains while simultaneously giving you visions of old western saloon shootouts, through it's fast-paced rhythms and ungodly fiddling. With its modern lyrics and old gold rush sound, this is music made for blue-collar boys and people who just want to tap their toe or even stomp a foot. Featuring one of Johnny’s most popular songs, “Used to Work for a Livin” and newer releases from his 2026 EP “This Joints for You Too”, Mullenax paved the night for the acts to follow.

DIRTY GRASS SOUL

Country continued with the Shelby, NC local band Dirty Grass Soul. They mellowed the vibes with their more traditional sounds of country music. Dirty Grass Soul gave the crowd a taste of North Carolina farm life with their dirt under your nails, dip in your lip, workin man kind of lyricism. Their vapid style of music was a sharp contrast to the complexities of the other two performing artists, making them a thought-provoking middle choice for an act. A highlight of the performance came when a young girl, presumed to be a family member, in a Dirty Grass Soul shirt joined the band to dance on stage, giving the audience the full homegrown Southern family feels their music aims to deliver.

EDDIE 9V

From one of the hearts of American music, Atlanta-based Eddie 9V gave us a closing performance that showed his roots. With sneak-peek songs from his upcoming album “Down Here”, releasing in November 2026, Eddie defies genres with his wide spectrum of harmonic blending. Combing blues and rock with a little southern twang, these tunes transport you to a music hall in the 90s where you are swinging around with your partner one second and slow dancing the next. Eddie is an up-and-coming, dirty, gritty, raw visionary with old-school talent. Rain and all, he was worth the watch, bring the 2026 Historic Morganton Festival to an end.