Ruby Ibarra

About

Extraordinary Filipino American rapper Ruby Ibarra hits UMass with a band that includes pioneering guitarist June Millington, whose music and career have inspired generations of women in rock and pop.

Odds are, you don’t need us to tell you how amazing Ruby Ibarra is. Maybe you’ve been with her from the moment she emerged onto the national scene back in 2011. Or you jumped on with her debut record Circa91 (2017, Beatrock Music). Heard her stuff in a video game or a TV commercial somewhere along the way. Caught her set at the Green River Festival in June. Or, like a lot of us, watched her 2025 championship Tiny Desk concert over and over. It only ever takes one experience. You stumble into so much as half a song and you’re hooked.

On the other hand, you might need us to advise you not to sleep on scoring tickets to this show. Yeah, it’s general admission, and where you end up in the house will have more to do with when you arrive than when you buy. But consider these factors: This artist has hit a tipping point; her popularity is growing exponentially. And, again, she’s working these days with fellow Filipino American June Millington. You know Millington as a member of the pioneering all-women rock band Fanny, a group cited as a major influence by acts from the Runaways and the Bangles to Sleater Kinney and … well, Ruby Ibarra. You may or may not be aware that Millington is the co-founder and artistic director of Goshen’s Institute for the Musical Arts. She’s been part of the western Massachusetts community for twenty-five years now. She has friends.

This show is going to melt Bowker Auditorium. And you’re going to want to be there to see it.