It’s the fourth of July – You know what that means! High Sierra Music Festival Preview.
The time has come yet again for us to make our way and journey to Northern California for High Sierra Music Festival. Now I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; “The Best Fest in The West!” I can’t deny that the weeks leading up this magical weekend are almost if not more exciting than the weeks leading up to the holidays when I was a kid, just now I am an adult and ready to boogie for this 4 day music festival in the middle of nowhere in Plumas National Forest. High Sierra Music festival is special in many ways, not only is it one of the longest running music festivals in the country but its also small, intimate, family oriented, and JAM PACKED with musical acts from sunrise to sundown. The amount of talent packed into a four day Independence day party is uncanny and unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else.
Headlining acts this year are a few of my favorites. We will have a short appearance by the Dispatch who are making a come back from my high school memories. Should get interesting there, but here to bring the heat on what will be some hot summer days will be – Umphrey’s McGee, Greensky Bluegrass, Jim James and the FULL BAND, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Pnuma (Live), the returning GALACTIC, The Del McCoury Band, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, the homies of TAUK, Big Something, Andy Frasco and the U.N., a return set from The Nth Power caning back with a Marvin Gaye tribute, John Kadlecik’s Fellowship of The Wing featuring Jay Lane Reed Mathis & Todd Stoops, Songhoy Blues, The New Mastersounds, Manic Focus, Jennifer Hartswick Band, The Lil Smokies, The Polish Ambassador, Leftover Salmon and so much more.
Not only does High Sierra Music Festival carry one of the best line ups you’ll find in the music scene every single year, but the festival is also known for their epic late night madness – as I call it. The late night shows, which must be purchased separately from your ticket, is the headlining music for the night is over, and the festival retreats to the Funk’n Jamhouse, and the Music Hall for late night boogies, woogies, and random sit-ins you’d never guess could happen. When they say the freaks come out at night, they are not kidding. Thursday you can catch The Polish Ambassador and Templo at the Music Hall while Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Star Kitchen get funky at the Jamhouse. Friday’s late nights consist of Galactic/Diggin Dirt, and Manic Focus with Big Something. Saturday, you can see The New Mastersounds with The Nth Power, while PNUMA and TAUK get your late night funky bones moving, and Sunday night to close out the festival we have Leftover Salmon with John Kadlecik’s Fellowship of The Wing to close out the show.
I’m a little biased because this festival is what I look forward to every year, but I think that line up and those musicians, added with some festival workshops, yoga, an epic parade every single day and many other activities, makes it perfect for anyone looking for something fun to do for the Fourth of July. So if you haven’t bought your ticket yet, do so! Because if you haven’t, you’re doing it wrong. See ya in the woods!
