The High Sierra Music Festival is about to embark on its historic 15th year of gracing the Northern California music scene with some of the most incredible music, positive vibes and natural beauty found in any festival. And apparently H.S.M.F. is as much fun for the musicians themselves as it is for the fans, so we figured that we would let the artists describe the magic that makes this festival so unique. As you can see, it became quite obvious that there is no place they’d rather celebrate the 4th of July weekend than at High Sierra Music Festival.
“High Sierra Music Festival is a music lover’s music fest.” “All night, all day with so many stages…It is an amazing thing to be at.” – One-man minstrel Keller Williams
“High Sierra Music Festival is a truly special event.” “H.S.M.F. is one of those events where everything lines up perfectly. The time of year, the musical acts, the beautiful drive up, the late night festivities, the general layout of the festival, are all conducive, both the bands and audience to have a great time. There are all these intangibles of the festival that lead to an incredible weekend.” – Guitar wizard Steve Kimock
“H.S.M.F. is special to me because of the huge variety and vitality of the music represented. For me, it is the best true jazz festival of the year. Its only competition might be The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland.” – Karl Denson, the legendary saxophonist from KDTU
“This festival has a charm unlike any we’ve ever played. There is a great breakdown between the artists and festival goers that allows everyone to feel like they’re in this big soup together. There is also a folkloric element that exists there, like old magic, the vanishing of inhibitions until the sun comes up. Maybe it’s just the drugs. I’ve yet to decide.” – Brad Barr, lead guitarist from The Slip
At the 2004 HSMF, bassist Kai Eckhardt was attending a late night circus performance on the fairgrounds with his kids. They were enjoying the colorful outfits, and celebratory merrymaking, when all of a sudden a guy comes into the middle of the ring and announces that, “I need a volunteer, who needs to get spanked.” All of a sudden this leather-clad dominatrix comes out of the crowd, with whip in hand, and proceeds to whip the happy volunteer. The ringleader says he’s been bad, and that he needs a good whipping. At this point Kai is dragging his 2 elementary school age children away as fast as he can. When his 8-year-old son asked him, “Daddy, they really spanked him…why did they do that?” Kai responded in the best way he saw fit. He said, “She was dressed as Cat woman, and it was just for fun.” For the record the circus is usually for kids, just watch out for the post midnight performance. It gets a little racy. – Kai Eckhardt, Garaj Mahal’s bass player reflecting on his strangest memories.
“It’s the original festival that truly catalyzed the inner workings of the jamband music community. It’s where meeting and jamming with other bands became front and center. It’s where a lot of my friendships within the jamband community began.” – Everyone Orchestra founder and drummer Matt Butler
“HSMF feels like an intimate gathering of all your friends from all over the country, even though there are thousands of people there. Sort of like [Telluride Bluegrass Festival] is the best working vacation in the business, HSMF is by far the best working party I’ve ever been to. That combined with four sleepless days and nights makes it a most uniquely fun time. I had even more fun last year than I had the first year, and I can’t wait to get there this year. Thanks for having us back, Roy!” – Railroad Earth’s bassist Johnny Grubb
“It’s the fans and the musicians coming together for the sake of music. There doesn’t seem to be any outside ulterior motives involved. No big corporate sponsors. It’s just about enjoying music!” – Brian Jordan, lead guitarist from KDTU
Late night (or early morning, depending on your perspective) during the 2001 H.S.M.F. Garaj Mahal was packing up and heading out at around 7am, when they passed the Leftover Salmon tour bus. There was a kiddy pool filled with water in front of the bus that had a young man, who obviously had to be suffering from a lack of sleep (or oxygen to the brain), repeatedly doing back flips into the pool. There was no one around, so he wasn’t performing this athletic and idiotic feat for entertainment. He just was flipping repeatedly onto his back to his own amusement. – Another of Kai Eckhardt’s fondest memories
He was given the prestigious 10:40-11 am slot on a side stage, and he and his wife-to-be pulled into the fairgrounds in their behemoth 74 Chevy Blazer aptly named “Blazabago.” Keller said, “I couldn’t believe it. At 10:40 when I got on stage there were actually people there and the energy was great.” This year will be his 8th year at this legendary festival, and he is so excited to do it once again. – Keller Williams reflecting on his first experience at H.S.M.F.
“It must have been around 2001 or so, and I was playing a late night show with some of the other members of KVHW. We
“The way it works is you tie a string on a glow stick, and throw it into the middle of a path. As the hippies walk by, they try to grab the glow stick, and Vince would just reel them in.” – Keller recalling another favorite memory from years past when he was hanging out with Feeeesssttttiiivvvvaaallll!!! icon Vince Herman, who introduced him to one of his favorite late night games, “fishing for Hippies.”
“My favorite High Sierra memory is two years ago on the main stage in the afternoon and my kids were onstage throwing tortillas into the audience.” – Karl Denson expressing his favorite memory from festivals past
“HSMF 2003!! [was my favorite.] The lineup was all around great, the fans were fantastic and the vibe was very high. One of my favorite acts was Antibalas. I just remember having the best time and I didn’t want it to end.” – Brian Jordan reflected on his favorite memory
“Most of the main acts I’m familiar with, and some of them are good friends of mine. My regret is that I won’t be able to see them all.” – Steve Kimock
“I am so excited to bring them on stage with me. I don’t get to throw down the bluegrass as often as I would like, and we plan on doing some bluegrass tunes, as well as some of my more familiar originals.” – Keller Williams on playing with special friends the Keels at this year’s festival.
been playing all night, and as we finished the audience just stood there cheering. We were amazed when we looked outside. It wasn’t that the sun was rising, but it was full up and daytime had begun. It was a pretty surreal experience.” – Steve Kimock recalling his favorite HSMF memory
“Most of the time, the music that gets my attention is not on a stage, but scattered throughout the festival, on corners, benches, wherever.” – Carey Harmon, Railroad Earth’s drummer/percussionist, explaining the boundary-free nature of music at the festival.
“At the last minute…I think it was in 1994. The headlining band for the last slot didn’t show up, so Roy asked Jambay and friends to put together a huge jam. We had JJ Cale, Artis the spoonman, and members of multiple other bands join us. In some ways it was one of those formative moments for the Everyone Orchestra in that the free jam really was the highlight of the weekend for me.” – Matt Butler reminiscing about one of his favorite on stage moments
“For a fan of amazing music, beautiful surroundings, and terrific vibes, High Sierra Music festival is a haven in the sea of festivals. It is an intimate experience that transcends the gap between audience and performer, where all included are a part of the joyous celebration.
