High Sierra Music Festival completed its 31st installment on Sunday, July 2nd, and proved once again why it belongs in the upper echelon of music festivals. From thoughtfully curated main stage headliners to intimate troubadour sessions, and everything in between, High Sierra delivers big for artists and fans alike.
High Sierra caters to a wide range of music lovers, booking a diverse range of artists. There really is something for everyone — whether you’re drawn toward the heavy psych sounds of Rochester, New York’s King Buffalo, the bright, uplifting songs of Handmade Moments, the traditional bluegrass of Del McCoury, or the throwback 60s rock sounds of Brighton, UK’s The Heavy Heavy, you’re bound to stumble upon something that trips your trigger. And chances are, you’ll miss an act you planned to see because you were enthralled in the performance of an artist you just discovered.
Summertime tends to get hot in Quincy. Luckily, in the air-conditioned confines of the High Sierra Music Hall, there are Artist Playshops that feature a who’s who of festival musicians, both leading the theme-based sets and stopping by to contribute to a song or two. From Handmade Moments leading a playshop reimagining the music of Randy Newman (aptly named “Randy for Randy”) to the long-running tradition of “Guitarmageddon” celebrating the era of 90’s rock, these Artist Playshops are as hard to walk away from as any main stage set, as you never know who will show up to lend their talents to these unique collaborations.
Indeed, the collaborative nature of High Sierra really pushes it over the top, and this year’s Artists at Large — Lebo and Sierra Hull — seem to have been cloned, materializing onstage all over the festival to add their ample instrumental chops to the mix, as well as playing sets with their own bands. And, to add to the already impossible-to-see-it-all schedule, there are the nightly Troubadour Sessions. These intimate songs-in-the-round presentations put musicians together onstage to discuss and play songs, providing a more intimate look into their craft and songwriting processes.
High Sierra Music Festival is a place where the whole weekend proves to be one continuous series of highlights, piling on top of one another until you realize that no matter what you choose to do, you’ll have made the right decision. Check out the photos of the memorable weekend by Greg Homolka
