The bar was already exceedingly “High” for a festival which has for a quarter-century been the favorite for Northern California music fans. It was raised higher today with the announcement of several more bands.
Tim Parsons / Tahoe Onstage
The July 2-5 High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy added Umphrey’s McGee, the John Butler Trio, Lake Street Dive and a new super group, the Word, which includes John Medeski Robert Randolph and the North Mississippi Allstars trio Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson and Chris Chew.
The Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin and Eric Thorin, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, BoomBox and the Motet also were added to the festival headlined by the String
“The festival’s silver anniversary celebrates the festival’s history and everyone who has helped create and sustain the legendary family-friendly, laid-back, Northern California vibe High Sierra is known for,” read a press statement released March 12. Some of the often-repeated artists include Karl Denson, The Slip, Surprise Me Mr. Davis, Galactic, ALO, the Living Daylights and Dan Bern.
The High Sierra Music Festival began in 1991 at Leland Meadows. It moved to Bear Valley in 1994, and was there through 1997 and again in 1999. Heavy snow accumulations (remember those?) prompted the festival to be moved in 1998 and the Pumas Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy.
Four-day passes for $225 are available. highsierramusic.com.
Here’s the full lineup:
The String Cheese Incident for Two Nights/Four Sets, Umphrey’s McGee, the John Butler Trio, The Word (John Medeski, Robert Randolph, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Chris Chew), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Galactic, Lake Street Dive, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Shovels and Rope, Lotus, the Wood Brothers, ALO, The Jeff Austin Band featuring Danny Barnes, Ross Martin, and Eric Thorin, Nahko & Medicine for the People, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, the California Honeydrops, BoomBox, Pimps of Joytime, the Motet, the Barr Brothers, Surprise Me Mr. Davis, Papadosio, MarchFourth Marching Band, the Slip, Omaha Diner featuring Charlie Hunter, Skerik, Bobby Previte & Steven Bernstein, Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Rising Appalachia, Turkuaz, Fruition, Jennifer Hartswick, Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, The Waifs, Dopapod, The Nth Power, Steve Poltz, Marco Benevento, Living Daylights, Dan Bern, Nathan Moore, The Main Squeeze, The Brothers Comatose, Scott Pemberton, Cabinet, The Black Lillies, Tim Flannery & The Lunatic Fringe, Con Brio, T Sisters, Midnight North, Patchy Sanders, Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, The Nibblers, Michael McNevin, The Sam Chase and Jessica Lurie.
