Beloved Northern California music festival plans a comeback with new leadership, stellar lineup
After a year marked by uncertainty and loss, the High Sierra Music Festival is set to return for its 33rd edition over the Fourth of July weekend, bringing its mix of music and a renewed sense of community to the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds.
The festival's future was cast into doubt following the death of founder and talent buyer Roy Carter in May 2024, compounded by financial pressures brought on by the post-COVID live event economy. But co-producer and longtime organizer Dave Margulies stepped in as lead curator, aiming to both honor the event's legacy and chart a new path forward.
'Our goal has always been to turn people on to new music and create space for magic to happen — not just on the big stages, but in the small, serendipitous moments,' Margulies said in a statement. 'From legacy acts to newcomers, the lineup is built to surprise and delight.'
Scheduled for July 3-6, this year's festival will continue to showcase the signature experiences that have made High Sierra a favorite: multiple sets by featured artists, intimate sessions and spontaneous collaborations. Attendees can expect the usual eccentric touches — daily parades, late-night jam sessions, yoga classes and vendor villages — all set against the Sierra Nevada foothills.
This year's bill features a diverse lineup of returning favorites and emerging talent, including Palo Alto native and bluegrass virtuoso Molly Tuttle, Bay Area jam-pop staples ALO, high-energy improvisational rockers Dogs in a Pile, genre-blending hip-hop pioneer Lyrics Born, and 17-year-old guitar prodigy Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge.
Singer-songwriter Amy Helm plans to bring her Helm Midnight Family Ramble outside of Woodstock for the first time, and multiple members of the Trey Anastasio Band are expected to appear in a range of collaborative projects.
'High Sierra is a musical playground,' said artist-at-large Dan 'Lebo' Lebowitz. ' From intimate Troubadour Sessions to Playshops and full-stage sets, it's a convergence point where once-in-a-lifetime collaborations happen — and lifelong friendships begin.'
New for 2025 are upgraded amenities, including the Lagniappe Lounge, a shaded indoor venue with lounge seating and cocktails, and The Happy Glamper, a premium, climate-controlled camping option.
'It's the most wonderful time of the year,' he said. 'People sparkling, singing, dancing, with hugs and parades and spontaneity. Just walking the grounds is an adventure. It feeds my soul.'
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