High Sierra Music Festival has dropped its initial lineup for the 34th annual edition, set for July 2–5, 2026 in Grass Valley, CA. The poster leans into jam, funk, soul and roots — no splashy arena headliners, but a stacked, all-killer-no-filler bill that should satisfy festival-heads who like variety and deep sets.
Top names to watch:
- The Word (featuring John Medeski, Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars, Ray Ray Holloman)
- Don Was & The Pan Detroit Ensemble
- Cymande
- Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Eggy
Other notable additions include Lebo & Friends (George Porter Jr., Jay Lane, Jen Hartswick, Holly Bowling), Mountain Grass Unit, The Rumble, Big Something, The Breaks (Stanton Moore, Eddie Roberts, Robert Walter), Judith Hill, Steve Poltz, Lespecial, Balthvs, Dizgo, Scott Pemberton, Pink Talking Fish, Marty O’Reilly, Steely Dead, Magoo, Rose City Band, Sway Wild and more.
Reddit chatter on the announcement leaned nostalgic and hype-heavy — people calling back to classic High Sierra years (’07–’09), hyping Cymande and The Word, and recommending acts like Scott Pemberton. The initial thread reacted positively to the broad, eclectic mix rather than one giant name.
This is billed as the “initial lineup,” so expect more names and set times in the coming weeks. If you’re planning to go: mark your calendar for July 2–5, keep an eye on the festival for ticket/ticketing phases, and scope camping info early — High Sierra is a longtime favorite for folks who want good music, easy vibes, and a smaller, community-feel festival experience.
Location: Grass Valley, CA — Dates: July 2–5, 2026.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/jambands/comments/1qpnml1/high_sierra_music_festival_inital_lineup/