Mountain Jam is an annual music festival held in upstate New York since 2005. It started as a small one day music festival in 2005 with 3000 attendees,[2] and has grown over the years into the largest rock and camping festival in the Northeast that is usually 3 or 4 days long, drawing over 40,000 attendees over the duration of the Festival.[citation needed]
Mountain Jam has built a reputation for its vibrant and diverse musical offering featuring rock, jamband, Americana, indie, folk, reggae, and funk, showcasing everything from well-known headliners to emerging artists.[3] While it's a significant festival, Mountain Jam maintains a sense of intimacy and community. The relatively smaller scale compared to some major festivals allows for a more personal and engaging experience.[4]
The festival's setting in the picturesque Catskill Mountains adds to its charm, offering attendees stunning natural views alongside the music. Beyond the performances, there are various interactive and creative experiences, multiple food options and extensive activities making it a well-rounded festival for fans of music and the outdoors alike.
History
Mountain Jam was created by Gary Chetkof, the principal owner of the nationally renown independent progressive radio station Radio Woodstock/WDST in 2005 to celebrate the radio station's 25th anniversary. Chetkof grew up a fan of WLIR in Long Island and WNEW in New York City, and regularly attended their summer concert festivals in Belmont Park and Central Park. Chetkof chose Hunter Mountain Ski resort for its rolling hills, picturesque Catskill Mountain ranges, and its natural amphitheater environment, along with the amenities of a ski lodge and the unique sky ride that gave patrons a ride up and down the mountain.
Over time, the festival grew to include multiple days with camping and has grown to include a diverse lineup of smaller artists, as well as large acts including Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Robert Plant, The Black Keys, The Lumineers, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Willie Nelson, The Allman Brothers Band, Steve Winwood, Gov't Mule, The Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Levon Helm, The Alabama Shakes, Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Brandi Carlile, The Avett Brothers and Pretty Lights.
The scheduled 2020 Mountain Jam line-up featured Trey Anastasio Band, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Gov’t Mule, Grace Potter, The Head and The Heart. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was canceled to ensure the safety of attendees, artists, and staff. This decision was part of a broader trend of festivals and large events being postponed or canceled due to public health concerns.
Mountain Jam has yet to resurface; however Chetkof regained total ownership and control of Mountain Jam and rumors have surfaced that it may return in 2025 at a location other than Bethel Woods.
On Oct 22, 2024, it was announced that Mountain Jam would return June 20-22, 2025 at Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort in Highmount, NY. [5] Line-up announcement coming soon.
2005
The original Mountain Jam, a single-day event on June 4, 2005, celebrated the 25th anniversary of WDST, Woodstock's radio station. The festival featured performances by:
After the success of the 2005 25th WDST anniversary event, Mountain Jam was extended to 3 days. The 2006 Mountain Jam took place June 2–4 at Hunter Mountain, New York.[6] The New York Times described it as a "little Bonnaroo".[7]
The lineup included:
The Word (ft. Robert Randolph, John Medeski, and the N. Miss. Allstars)
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Travelin’ McCourys w/ Keller Williams
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Dawes
Gary Clark Jr.
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Givers
Charles Bradley
Mariachi El Bronx
Bustle In Your Hedgerow
EOTO
Anders Osborne
Sara Watkins
Zach Deputy
Break Science
Planet of the Abts
The Lee Boys
Marco Benevento
Wolf!
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
The Sheepdogs
The Brew
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Ground Up
Pedrito Martinez
Zee Avi
Aunt Martha
Kopecky Family Band
Lauren Shera
Uncle Lucius
Connor Kennedy Band
Also included was a brief set in tribute to Levon Helm, who was based in nearby Woodstock and had died on April 20. The set featured Gov't Mule, the Levon Helm Band, and special guests.[16]
2013
Mountain Jam 2013 took place at Hunter Mountain June 6 to 9. The lineup included:[17]
The 11th Mountain Jam took place at Hunter Mountain June 4-7. The stellar line-up included:[19]
The Black Keys
Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters
Alabama Shakes
Gov’t Mule
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
moe.
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Big Gigantic
Rebelution
JRAD (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead)
Railroad Earth
Lake Street Dive
Trigger Hippy
Shakey Graves
Benjamin Booker
The Wailers
Rusted Root
Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers
Jon Cleary
The Budos Band
Dopapod
Amy Helm and the Handsome Strangers
Hurray for the RIff Raff
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams
Marco Benevento
The Mother Hips
Nikki Lane
Sons of Bill
2016
The 12th annual Mountain Jam took place at Hunter Mountain, New York June 2-5. The festival line-up included:[20]
Beck
Wilco
The Avett Brothers
Gov’t Mule
Umphrey’s McGee
Thievery Corporation
Brandi Carlile
Jason Isbell
Gary Clark Jr.
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Courtney Barnett
Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats
Lettuce
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds
The New Mastersounds
Third World
Turkuaz
Donna the Buffalo
Son Little
The London Souls
Cabinet
The Ballroom Thieves with Maine Youth Rock Orchestra
And The Kids
Love Cannon
Marcus King Band
Con Brio
Jane Lee Hooker
Copious Jones
Madaila
The Suitcase Junket
The Paul Green Rock Academy
2017
The 13th annual Mountain Jam again took place at Hunter Mountain, New York. It was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' last festival appearance. This was the complete line-up:[21]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Steve Miller Band
The String Cheese Incident
Peter Frampton
The Head and the Heart
Gary Clark Jr.
Michael Franti & Spearhead
St. Paul & the Broken Bones
The Strumbellas
Matisyahu
Shovels & Rope
The Revivalists
Amy Helm
The Infamous Stringdusters
White Denim
Elephant Revival
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real
Moon Hooch
Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
The Band of Heathens
TAUK
Nicole Atkins
Sinkane
Muddy Magnolias
River Whyless
Dan Bern
Ari Hest
Holly Bowling
Andy Frasco and the U.N.
Parsonsfield
The National Reserve
Ghosts of Paul Revere
Hollis Brown
Ryan Culwell
Murali Coryell
Simi Stone
The Big Takeover
The Paul Green Rock Academy
Ratboy Jr.
2018
The 14th Mountain Jam took place from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 17, 2018 with the following acts:[22]
The 16th Annual Mountain Jam was scheduled to take place May 29-May 31, 2020 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The event was cancelled on March 31 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.[23] The scheduled line-up was:[24]
Friday, May 29
Trey Anastasio Band
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Greensky Bluegrass
Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Kung Fu
Midnight North
Eggy
Royal Khaoz
Ciarra Fragale
Saturday, May 30
Gov’t Mule (playing 2 sets)
The Head And The Heart
American Son: Levon Helm’s 80th Birthday Celebration ft. The Midnight Ramble Band and Very Special Guests
Margo Price
Hiss Golden Messenger
Big Something
Driftwood
Stephen Lewis and the Big Band of Fun
Diana DeMuth
Hayley Jane and Friends feat. Reed Mathis, Michelangelo Caruba (Turkuaz) and Rob Compa (Dopapod)
