QUINCY, Calif. — The High Sierra Music Festival returns to the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds July 3–6 for its 33rd year, bringing four days of live music, emerging talent, and community-focused programming to the Sierra Nevada.

This year marks a pivotal moment for the festival, now fully under the leadership of longtime co-producer Dave Margulies. A veteran of the music industry with a four-decade career spanning college radio, Sony Music, and artist management, Margulies has helped shape High Sierra since 1995. This summer, he takes the reins solo for the first time following the passing of co-founder Roy Carter and the retirement of producing partner Rebecca Sparks.

The transition has not been without challenges. Margulies called the shift “a huge, massive learning process,” with a steep curve in operations and budgeting. And like many independent festivals across the country, High Sierra continues to feel the ripple effects of the pandemic — from inflation and shifting travel habits to lagging ticket sales.

“There’s no safety net,” Margulies said. “And the ticket sales this year have been very surprisingly soft.” 

Yet even in the face of financial uncertainty, the festival is forging ahead with renewed energy and a clear vision. With attendance expected to be less than 7,500, High Sierra offers an increasingly rare experience: an intimate, grassroots gathering in a setting where music is discovery, and community is the headliner.

“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. 

This year’s lineup delivers on that promise, with artists such as Molly Tuttle, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Dogs in a Pile, The Slip, John Craigie, Mikaela Davis, and a rare appearance by Amy Helm & the Helm Midnight Family Ramble. Members of the Trey Anastasio Band appear in side projects and artist-at-large roles, including LaMP and powerhouse collaborators Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman.

True to form, High Sierra also highlights up-and-coming talent. The annual Band Contest produced two winners this year — Bay Area rock-pop soul band The Fell Swoop and local Quincy act Nightbrain — both of whom will join the lineup. Past performers like Billy Strings, Gary Clark Jr., and The Avett Brothers once graced High Sierra’s smaller stages before rising to national fame.

“Anybody on this lineup could be your next favorite artist,” Margulies said. “That’s the High Sierra way.”

The festival’s signature blend of spontaneity and participation returns in full force. Daily parades, sunrise kickball, jam sessions, giant puppets, yoga workshops, and the Dr. Bronner’s Foam Tub Experience turn the fairgrounds into a playground. Food vendors, handmade crafts, art installations, and themed camps like Camp Happiness and Bitchin’ Kitchen add to the color.

Families are well-supported with Rockin’ Nannies childcare, a Family Village, and kid-friendly activities throughout the weekend — making High Sierra one of the most inclusive camping festivals in the West.

Several enhancements debut this year:

• The Lagniappe: a new indoor venue with an outdoor lounge area, a full bar, and curated music programming.
  
• Expanded shade and later start times at the Grandstand Stage to beat the midday heat.
  
• The Happy Glamper, a premium glamping option with climate-controlled tents.
  
• Growth of the FestivALL VIP Pass and Ambassador Program, offering perks for superfans who help promote the event.
  

“It’s really for the deep, deep music fan,” Margulies said. “People who love live music, who want to be part of something real — that’s who this festival is for.”

That authenticity, he added, is what sets High Sierra apart in an era dominated by corporate festivals and commercial spectacles.

“It’s a beloved event. And what makes it so beloved is the community,” he said. “Everybody as a person — whether it be an artist, a staff person, a patron, a vendor, a volunteer — brings the best of themselves to the event, and that’s what raises the bar.”

For Margulies, that collective joy — built over three decades of creativity shared passion — is what keeps the festival alive.

“It’s incredibly hard putting on an event like this,” he said. “But it’s a labor of love for all involved.”

The 33rd Annual High Sierra Music Festival takes place July 3–6, 2025, at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy, CA. For full lineup, camping info, and ticketing details, visit highsierramusic.com.

Sierra Sun readers can receive 10% off four-day passes with the code SIERRASUN10 at checkout.