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, and has grown over the years into the largest rock and camping festival in the Northeast that is usually three or four days long, drawing over 40,000 attendees over the duration of the Festival.. The Mountain Jam festival reduced the number of tickets it will sold in 2025 in order to provide attendees with a more intimate fan experience at its new location at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount, New York.
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. While it is 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.
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 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.
In 2013 due to rising talent and overall festival production costs, Mountain Jam became a collaboration between Chetkof and Townsquare Media, which owns clusters of radio stations around the U.S. (with a focus on country radio) and promotes live events, concerts, and festivals. Chetkof and Townsquare also co-created the Taste of Country Music Festival on back-to-back weekends with Mountain Jam through 2018. That festival became the largest country music and camping festival in the Northeast.
In 2019, Chetkof ended its relationship with TownSquare Media and joined forces with Live Nation, a major global entertainment company known for its involvement in concert promotion and event management. To commemorate the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair's 50th anniversary, Mountain Jam moved to the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The 2019 line-up included Willie Nelson, Gov’t Mule, The Avett Brothers, The Revivalists, Dispatch and Toots and The Maytals.
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.
In 2024 Chetkof regained total ownership and control of Mountain Jam. On October 22, 2024, it was announced that Mountain Jam would return on June 20-22, 2025 at Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort in Highmount, New York. On November 19, 2024, Mountain Jam announced the 2025 lineup and ticket sales information. The lineup consists of Khruangbin, Mt. Joy, Goose, JRAD, Trampled by Turtles, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Julien Baker and Torres, moe., Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Dogs in a Pile, Karina Rykman, Kitchen Dwellers, Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, Mikaela Davis, and two local bands: Upstate and Shane Guerrette.
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: Gov't Mule Medeski, Martin & Wood Robert Randolph & The Family Band Xavier Rudd
2006 After the success of the 2005 25th WDST anniversary event, Mountain Jam was extended to three days. The 2006 Mountain Jam took place June 2–4 at Hunter Mountain, New York. The New York Times described it as a "little Bonnaroo". The lineup included:
Friday Night DJ Logic
Saturday John Brown's Body The Trapps Keller Williams Willy Porter Michael Franti and Spearhead Shannon McNally Robert Randolph & the Family Band Benzos Gov't Mule Rose Hill Drive
Sunday Benevento/Russo Duo Joey Eppard Mike Gordon and Ramble Dove The Wood Brothers Medeski, Martin & Wood The Slip Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Gov't Mule
2007 Mountain Jam 2007 took place June 1–3 and was cited as was the largest music festival in the Northeast/New England. . The lineup featured:
Friday Gov't Mule RAQ New Orleans Social Club The Mercers Papa Mali The Felice Brothers
Saturday Gov't Mule Tea Leaf Green G. Love & Special Sauce New Monsoon Umphrey's McGee Earl Greyhound Ozomatli U-Melt Assembly of Dust The Warhol Crowd Tea Leaf Green
Sunday Phil Lesh and Friends, including Phil Lesh, Warren Haynes, John Molo, John Scofield and Steve Molitz Michael Franti and Spearhead North Mississippi Allstars Robert Randolph & the Family Band Backyard Tire Fire The Brakes Bret Puchir and Chicken Bucket
2008 Mountain Jam 2008 took place May 30-June 1. The three-day lineup included:
Friday Ratdog Dark Meat Phonograph BuzzUniverse Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad Pete Francis Jim Weider's PRoJECT PERCoLAToR with special guest Lucy Bo Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Mithic Dragons Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk Umphrey's McGee Gov't Mule Galactic Lotus DJ Lady Verse
Saturday Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned Ingrid Michaelson O'Death Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings JJ Grey & MOFRO Ray LaMontagne Jackie Greene Michael Franti & Spearhead Citizen Cope Gov't Mule Dark Star Orchestra Pnuma Trio DJ Lady Verse
Sunday Larry McCray Band The Felice Brothers Dr. Dog Drive-By Truckers Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood Levon Helm Band Bob Weir & Ratdog
2009 Mountain Jam 2009 took place May 29–30.Warren Haynes Interview about Mountain Jam V Mountain Jam V Audio Sampler The lineup included:
Friday Gov't Mule Umphrey's McGee Tea Leaf Green Railroad Earth Girl Talk Alberta Cross Marco Benevento
Saturday Gov't Mule Coheed & Cambria The Hold Steady Karl Denson's Tiny Universe Gomez Jackie Greene Brett Dennen Gene Ween Band Lee Boys Joe Pug John Medeski The Movement
Sunday The Allman Brothers Band Michael Franti & Spearhead The Derek Trucks Band BK3 featuring Bill Kreutzmann Richie Havens Martin Sexton The Brew Joey Eppard
2010 Mountain Jam 2010 took place June 4 to June 6.Warren Haynes Interview about Mountain Jam VI Mountain Jam VI Audio Preview The lineup included:
Gov't Mule Levon Helm & Friends- 70th Birthday Celebration w/ very special guests Michael Franti & Spearhead Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band The Avett Brothers Les Claypool Yonder Mountain String Band Drive-By Truckers Matisyahu Toots and the Maytals Dark Star Orchestra Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Dr. Dog Dave Mason Jay Farrar (of Son Volt) Lettuce ALO The Whigs The New Mastersounds Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Justin Townes Earle Jerry Joseph & Wally Ingram The Bridge Zach Deputy The Brew Simone Felice Gandalf Murphy & SCD Van Ghost The London Souls These United States Elmwood
2011 Mountain Jam 2011 took place June 2 to June 5, with acts including:
Gov’t Mule My Morning Jacket Warren Haynes Band Michael Franti & Spearhead The Avett Brothers Umphrey's McGee w/ John Oates Grace Potter & the Nocturnals Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Béla Fleck & The Original Flecktones Mavis Staples Electric Hot Tuna Lotus North Mississippi Allstars Soulive The New Deal 7 Walkers Portugal. The Man Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tim Reynolds & TR3 Dawes The London Souls Zach Deputy Ryan Montbleau Band Charlie Hunter Chris Barron Toubab Krewe Nicole Atkins Carbon Leaf Civil Twilight The Heavy Pets Orgone Kung Fu The Alternate Routes Dangermuffin Moon Taxi Ari Hest Pieta Brown TAB the Band Morning Teleportation Bronze Radio Return Nathan Moore Bobby Long The Big Takeover Stephen Lynch
2012 Mountain Jam 2012 took place May 31 to June 3 at Hunter Mountain, with a lineup including:
Steve Winwood Gov't Mule Michael Franti & Spearhead The Roots Ben Folds Five 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.
2013 Mountain Jam 2013 took place at Hunter Mountain June 6 to 9. The lineup included:
Phil Lesh & Friends Widespread Panic Gov't Mule Primus The Avett Brothers The Lumineers Dispatch Michael Franti & Spearhead Big Gigantic Gary Clark Jr. Jackie Greene White Denim Rubblebucket The London Souls The Lone Bellow Futurebirds David Wax Museum
2014 The 10th Mountain Jam festival took place at Hunter mountain June 5 to 8, 2014 with the following acts:
Thursday Diesel America K-Jamm The Dirty Gems Copious Jones Citizens Band Radio Dark Star Orchestra Umphrey's McGee
Friday Elijah & The Moon Antibalas Jack Laroux The Dough Rollers Robert Randolph The Weeks Trampled By Turtles Reignwolf The Avett Brothers Moon Taxi Bob Weir & Ratdog Beats Antique Antibalas
Saturday Ratboy Jr. Paul Green Connor Kennedy Blitzen Trapper Jack Laroux Alan Paul Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds Jeff Tweedy Jonathan Wilson Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley PGRA with Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds Valerie June Tedeschi Trucks Band Gov't Mule Pretty Lights Jackie Greene
Sunday Paul Green Ratboy Jr. Sean Rowe Anders Osborne Michael Franti (solo) Treetop Flyers Jay Blakesberg Chris Robinson Brotherhood Galadrielle Allman Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger Michael Franti & Spearhead Lucius The Allman Brothers Band
2015 The 11th Mountain Jam took place at Hunter Mountain June 4-7. The stellar line-up included:
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