Mountain Jam Returns With a Fresh Vibe in the Catskills

After a six-year hiatus, Mountain Jam came roaring back over the weekend in Highmount, New York at Belleayre Mountain.

The festival featured both emerging artists and major acts. The impressive lineup, along with the backdrop of the scenic Catskill Mountains and the vendors, art, and interactive workshops celebrating nature and community, created a contagious vibe for music enthusiasts

The festival team, from production to security, was well-organized and accommodating to attendees, which contributed to the success of the weekend.

“Mountain Jam has continuously evolved over the past 20 years, growing from a small, one-day gathering to a multi-day celebration of music and community," said founder Gary Chetkof. "We're excited to return to a mountain setting, this time on a smaller mountain footprint to ensure a better, more intimate experience for fans.

Mountain Jam Lineup

With three full days of live music, headliners Khruangbin, Mt. Joy, and Goose were joined by Kitchen Dwellers, Grace Bowers, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Trampled by Turtles, and festival favorite Michael Franti & Spearhead, moe., Dogs In A Pile, Karina Rykman, and more.

The momentum built throughout each day of the festival, culminating in powerful light shows and deep sounds that left the crowd lifted, inspired, and craving more.

Here is a recap from the weekend.

Day One: Karina Rykman’s Kinetic Energy Powers an Unforgettable Start

Kitchen Dwellers took bluegrass jamming to a new level during the opening day of the festival. Their incredible sound, featuring a lead on banjo, went hard into deep grooves and long, psychedelic jams that set the energy level high for the weekend. This Montana band is pushing the boundaries of bluegrass and folk, and left a mark.

Speaking of contagious energy, Karina Rykman took complete control of the vibe. Rykman, the lead bassist of her power trio, has been playing gigs nonstop and immediately captured the attention of the day-one crowd. After a kinetic performance, she hung out with fans on the mountain.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead lifted spirits with their deep jams and Grateful Dead-influenced improvisations – a perfect match for the landscape and feel of Mountain Jam and its jam-heavy roots. J-Rad is an all-star lineup and a fan favorite.

To cap off day one, Khruangbin filled the mountain with vibey grooves and funk through their creative jams and contagious stage presence. This unique trio featuring Laura Lee Ochoa, Mark Speer, and Donald "DJ" Johnson serenaded the crowd and set the tone for day two.

Day Two: Franti Lifts Spirits, Mt. Joy Seals the Night

Day two was a full, six-act day at Mountain Jam

Grace Bowers, the 18-year-old award-winning guitar player from Nashville, set the mountain on fire with her sound. Rolling Stone referred to Bowers as "Nashville's new guitar hero." Her blues and funk-influenced sound was coupled with hardcore jams and solos.

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Fan-favorite Michael Franti and Spearhead had the entire mountain singing, dancing and feeling the love. His interaction with the crowd and inviting kids onto stage made the entire mountain smile. Then, Trampled by Turtles took the stage, and this six-piece bluegrass band had the crowd dancing in the sun with their tight jams.

Mt. Joy simply won the day. The day two headliner played some Grateful Dead covers, as well as "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus. To close it out, Mt. Joy invited Grace Bowers up to the stage to play "Astrovan," where her solo lifted the crowd. Mt. Joy's light show and stage presence are the real deal, and their songwriting and tight songs left an impression on the mountain.

Day Three: Goose Closes Mountain Jam 2025 with a Jam-Packed Two-Set Finish

With five acts, including headliner Goose, Mountain Jam was primed for an epic finish on Sunday.

Mikaela Davis kicked off the day on harp with her band, who later joined Goose for an evening jam during their set.

Dogs in a Pile launched into their set with high energy and deep grooves, and it was clear that many were there to catch them in the afternoon. Dogs has a loyal and growing following, and their fans are well known as the "Dog Pound." One of the highlights of the Dogs set was when they brought up Molly Tuttle for a rendition of the Grateful Dead's "New Speedway Boogy."

Upstate NY staple moe. offered mind-bending jams and a familiar sound to the mountain, spreading incredible vibes throughout. moe. has been a staple in the jam scene for decades, featuring Rob on bass, Al and Chuck on the guitars, Vinnie and Jim on percussion, and Nate on the keys. Having seen moe. since the ‘90s, they are steady as they come and set the tone for an epic finish to Mountain Jam.

The stage was set, the vibe was perfect, and Goose came on to blow the roof off the place. Goose is on an epic ascent at the moment, touring regularly, dropping a new album and picking up new fans at every stop.

READ MORE: Goose Takes Flight With Their Most Ambitious Album Yet, 'Everything Must Go'

The Connecticut indie jam band’s upward climb was propelled by a pivotal four-night run at the legendary Capitol Theatre in April 2024. It was during this run that the band introduced new drummer Cotter Ellis, joining forces with lead guitarist/vocalist Rick Mitarotonda, Peter Anspach (keys, guitar, vocals), and Trevor Weekz (bass).

Goose performs like no other, with meaningful lyrics, a second-to-none light show, and jams for days. The band played two sets and opened the second with a fan favorite, "Hungersite." They followed with a blissful jam session during "Echo of a Rose," which led into the cover "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and then "The Empress of Organos" to close the day in style.

Goose is set to play at MSG this week for a sold-out crowd in NYC.

For Goose, this is their time.

Mountain Jam 2025 was officially re-launched and left a lasting impression on the hearts and souls of the Woodstock region, with the hopes of making this a summer festival staple moving forward.