Above: A time-lapse film of Mountain Jam's East Stage going up on Tuesday, June 4.
Mountain Jam on Hunter began nine years ago, when Woodstock radio station WDST decided to throw itself an anniversary party. The planets must have been well aligned. From a one-day event, Mountain Jam has since grown into a nationally-recognized four-day extravaganza of peace, love and music alive with the spirit of the Woodstock festival, and a new vibe all its own.
Many of the fifty acts who’ll be gracing the three stages in this lovely natural amphitheatre have solid pedigrees drawing on the Woodstock era: Phil Lesh and Friends, Gov’t Mule, and Amy Helm will all be there. Then there are up-and-coming youngsters like Filligar, a critically acclaimed quartet from Chicago recently named one of music’s “Next Big Things” by SPIN magazine, and singer/songwriter Nikki Bluhm, who with the Gramblers will serve up some heart-pumping countrified soul rock. Holy Ghost! will be laying down a late-night set of irresistible dance rhythms. Then there are the Futurebirds, known for “soaring, primal, sweat-soaked” live sets. There are too many more on the program to list, but you get the idea: The emphasis is on the exhilarating, free-spirited and fiery flavors that are emerging to carry the roots-rock torch forward through the generations.
You’ll be a lot more comfortable at Mountain Jam than Grandpa was at Woodstock in ‘69 -- though, as organizers remind us, it is in fact on a mountain, and if it rains there will be mud. But aside from those inescapable realities, the amenities of the Hunter Mountain site offer a level of luxury that hippies on hillsides haven’t always had: Think real bathrooms, a full bar, gourmet food (there wasn’t any Thai barbecue in ’69) and handicapped access. There’s even an app to let you plan your listening schedule on your iPhone or Android. There are kids’ activities, yoga and massage, fire performers and a “karma wash” courtesy of the Rainbows. You can take a sky ride, do North America’s longest zip line, play some Frisbee golf, or just catch a comfy snooze in the Hammock Grove.
Ticket possibilities range from day passes to weekend-long with camping included. VIP passes and early-bird rates are sold out, but you can still save a little money by buying online at the Mountain Jam website. A large influx of out-of-towners makes for zealous enforcement of traffic and other laws; drive carefully, kids, and you’ll have a weekend you’ll still be talking about in 40 years.
9th Annual Mountain Jam. Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9. Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Ave., Hunter, NY. Bus rides or ride sharing available from NYC. For more information, see the Mountain Jam website or Facebook page.
