Deadhead Productions has just revealed the final round of artist additions to their 7th annual Highberry Music Festival, adding 14 bands to the billing. The announcement included the addition of Buckethead, who is returning to the festival circuit for the first time since 2012. Others added include Highberry veterans Spoonfed Tribe, the 1 oz. Jig, and Smar T Jones. Memphis’s own reggae outfit Chinese Connection Dub Embassy, and many other talented and up and coming bands from around the country were also added. Headliners this year also include Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams, Papadosio, Dopapod, and Wookiefoot,
This will be the first year the event will be held at Mulberry Mountain (a space where the magic from events past, such as Harvest Festival and Wakarusa, still lingers) in Ozark, Arkansas and will take place over four days, 6/30-7/3, 2016. The annual event, which began as a private party in 2009, remains focused on providing an immersive yet intimate festival experience and is being limited to 4,000 attendees.
When asked about the attendance cap, festival organizer Jon Walker explained, “we have built our events on a foundation of community and connecting people to the music and each other. It is not uncommon at our festivals for the artists to feel comfortable enough to go out and mingle, or get into late night campground jam sessions under the stars, and we feel there is something special about that and is worth preserving and easier done with a smaller community event.”
In addition to building communal ties through music, Highberry plays host to a tradition of a community breakfast harkened “Chompdown” on Saturday morning. Attendees are responsible for bringing all of the supplies and organizing themselves in order to feed each other and build bonds. The band Dirtfoot out of Shreveport, LA provides the soundtrack while everyone enjoys the proper start to a new day. This arrangement has worked out remarkably well over the years and serves as a real testament to the kindred nature of the fan base.
Deadhead Productions will be providing shuttles each day to and from the Mulberry River every 30 minutes throughout the majority of the day, providing attendees the opportunity to beat the heat and cool off in its pristine waters. There will be live music by the river as well, making it an oasis of pleasantry in the heart of the Ozarks.
Further, this year’s Highberry will feature more free workshops than ever before, covering everything from both kid and adult tie-dye workshops to the art of creating essential oils for various uses, and everything in between. Were that not enough, the 650 acre Mulberry Mountain property features hiking trails and a disc golf course too.
Fostering an atmosphere of human growth and expression, organizers continue to place an emphasis on art. This year attendees can expect to be treated to some unique outdoor installations, live painting during many of the music performances, an interactive light garden, as well as performance artists displaying their skills of flow arts, aerial arts, and more.
With such limited numbers on attendance, RV sites with hookups sold out in less than 15 minutes the day they went on sale. There are still “primitive” RV sites available, however.Tent camping is included in the ticket price. There will be a large number of shaded camping spots available in an area that has previously been used for VIP camping at former events at the venue. Those will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Gates will open for the camping, music, and arts festival on Thursday, June 30th at 8:00AM (CST) with music slated to begin at 7:00PM that night. The weekend of music will conclude on Monday, July 4th.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.highberryfestival.com
