HUNTER — Thousands of music lovers from across the country and around the world gathered in Hunter on Saturday as part of the 12th annual Mountain Jam music festival.
Musicians at the festival included famous artists Brandi Carlile, Nathaniel and the Night Sweats, and Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Beck. Three separate performance venues at the resort enabled the more than two dozen different acts to constantly produce music for the audience, with virtually no gaps in performances throughout the festival.
For second-time “Jammer” Tricia Wygal, of Stone Ridge, the festival was a chance to see Beck perform in person.
“He’s a fantastic artist and I love his music. I’m basically here to see him play,” Wygal said.
Wygal attended the festival several years ago and remembered a crowd of mostly millennials. But this year’s festival was attended by people of every generation, she said.
“I don’t think of myself as a typical Mountain Jam ‘Jammer,’” she said. “Usually the crowd has been mostly people quite a bit younger than me, but this year there’s a good mix of people of all ages.”
Festival attendees had the opportunity to take a ride on the resort’s chair lift for scenic views of the area — and panoramic views of the festival — as well as eat and drink exotic cuisine and beverages, buy clothing and accessories, and even learn about the spiritual world.
Alexandra Wallace, 24, of Florida, spent her day offering festivalgoers a glimpse into the beyond, selling books on spiritual guidance and enlightenment.
“I’m met some really amazing people here who are very in tune with their spirit and their eternal soul,” said Wallace, who is originally from Jamaica. “There is a spiritual fire within the body, and although the body is constantly changing and aging, the spirit never ages. I’m here offering a chance to feed their spirit and find the truths of nature.”
Others came to offer a taste of nature — in some cases literally — to festival attendees.
“Our company sells natural, healthy, hemp-infused energy beverages,” said Dennis Radcliffe of the company Rocky Mountain High. “Hemp is a healthy, natural product, and it’s a superfood, full of healthy chemicals and omegas.”
Rocky Mountain High beverages was launched in March of 2015, and reception to the product has been exceptional, according to company representative and Hudson Valley native Phil Uhrik.
“We’re entrepreneurs by choice, and this product has been in such great demand ever since we launched last spring,” said Uhrik, who previously spent time as a sous chef at the Terrapin Restaurant in Rhinebeck. “Our drinks are made with natural ingredients like beet sugar instead of artificial sweeteners and other harmful chemicals. It’s healthier for everyone than other energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull, which have chemicals which put stress on your heart, and it’s even healthier than a can of Coke.”
Bob Pabst, of Pabst Blue Ribbon, is a stakeholder in Rocky Mountain High. The brand was a sponsor of Mountain Jam, and of next weekend’s Taste of Country festival, also being held at Hunter Mountain. Pabst said he was excited about the new product.
“We’re all super excited about this new beverage, this hemp-infused energy drink,” Pabst said. “It’s healthy, it’s delicious, and people love it.”
Radcliffe said the festivals were a great way for the new business to gain public awareness, and recognition for the artists performing at the festivals.
“Our beverages are what the bands are drinking when they’re backstage or in their trailers,” Radcliffe said. “We can’t wait to do this all again next weekend for the Taste of Country, because this is what we’re all about: friends and family and having a great time.”
Greg Hudson/Columbia-Greene Media
Musician Nathaniel Rateliff, front man of the group The Night Sweats, takes to the stage Saturday at Mountain Jam in Hunter.
Musicians at the festival included famous artists Brandi Carlile, Nathaniel and the Night Sweats, and Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Beck. Three separate performance venues at the resort enabled the more than two dozen different acts to constantly produce music for the audience, with virtually no gaps in performances throughout the festival.
For second-time “Jammer” Tricia Wygal, of Stone Ridge, the festival was a chance to see Beck perform in person.
“He’s a fantastic artist and I love his music. I’m basically here to see him play,” Wygal said.
Wygal attended the festival several years ago and remembered a crowd of mostly millennials. But this year’s festival was attended by people of every generation, she said.
“I don’t think of myself as a typical Mountain Jam ‘Jammer,’” she said. “Usually the crowd has been mostly people quite a bit younger than me, but this year there’s a good mix of people of all ages.”
Festival attendees had the opportunity to take a ride on the resort’s chair lift for scenic views of the area — and panoramic views of the festival — as well as eat and drink exotic cuisine and beverages, buy clothing and accessories, and even learn about the spiritual world.
Alexandra Wallace, 24, of Florida, spent her day offering festivalgoers a glimpse into the beyond, selling books on spiritual guidance and enlightenment.
“I’m met some really amazing people here who are very in tune with their spirit and their eternal soul,” said Wallace, who is originally from Jamaica. “There is a spiritual fire within the body, and although the body is constantly changing and aging, the spirit never ages. I’m here offering a chance to feed their spirit and find the truths of nature.”
Others came to offer a taste of nature — in some cases literally — to festival attendees.
“Our company sells natural, healthy, hemp-infused energy beverages,” said Dennis Radcliffe of the company Rocky Mountain High. “Hemp is a healthy, natural product, and it’s a superfood, full of healthy chemicals and omegas.”
Rocky Mountain High beverages was launched in March of 2015, and reception to the product has been exceptional, according to company representative and Hudson Valley native Phil Uhrik.
“We’re entrepreneurs by choice, and this product has been in such great demand ever since we launched last spring,” said Uhrik, who previously spent time as a sous chef at the Terrapin Restaurant in Rhinebeck. “Our drinks are made with natural ingredients like beet sugar instead of artificial sweeteners and other harmful chemicals. It’s healthier for everyone than other energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull, which have chemicals which put stress on your heart, and it’s even healthier than a can of Coke.”
Bob Pabst, of Pabst Blue Ribbon, is a stakeholder in Rocky Mountain High. The brand was a sponsor of Mountain Jam, and of next weekend’s Taste of Country festival, also being held at Hunter Mountain. Pabst said he was excited about the new product.
“We’re all super excited about this new beverage, this hemp-infused energy drink,” Pabst said. “It’s healthy, it’s delicious, and people love it.”
Radcliffe said the festivals were a great way for the new business to gain public awareness, and recognition for the artists performing at the festivals.
“Our beverages are what the bands are drinking when they’re backstage or in their trailers,” Radcliffe said. “We can’t wait to do this all again next weekend for the Taste of Country, because this is what we’re all about: friends and family and having a great time.”
Greg Hudson/Columbia-Greene Media
Musician Nathaniel Rateliff, front man of the group The Night Sweats, takes to the stage Saturday at Mountain Jam in Hunter.
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