Northlands Music & Arts Festival Cultivates Community Through Roots-Rich Jam Scene in New Hampshire

In the competitive landscape of live music festivals, establishing a sustainable independent event presents significant challenges. Northlands Music & Arts Festival in Swanzey, New Hampshire, is defying industry trends by remaining committed to its grassroots ethos. Nestled among the White Mountains, the fifth installment of the gathering showcased jam band staples like Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Disco Biscuits, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Andy Frasco & the U.N., celebrating the region’s deep connection to roots-oriented music culture.

“Corporate America can’t take over music. There’s too much soul in the music and in the festivals,” festival co-producer Jen Meyerhardt tells Rolling Stone. “It’s all about the vibe. It’s people being together, and creating a sense of community.”

Natalie Brooke, a newer artist championed by Northlands, brought her futuristic funk-and-soul sound from Baltimore to the stage. Playing keytar in her quartet, Brooke joined forces with Dogs in a Pile for an Aretha Franklin cover, “Rock Steady,” and later collaborated with Frasco on his original track, “Talk About It.”

Despite growing recognition, Brooke acknowledges the complexities of navigating the indie music landscape. “The biggest thing I struggle with is seeing everybody cut the cake differently,” she says. “You have to play the game and do a lot of things the way they are done, and should be done. You also have to follow your own intuition, your own artistic voice. It’s a really tough puzzle to put together.”

Facing industry-wide struggles with unsold tickets, Northlands has succeeded by booking artists aligned with its core audience. The festival attracts fans mourning the loss of iconic jam gatherings like Gathering of the Vibes, Wakarusa, Rothbury, and 10,000 Lakes. This comes amid the cancellation of Summer Camp’s 25th anniversary edition due to financial difficulties.

Yonder Mountain String Band, now considered a safe harbor for the community, sees the scene’s evolution. “There’s a scene now and it’s exploded,” bassist Ben Kaufmann notes. “In a lot of ways, I feel like we were first through the wall of traditional bluegrass, and then kind of blasting through it, a lot of it out of ignorance.”

By late Saturday afternoon, indie-rock veterans the Slip took the Echo Stage with Joe Russo filling in on drums. Celebrating 30 years together in 2026 and the 20th anniversary of their Eisenhower album, the Boston-formed trio delivered a highly anticipated performance. “The music on Eisenhower was the result of a decade of living and touring and breathing together,” Brad Barr reflects. “But it’s still just a template for improvisation and channeling energy — I think that’s why it’s aged well.”
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