After a six year hiatus, Mountain Jam is back. In preparation of this Triumphant return, the clouds parted over Belleayre Mountain just in time for the music to roll in and from the first note to the final reverb, Day One of Mountain Jam delivered exactly what you’d hope for when a festival climbs into the Catskills.

Kicking things off, Upstate wasted no time warming the early crowd with their genre-surfing blend of folk, soul, and pop. Their harmonies cut through the mountain air with ease, setting the tone for a day where no one genre could define the mood.

Kitchen Dwellers followed, cracking open their jamgrass sound with the kind of effortless interplay that can only come from a band fully locked in. Banjo-fueled grooves and swirling improvisation had even the lawn loungers up and swaying.

By the time Karina Rykman hit the stage, the field was buzzing. Her signature mix of bass-driven psych and explosive joy turned the mountain into a dance party.

It was pure adrenaline in motion. She owned the stage like it was hers to begin with, beaming as the crowd met her energy and then some.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead built their set like a masterclass in exploration, equal parts tight and untethered. The band’s ability to stretch, bend and reshape familiar material into something thrillingly alive had fans old and new riding every wave.

From subtle builds to full-blown sonic peaks, it was a set that felt less like a performance and more like a shared journey.

Khruangbin closed the night with that cool, cosmic vibe only they can conjure—part funk, part spaghetti western, part deep-space lullaby. It was the perfect landing point for a day that had traveled through decades and genres, all without ever feeling disjointed.

And through it all? Smiles. From vendors to security, from tie-dye veterans to wide-eyed first-timers, the atmosphere was wide open and welcoming. Mountain Jam doesn’t just bring music to the mountain, it builds a community on top of it. Inclusive, relaxed and refreshingly easygoing. It’s the kind of place where strangers high-five over tacos and bond over setlists.