High Sierra Foundation Partners with Harper House and Backline to Launch Backstage Wellness Village at 2026 Festival

The High Sierra Foundation, Harper House Music Foundation, and Backline have announced a Backstage Wellness Village at the 2026 High Sierra Music Festival, which begins July 2 and runs through July 5 in Grass Valley, California.

The festival lineup includes 64 artists, including Steel Pulse, The Word, Don Was & The Pan‑Detroit Ensemble, Dumpstaphunk, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Cymade, Eggy, Lebo & friends, Taper’s Choice, and Mountain Grass Unit. The festival is the 34th annual event, moving from Quincy to Grass Valley.

The Wellness Village will provide free services: eye care, massage, bodywork recovery, mental‑health case management, and sobriety and recovery support. Services are offered to musicians, touring professionals, and production staff.

The High Sierra Foundation was founded in 2003 to support charitable activities around the festival. The foundation and the festival are separate entities; the festival remains a for‑profit production, while the foundation pursues a philanthropic mission. In 2025 the foundation expanded its programming and became a year‑round partner with local communities.

Bo Carper, board chair of the foundation, said the partnership honors the hard‑working industry professionals. Hilary Gleason, Backline co‑founder, emphasized the importance of mental‑health and wellness for artists and crew. Michele Augis, managing director of Harper House, highlighted the alignment with the foundation’s mental‑health initiative.

Backline, a nonprofit that launched the B‑LINE 24/7 mental‑health hotline for the music industry in January 2026, is a key partner. Harper House Music Foundation supports artists through education, advocacy, and community programs. Together they aim to address urgent healthcare and mental‑health needs in the independent music community.

The Wellness Village is the first time the festival will host such a comprehensive backstage care program. The initiative follows growing awareness of the physical and emotional toll of touring. The foundation’s mission to connect live music to community impact is reflected in the program’s free services.

The festival’s move to Grass Valley marks a new chapter for the event. Grass Valley’s larger venue capacity and proximity to the Sierra Nevada region offer a fresh backdrop for the 34th edition. The foundation’s partnership with Backline and Harper House is expected to enhance the festival’s reputation as a supportive environment for artists.

The 2026 festival will run July 2–5, with performances across multiple stages. The Wellness Village will operate during the festival’s schedule, providing on‑site support for performers and crew. The foundation’s involvement underscores the importance of health services for touring professionals.

The partnership demonstrates a concrete effort to improve artist welfare at a major music festival. The foundation, Backline, and Harper House will continue to collaborate beyond the festival, aiming to expand wellness resources for musicians across the region.

The Backstage Wellness Village at the 2026 High Sierra Music Festival represents a significant step toward supporting the physical and mental health of touring musicians and production staff. The initiative, backed by the High Sierra Foundation, Backline, and Harper House Music Foundation, will operate during the festival’s July 2–5 run in Grass Valley, California, and may serve as a model for other festivals seeking to provide comprehensive wellness services.