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Truckee came to life last week with a star-studded lineup of country, rock and reggae musicians alongside various local art, food and wellness vendors at the inaugural Truckee Music Fest. Held at the Riverview Sports Park, this two-day, family-friendly event was enjoyed by locals and visitors of all ages.
Truckee hasn't seen a music festival of this scale before, as the spotlight has typically fallen on South Lake Tahoe, Reno and Palisades. But this year saw a lot of positive changes and growth in the mountain community, and all eyes were on the Truckee Music Fest to see what pivotal changes and possibilities could arise from its success. For an inaugural event, each day packed a punch and highlighted both local and internationally acclaimed bands. Fusing country with reggae rock, the genres went together about as symbolically as the community of Truckee: an eclectic and vibrant mix of classical Western long-term locals with a younger generation keen on fast beats, technology and new adventures.
The 2024 Truckee Music Fest was enjoyed by all ages! Photo from Truckee Music Fest.
In partnership with the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District, the 2024 Truckee Music Fest was the brilliant brainchild of Jaime Legare and Stacey Larson, founders of Soaring Seven LLC, a company that aims to bring new and exciting experiences to the Truckee region. The Truckee Music Fest was created to not only highlight local talent and businesses, but also bring world-renowned acts to town for an affordable price. In doing so, it puts Truckee on the map for live entertainment and as a basecamp for sustainable adventure tourism.
Kip Moore's electric performance concludes day one of the Truckee Music Fest. Photo by Rachael Scott.
Headlined by Kip Moore, Friday, August 9 saw an impressive country lineup including Charles Kelley, A Thousand Horses, Huckleberry Road and The Imposters. The Imposters, a local South Lake Tahoe duo, kicked off the festival with a setlist of folk-pop renditions of popular cover songs as well as new originals. Huckleberry Road was next. A dynamic country and rock band from Reno, Huckleberry Road has seen great success with their hits "Raybans" and "Somewhere in the Middle." From Nashville, Tennessee, A Thousand Horses delivered a high-energy fusion of country and rock. To kick off their new album The Outside, they have been performing new songs and older favorites on their summer tour in the United States and Spain.
A Thousand Horses performs a fun country-rock set. Photo by Rachael Scott.
Charles Kelley, famously known as the co-lead vocalist and founding member of the country band Lady Antebellum, took to the Truckee stage as a solo artist. The "As Far as You Could" singer delivered an exceptional and soulful performance, sealing his spot as an incredible standout solo talent.
Famous for his songs "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," "Beer Money" and "More Girls Like You," Kip Moore brought a high-energy and enthusiastic performance that country fans of all generations enjoyed as the highlight of the event's first night. Kip Moore and his band are currently in the middle of a world tour and are set to head off to New Zealand and Australia next month after they conclude this part of the United States and Canada portion, which Truckee was extremely proud to be a part of.
Sublime closing out the event with their greatest hits. Photo from Truckee Music Fest.
Saturday, August 10, was the second and final day of the event. Known as the rock and reggae day, Saturday was an energetic and positive mix of local and internationally acclaimed talent. The day kicked off with local bands Pipe Down, Coburn Station and Tha Exchange.
Makua Rothman, professional big-wave surfer and musician, then took to the stage. The "Hooked" singer's dynamic and captivating performance received rave reviews from concertgoers. Energy was especially intense after his reggae-ska-rock fused performance and continued well on into the evening. Another crowd favorite, G Love and Special Sauce, was next to perform and delivered a lineup of their legendary hits that infuse an authentic blend of blues, hip-hop, funk, soul, rock and reggae. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of their self-titled standout debut album, this was definitely a performance to remember!
Sublime closed the event with a high-energy setlist featuring their greatest hits that have stood the test of time. Now fronted by the original late lead singer's son Jakob Nowell, a pivotal figure in the band's resurrection, Sublime shared renditions of their legendary singles that evoke a sense of nostalgia and summer escapism. Many of the attendees came to witness the resurgence of their beloved band and left rave reviews for the special performance across social media.
The stage is set! Truckee truly is a premier destination for live music events. Photo from Truckee Music Fest.
According to Rachael Scott, the venue was the “perfect location” because of the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountain views and grassy areas to “comfortably relax or play games, like cornhole and ring toss, while watching the entertainment.” She continued to add how impressed she was with the “ease of the entire experience.” From easy-to-follow parking lots, a multitude of well-staffed food vendors and clean facilities to friendly and helpful staff, the event went on seamlessly throughout both days. This ease of experience helped to create and sustain a high-energy and positive experience for the attendees.
The bike valet was a huge success in promoting sustainable transportation. Photo by Rachael Scott.
The Truckee Music Fest even had a free bike valet, which encouraged eventgoers to choose sustainable transportation options and ease the impact of congestion from traffic and parking. Cyclists were rewarded with a $5 vendor coupon as a thank you for reducing their carbon footprint and utilizing climate-friendly transportation methods.
The vendor lineup had an eclectic variety of brews, food and local businesses. To make sure attendees stayed hydrated under the bright summer sun, Elivate was there to provide on-the-spot IV hydration from its team of nurses in its mobile station. Specializing in athletic performance and recovery, Elivate aims to help athletes and members of the community thrive.
Elivate provides on-the-spot IV hydration to enhance performance and recovery. Photo by Rachael Scott.
Inside the Elivate mobile IV fuel station. Photo by Rachael Scott.
Speaking of hydration, the local beverage vendors were also a big hit. The Long Drink tent was a fun setup that featured a variety of drinks, a shaded lounging area and cornhole. Another sought-after vendor in attendance was Mountain Brew Coffee, a carefully curated local favorite featuring freshly brewed coffee, tea, wine, beer and delicious food prepared by their chefs.
The lounge at The Long Drink tent. Photo by Rachael Scott.
The 2024 Truckee Music Fest was such a huge success, there are now talks to host another one next year to keep the tradition alive and to continue highlighting Truckee as a music festival venue and small business hotspot. There are even speculations that next year could be even bigger! With incredible local vendors, a vibrant and forward-thinking community and a record-setting start, we can't wait to see what next year brings.
All photos by Truckee Music Fest and Rachael Scott. Thumbnail image by Truckee Music Fest.
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
