High Sierra Music Festival Founder Dave Margulies: New Orleans, New Venue & July 2026 Lineup

In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Neville and Tony Hall of Dumpstaphunk backstage at the High Sierra Music Festival for a lively conversation about friendship, family, and the unmistakable sound of New Orleans funk. From their teenage years playing alongside musicians connected to The Meters and The Neville Brothers to their individual journeys and eventual partnership in Dumpstaphunk, Ivan and Tony share stories, memories, and a few surprises they hadn't even shared with each other. Hear how The Neville Brothers "stole" Ivan's drummer, the surprising history behind Tony's band Joyride, and how a side project became one of New Orleans' most beloved funk bands. We also explore the deep connection between New Orleans and the Bay Area music scenes, the importance of passing musical traditions to the next generation, and those unforgettable moments onstage when everything just clicks. It's a conversation filled with laughter, musical history, and the kind of stories that only come out in the green room. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. https://onlyinthegreenroom.com

What happens when an artist stops trying to be perfect and starts trusting exactly who she is? Cassandra Lewis joins Only in the Green Room for an unfiltered conversation about cosmic Americana, heartbreak, psychedelics, creativity, and learning to trust her own voice. She takes us through the wonderfully strange mix of influences that shaped her music, the relationship that inspired Lost in a Dream, and what it means to take the driver's seat by producing her own record at Nashville's RCA Studio A. But this conversation ultimately becomes about something bigger: vulnerability. Cassandra talks candidly about letting go of perfectionism, giving everything she has onstage, and accepting the mistakes and imperfections that make live music—and all of us—human. In her words, vulnerability can be a “radical act.” And in a world increasingly shaped by AI and technology, maybe being imperfectly human matters more than ever. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. #CassandraLewis #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #CosmicAmericana #AmericanaMusic #HighSierra #SingerSongwriter #LiveMusic #WomenInMusic

Nashville-born singer-songwriter Maisie Owen joins Only in the Green Room at High Sierra for a conversation about finding her own voice, making music without hiding behind production, and the unexpected influences that shaped her sound. Growing up in a musical family, Maisie initially gravitated toward painting, writing, photography — and classical music. Years of playing viola ultimately shaped the way she approaches guitar and songwriting today, from unusual time signatures to melodies that follow instinct rather than rules. Maisie talks about discovering Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, falling into the music of Bert Jansch and Mazzy Star, writing from dreams and journal entries, and why she wants her recordings to feel almost indistinguishable from hearing her perform live. We also get into her debut festival experience at High Sierra, growing up in Nashville without necessarily sounding “Nashville,” the unexpected ways listeners interpret her songs, her love of Gordon Lightfoot, and why she’s perfectly happy making music alone. It’s an intimate conversation with an emerging artist committed to keeping the imperfections, breaths and quiet moments intact. Where Artists Remain Human. Subscribe to Only in the Green Room for more backstage conversations with the artists, musicians and creative people keeping human connection at the center of music. #MaisieOwen #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #HighSierraMusicFestival #SingerSongwriter #Americana #IndieFolk #NickDrake #NewMusic #MusicPodcast #BehindTheMusic

What happens when the spotlight takes you away from the music that made you want to step onstage in the first place? Backstage at High Sierra Music Festival, Paul McDonald joins Tami and Dennis for a candid, funny, and heartfelt conversation about finding his way back. From an unexpected American Idol audition to the whirlwind of Hollywood, Paul reflects on the experiences that shaped him—and the sense of belonging he’s found with his band, the Mourning Doves. He shares the personal story behind “Dark Side” and So Long to the Dark Side, how losing his mother brought him back to the records he grew up with, and why kindness matters as much as talent when choosing the people beside him on the road. Along the way: songwriting with Andy Frasco and friends, jamming with Lebo, and some unforgettable American Idol backstage encounters. A conversation about letting go, finding your people, and getting back to the music. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. Explore more episodes at onlyinthegreenroom.com.

In this episode, we catch up with Boy Golden backstage at High Sierra Music Festival for a conversation that goes well beyond the music. The Winnipeg singer-songwriter opens up about The Church of Better Daze, why songwriting has become a spiritual practice for him, and his belief that music and creative expression can be deeply healing. We also get into the story behind the name Boy Golden, his early years playing hundreds of shows, his love of albums, the way he approaches songwriting, and why his ultimate mission isn't simply to make people listen — it's to make them want to create something themselves. For Boy Golden, a life filled with as many “creative days” as possible is a life well lived. Only in the Green Room — Where Artists Remain Human. #BoyGolden #HighSierraMusicFestival #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #ChurchOfBetterDaze #SingerSongwriter #IndieMusic #Songwriting #MusicPodcast