THE MUSIC

Each year the Sourland Mountain Festival provides the opportunity for singer-songwriter bands of Central New Jersey to showcase their talents. We feature aspiring, professional musicians who make their living primarily performing their own music!

If you are interested in playing at one of our festivals, please submit your Bio. via email to: MountainFestArtists@sourland.org

We look forward to hearing YOUR MUSIC at the Sourland Mountain Festival and thank you for supporting the Sourland Conservancy!

Please stay in touch via our Facebook page: Sourland Conservancy

2026 LINEUP

The Harrisons and Company

Headlining this year’s festival is The Harrisons. They are a powerhouse husband and wife music duo that tours all over the NJ/NY/PA tri-state area. Performing nearly every genre of music on a wide variety of instruments (usually more than one at a time!), Christian and Jennifer create the sound of a full rock band with only two people!

Besides their busy gigging schedule, The Harrisons also compose, record, and produce their own original music in house at Grasshopper Studios located in their home in Andover, NJ.The Harrisons perform at a wide variety of venues, but are also available for private events.

Jake Thistle

Jake Thistle has been chasing songs for as long as he can remember.

The groundwork was laid early: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers set the wheels in motion, sparking a deep love for classic rock music first as a wide-eyed fan, and soon after as a young musician determined to understand how those songs were built. By age nine, Thistle was discovering that spark in himself. Six months after picking up the guitar, he played his first open mic night in New Jersey, a foothold that soon turned into a steady run of showcases, restaurant sets, and street-corner performances where he learned his craft in real time. As the rooms grew, so did his commitment to writing songs of his own – and when the pandemic brought live music to a halt, he turned inward. Taking the downtime as an opportunity to focus, Thistle self-produced and self-released his debut album, Down the Line, in late 2020. The record marked a turning point for his self-image: No longer was he just a young performer cutting his teeth on stage, but a songwriter stepping forward with his own body of work. A radio performance soon caught the ear of industry veteran Joe Riccitelli, who signed Thistle to Gold’n Retriever Entertainment and helped usher in the next phase of his career.

Sonically, Thistle is drawn to tension – between past and present, intimacy and scale. Raised on Petty, Springsteen, and John Hiatt, he grew up studying the architecture of classic songwriting; today, he’s just as interested in how atmosphere shapes emotion. Lush pads, layered textures, and dramatic builds now sit alongside the guitar-forward foundations that first defined him. It’s intentional expansion – the deliberate effort to make records that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the ones he looks up to the most, all while being true to himself in the process.

Authenticity remains the throughline – a pillar of his artistry and key to his identity. “Being genuine is so important,” Thistle says plainly. In a genre as fluid as his – where he can channel classic heartland rock one night and lean into modern indie textures the next – sincerity becomes the anchor.

Today, Jake Thistle stands at a rare intersection: Young enough to still be discovering new edges of his sound, yet seasoned enough to know exactly what he values. He’s no longer the kid at the open mic proving he belongs, nor the bedroom producer learning the ropes; he’s an artist with a clear north star. Each release pushes further outward while cutting to the core of who he is: A storyteller with an ear for melody and a performer who understands the weight of a stage.

If the past two decades were about absorption and apprenticeship, this next chapter is about authorship. Thistle isn’t chasing trends; he’s building a body of work that can stand in conversation with the songwriters who first captivated him. It’s about making records that last, growing into the stages he once watched from afar, and doing it all without losing the sincerity that made him pick up a guitar in the first place.

artist biography © Mitch Mosk, 2026

Hickory

Hailing from northern New Jersey, Hickory brings together Rob Friedland (lead vocals, guitars, mandolin), Dave Foschino (vocals, lead guitar, mandolin, banjo), Matt Nalducci (vocals, percussion and drums), Ted Rainey (vocals, bass guitar), Dan Rainey (mandolin, lead guitar) and Jason Warren (vocals, keyboards) to create a distinctive Americana sound. 

Influenced by artists like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Caamp, and Pearl Jam, their music blends timeless rock with modern folk elements. With Rob and Dave driving the songwriting, the band collaborates on production to ensure every member’s input shapes their sound. Hickory has quickly gained a reputation for their captivating live performances and their ability to connect with audiences through their music. Drawing inspiration from classic folk and rock artists as well as contemporary influences, Hickory’s sound is both nostalgic and fresh, appealing to a wide range of listeners. With their thoughtful lyrics, tight musicianship, and charismatic stage presence, Hickory is making their mark on the folk rock scene.

With their easygoing charm and rootsy sound, Hickory is right at home playing breweries, festivals, and anywhere good vibes flow. Following the release of their much-anticipated sophomore album Kickin’ It Down The Road in September 2025, the band is riding a fresh wave of momentum. Fueled by new music and a packed performance schedule, Hickory is setting the stage for a breakout year—ready to turn heads, win hearts, and grow their ever-expanding fanbase one show at a time.

The Swiss Guard

The Swiss Guard is an independent rock n' roll band from the banks of the Delaware River.
We make loud music for quiet people and quiet music for loud people.

Gravity Hill

Gravity Hill is a rock band conceived at an open mic night at the Alchemist & Barrister in Princeton, New Jersey late in 2008 and officially formed in early 2009. Original members Ed Hynes and Rob Moreno are joined by drummer Jim Linnehan in the current line-up. Jim was the drummer in the well regarded local alternative band Great Road West and was also a founding member of The Freds. Inspired by the music they love, Gravity Hill blends an eclectic mix of late sixties pop, folk rock, punk, post-punk, nineties alternative and contemporary dance rock. Their energetic performances have become a staple of Princeton life for their loyal following.