The High Desert Music Collective just released its second digital album featuring more than 80 artists, most of them local. To celebrate, it’s hosting a party on Wednesday, June 25 with 17 of the musicians performing on four stages. That includes Good Life Brewing, The Commonwealth Pub, The Ale Apothecary and Play Society. The party starts at noon with music for toddler-aged kids at Play Society. There’ll be a drum circle for older children between 2:30 and 4:30pm. Other performers include Eric Leadbetter, Zorb, Rusty Frets, Vanderwalls, Annika Hankshaw, Jake Soto and more. The music is free or “pay what you want” says Charlie Utter, founder of the High Desert Music Collective.
The Collective is a membership-based group of musical artists supporting one another. Utter started the group during the pandemic in 2020. He says one of the benefits is the opportunity for artists to sit and talk with one another which he finds inspiring. Some members are just starting out, while others have been performing for decades. Other benefits include website profiles for each artist and the Collective pays musicians for performing at one of its sponsored events. He’s hoping to grow the Collective. The fee to join is $180 a year.
This article appears in Source Weekly June 19, 2025.
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Thanks for pointing this out – nice that the whole like 85-tune album is on their home page – some really nice stuff in there!