About
High Desert Soundings is a two-day outdoor festival of experimental music and sound art, held annually in Wonder Valley, California — an unincorporated community in the High Desert outside Joshua Tree National Park. Since its founding in 2019, the festival has served as a vital platform for adventurous and genre-defying artists from diverse communities and artistic lineages. Through curated performances, improvisational ensembles, and site-responsive sound art, High Desert Soundings fosters meaningful exchange between artists and audiences in a setting of profound natural beauty and cultural independence. The festival takes place at The Palms, a community landmark that serves as a central gathering point for the locals who call the valley home — an eclectic mix of artists, off-the-grid homesteaders, and free spirits drawn to the region’s solitude and stark landscapes. The open-air desert environment provides a unique space for listening and reflection, allowing experiences that resonate beyond the boundaries of conventional music venues.
High Desert Soundings is directed by T.J. Borden (Artistic Director, Founder) and Ethan Marks (Executive Director) and under the fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It has featured performances from Wolf Eyes, Sarah Hennies, King Britt, Michael Pisaro-Liu, Vinny Golia, Patrick Shiroishi, Pedestrian Deposit, Agriculture, Audrey Chen, Phil Minton, Jeph Jerman, Carolyn Chen, and many more.
Design: Giorgia Sage