High June Rocks Rocklahoma: A Band’s Journey from College Bars to Festival Stages

In this episode of The Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio, Pipeman connects with High June at Rocklahoma Festival. The discussion dives into the band’s origins, unique approach to genre, experiences at major festivals, their musical journey, and what’s ahead for their tour calendar. Listeners get an inside look into how High June’s diverse backgrounds and collective passion fuel their chemistry and creative process.Main Topics CoveredHigh June’s background and formation at East Carolina UniversityTheir first-time experience playing at Rocklahoma FestivalThe significance of playing diverse festivals and the band's musical evolutionRejecting labels and embracing genre freedom in music creationStories of personal inspiration and falling in love with musicInsights into their writing process, practice habits, and band chemistryDetailed upcoming tour and collaborationsDream bands to tour withSocial links and how to support the bandKey Discussions & StoriesLanding at RocklahomaHigh June expresses their excitement at being selected for Rocklahoma and describes the crowd’s unexpected energy, with fans crowd surfing and forming mosh pits even though they were the first band playing that day 00:32.The band notes Rocklahoma’s hospitality, sharing that the crew treated them like headliners and contributed to an outstanding environment 01:17.The High June Origin StoryMembers hail from across North Carolina but united at East Carolina University, initially starting as a cover band before evolving into original music once James and Jack joined the group 06:02.Focus on their ability to gel through embracing differences and practicing intensely—sometimes six days a week for six hours a day 06:53.On Labels and Musical FreedomThe band and Pipeman agree on the drawbacks of genre labels, with a firm belief in music as a spectrum. The aim is not to repeat themselves and ensure every song tells its own story 03:42.Members emphasize they never wanted listeners to feel like every song sounded the same—diversity in songwriting is a cornerstone 04:40.Musical Influences & StoriesPersonal stories about falling in love with music: watching Nirvana Unplugged, being inspired by parental figures, and listening to classic rock in the car with family 09:46.A humorous trivia exchange about Jane’s Addiction and the meaning behind “dogs singing” 12:17.The Work Behind the MusicMembers reflect on dedication required to excel in music—practicing for hours, learning from each other, and building chemistry both personally and professionally 14:10.Discussion on how technical perfection isn’t everything; passion and creativity are just as important (calling out Nirvana’s impact on this philosophy) 14:37.What’s Next for High JuneAfter Rocklahoma, the band is headed to Dallas-Fort Worth for a show with Cole Barnhill, followed by a headlining tour in October on the East Coast and then supporting Dexter and the Moonrocks for the rest of the year 05:17.Notable Quotes“The crew overall, man, everybody's just been so…hospitable. You wouldn't even know that we were the first band of the day. They're treating us like we're the headliners.” 01:17“Labels in general are stupid. Nothing's black and white. It's all gray… even music is the biggest spectrum ever.” 03:42“We never wanted to be one of those bands where you listen to one song and then you've heard the entire catalog already. Every song to be its own thing.” 04:40“The biggest thing is that, like, we love each other. Like, that's the bottom line.” 08:30“You have to put those 10,000 hours in.” 14:28Resources & Links MentionedFind High June:Instagram: @highjuneband 15:53TikTok: @highjuneband 15:53Website: www.highjuneofficial.com– for tickets, merch, and tour info 16:10All streaming platforms: YouTube, Spotify, etc. 15:58Upcoming Shows:Headlining tour in October (East Coast) 16:12Over 20 dates supporting Dexter and the Moonrocks for the rest of the year 16:12Dream Tour Lineup PicksPost-grunge dad rock bands (Creed, Nickelback)Stone Temple PilotsPearl JamHighly SuspectFuelAtreyuFor more episodes, tune in to The Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-adventures-of-pipeman--941822/support.Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradioStream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV. Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.