SAN FRANCISCO – Emmylou Harris, Margo Price and Patty Griffin are among the many performers in the lineup for the silver anniversary of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this year at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5.
In its 25th year, the free music festival will once again present an eclectic bill of top performers.
As a special way of marking HSB’s anniversary, the Haight Street Art Center will present “The Big Twang! Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at 25,” a special exhibition that runs through October 12.
Highlights of the exhibition include HSB founder Warren Hellman’s rhinestone jacket (made for him by his granddaughter Laurel Hellman in 2011), as well as his beloved banjo; key posters from HSB concerts over the years (a number of which have been signed by scores of performers); the festival’s famous penny machine; and dozens of photographs capturing faces in the crowd by documentary photographer and filmmaker Lizzy Myers.
HSB is also celebrating its anniversary with the release of “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at 25: The Big Twang!,” a stunning book of photography and essays. The book captures the sights and soul of the renowned festival in Golden Gate Park through the lenses of Jay Blakesberg and many other talented photographers. Featuring a heartfelt foreword by Emmylou Harris and an afterword by Steve Earle, the book also includes interviews and essays by Aidin Vaziri, Frances Dinkelspiel, Sylvie Simmons, and Tricia Hellman Gibbs.
“For the first time in our history, we have decided to put together a book to share the memories we have made for the past 25 years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,” said Avery Hellman, Creative Director of the book. “We spent months collecting our favorite photographs of performances and candid moments to share with our audience. This book really tells the story of our unique place in the world of live music; it is guaranteed to delight you, and revive any forgotten memories of HSB.”
Additional performers this year include: Hovvdy, Jeff Tweedy, Hannah Cohen, Dougie Poole, The War And Treaty, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes, Cass McCombs, Albert Lee, Asher Shasho Levy, Austin de Lone Tribute w/ Bill Kirchen & Special Guests, Buddy Miller, Celebration of Hazel Dickens F: Della Mae, Laurie Lewis, and Alice Gerrard, Charlie Parr, Dry Branch Fire Squad, The Felice Brothers, John Prine: Songs & Souvenirs w/ Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, Lola Kirke, Maria Muldaur, Max Gomez, The Mekons, Moonalice, The Mother Hips, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Purple Glaze, Rodney Crowell, Rose City Band, Sam Bush, Shawn Colvin, The Singer & The Songwriter, and Yoseff Tucker & The Bow Ties, and with events such as SCUFF: Queer Line Dancing Feat. Eric Long Band, HSB @ 25: Stories Behind the Festival, and O Warren Where Art Thou: The Hellman Siblings Remember Their Parents in Song.
Check out the website for more info.
Listen here:
