Since its inception in 2001, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) has been a fixture in the americana and roots music calendar. Founded by Warren Hellman, a San Francisco venture capitalist, HSB has been held each year in Golden Gate Park. Thanks to Hellman’s generosity it is a free festival and thanks to his love of music – he was a keen banjo player – brings in a host of high-quality acts for attendees to enjoy. Hellman died in 2011 but made provision in his will for future funding and the Hellman family has kept the festival going since, even going virtual for two Covid years. This year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass takes place from tomorrow, on 4th, 5th and 6th October 2024.
While fans come in from all over the world to HSB, many of the festival acts are available to see – also free of charge – via the HSB webcast accessible via HSB TV. The stages which will be webcast are the Banjo, Rooster, Swan. and Towers of Gold. For those of us based east of the Atlantic, that can mean something of a late night but that’s tempered by the fact that HSB closes each day at 19:00 Pacific time (03:00 for the UK and 04:00 CST). The stage times have now been released, so music fans making the trip to the West coast can start planning out their days and the rest of us can create our fantasy schedules.
So, what’s happening? Like all good festivals HSB24 starts with a clash as Jessica Pratt is on at the same time as a Lucinda Williams tribute (Songs From A Gravel Road) which features Chuck Prophet, Kelly Willis, Steve Earle and Ismay; the latter being Hellman’s granddaughter as well as the leader of Williams’ tribute act The Lake Charlatans). More Friday highlights include IBMA award winner Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, the Milk Carton Kids and Cat Power with her Dylan’66 show.
Saturday’s bill sees Buddy Miller hosting his Cavalcade of Stars on the Rooster Stage (this year the Red Dirt Boys, Jobi Ricco, Teddy Thompson, Dom Flemons and Carlene Carter as well as the legendary Mr Miller himself) with the promise of guest appearances. Elsewhere the big names are Steve Earle, Mavis Staples, Alison Brown, Robyn Hitchcock and Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
Finally, the Sunday: closed out as ever by Emmylou Harris (which may or may not be on the webcast) preceded by Aoife O’Donovan with Hawktail, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Brandy Clark, Patti Smith and AJ Lee & Blue Summit.
There is a tradition of guests dropping in with their friends throughout the festival so you never know who might pop up where. There is a link to the full schedule here and to give a taste a video of Carrie Rodriguez featuring David Pulkingham on guitar from 2023.
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Aaah … memories. My brother worked in Silicon Valley and lived just outside San Francisco. Naturally, as any loving brother would do, my wife and I went and sponged off him and his family for 6 weeks back in 2013!! Was it pure coincidence that our visit overlapped HSB?? Anyway a fabulous time ensued and watching such luminaries as Patty Griffin, Emmylou, Steve Earle, Rob E Keen, Flatlanders (I swear I appear on the live webcast. Fame!) and the rest. Magical. So, 18 months ago they moved to Franklin, just outside Nashville; guess we’re we are going next year!
P.S. … There are many musical artists I greatly admire, even revere, (Jackson, Gene, Gram) but my one true hero is Warren Hellman. Thanks for this legacy Warren. Forever grateful.
If anyone is having connection issue with HSBTV then KQED is streaming some of the sets on their YouTube channel