Preview: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass confirm a stellar line up for their 25th anniversary

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) has confirmed the full lineup for its silver anniversary in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from Friday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 5th. The lineup is an extraordinary collection of artists, many of whom will be readers’ favourites. Now in its 25th year, the free (what a thing in this day and age!) music festival will once again present a truly eclectic bill of top performers spanning an array of genres, including Emmylou Harris, Jeff Tweedy, Margo Price, Hovvdy, Hannah Cohen, Patty Griffin, Dougie Poole, The War And Treaty, Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes, Cass McCombs, Albert Lee, Austin de Lone Tribute w/ Bill Kirchen & Special Guests, Buddy Miller, 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 to name but a few! Phew! Full lineup below.

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“. Seasoned HSB veterans and first-time festivalgoers alike should read this year’s festival guide for the latest info/FAQ, event policies, and tips on what to expect for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025. All that information is available on the HSB site HERE.

The festival is also celebrating its anniversary with the release of “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at 25: The Big Twang!”, a book of photography and essays. The book captures the sights and soul of the festival in Golden Gate Park through the lenses of Jay Blakesberg and many other photographers. Featuring a 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.”

Portions of the concert’s proceeds will benefit the San Francisco Symphony’s Music and Mentors program, which assists in instrumental music programs in San Francisco’s public middle schools and high schools. Tickets for “Celebrating Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group with the SF Symphony” went on sale to the public on July 19.

The festival will kick off its landmark 25th anniversary weekend celebration this year with a very special sold-out festival eve benefit concert honouring legendary singer and songwriter Emmylou Harris – the only artist to perform at every edition of the festival. Set for Thursday, October 2 at San Francisco, CA’s The Masonic, “A Tribute to Emmylou Harris & 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass” will see the 14x GRAMMY® Award-winner joined by some of her closest friends and collaborators including Allison Russell, Albert Lee, Margo Price, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle and other guests. Buddy Miller will serve as the show’s musical director, backed by The Red Hot Dirt Ramblers. The all-star lineup features some of Emmylou Harris’ current and recent bandmates, including Albert Lee, Bryan Owings, Chris Donohue, Eamon McLoughlin, Glen D Hardin, Phil Madeira, Sam Bush & Steve Fishell. All proceeds will benefit the foster-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit dog rescue organisation Bonaparte’s Retreat.

Here’s the day-by-day line-ups.

FRIDAY
ALO
The Altons
Amos Lee
Anderson East
BALTHVS
Corey Harris
The Devil Makes Three
Hannah Cohen
Marc Ribot: Map of A Blue City
Margaret Glaspy
Margo Price
The Mother Hips
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Paper Wings
Purple Glaze
Reverend Horton Heat
Rodney Crowell
Shawn Colvin
The Singer & The Songwriter
Sinkane
The War and Treaty

SATURDAY
Albert Lee
Austin de Lone Tribute w/ Bill Kirchen & Special Guests
Buddy Miller
Cass McCombs
Celebration of Hazel Dickens F: Della Mae, Laurie Lewis, and Alice Gerrard
Cimafunk
Courtney Barnett
Dan Tyminski Band
Hovvdy
HSB @ 25: Stories Behind the Festival
Jeff Tweedy
Jontavious Willis
Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band
Kaia Kater
Maria Muldaur
Max Gomez
Olivia Wolf
Patty Griffin
Robert Earl Keen
Rosanne Cash
Rose City Band
Rosie Flores
Sam Bush
Samara Joy
Steve Earle & The Hardly Strictly Dukes
SCUFF: Queer Line Dancing Feat. Eric Long Band
TopHouse
The Watson Twins
Yoseff Tucker & The Bow Ties

SUNDAY
Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles
Asher Shasho Levy
Charlie Parr
Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes
Dengue Fever
Dougie Poole
Dry Branch Fire Squad
Emmylou Harris
Evolfo
The Felice Brothers
I’m With Her
Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the West Texas Exiles
John Prine: Songs & Souvenirs w/ Jason Wilber & Dave Jacques
Kelly McFarling
Lola Kirke
Lucinda Williams
Madeline Hawthorne
The Mekons
Moonalice
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets
Ocie Elliott
O Warren Where Art Thou: The Hellman Siblings Remember Their Parents in Song
Peter Rowan With Sam Grisman Project Playing “Old & In The Way” & More
The String Cheese Incident
Tim O’Brien
Watchhouse
William Prince