Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2018

Would you pay to see that?

Wait, what, it's free?!?!?!?!

I'm always in favor of Emmylou!!!!!

Is that the main stage up top? Looks cool I like the stage set in the second pic too looks like where Tweedy would play 

The top pic has two stages. The Banjo Stage way back on the upper right (where those white tents are) and the Rooster Stage closer to the left. 

The Banjo is always crowded as there's great folk and bluegrass there.  

And that's just TWO of the stages.

the top pic is where I went out for my junior high baseball team tryouts- yes - in the 60's .

There was a well used diamond there.

(I didn't make the team)

Cool thanks for the info and cool story Klondo sorry you didn’t make the team hopefully you still had some fun 

I couldn't hit fast pitching

I stand corrected. Thanks for being kind about it, Knot.  Thought the pic was from last year where the only stage with red in the sign was Rooster.

I hung mainly at Banjo with the hospitable Zoner Mark D letting me hang with them. Went to see Brandi Carlile and Randy Newman at the Swan Stage.

Great shows and a great weekend.   

>>>>I couldn't hit fast pitching 

That's OK. You play a mean guitar.  

I was all glove and no bat too Klondo after I got my jaw broken by an errant pitch in little league. 

I never did get hit by a pitch again though. 

I was never in Little League, but I did play for our 6th grade team - we played against other elementary schools in our town. I also couldn't really hit fast pitching - my batting average was the lowest on the team. The coach didn't have much confidence in my fielding, either - I was relegated to right field.

However, I did have a couple of notable moments. The best was the time a line drive was hit my way. I had to run in at full speed, scoop it up, and double up the runner on second, which I somehow did - DP!

The second was even cooler in some ways. In a practice game a ground ball was hit to me. I threw it back to the pitcher. The pitcher was the best player on the team, even on offense. He knew it, he was a jerk about it, and everybody hated him, including the coach.. The coach enforced a policy that during practice the ball was to be rolled back to the pitcher instead of throwing it back or around the horn. Wtf?

I guess he knew what he was doing. The pitcher was basking in his greatness, I guess, and was looking the other way. My throw caught him right on the noggin and he went down hard. He survived, we still hated him, and the season went on.

I had the strongest arm as failed pitcher in my little league.

Had no-control and I seriously hurt a few kids & Umps....

Maybe you were the kid who broke my jaw

We'll be out there that week, I look forward to spending a day in the park

I played into college, then I transferred to an urban school where sports suddenly seemed entirely irrelevant.  I will admit, add curve balls to fast pitch softball and it's hard.  Real hard.  

I got pretty good on the mound in slow pitch softball in the 90's - mastered the knuckler- and my right index finger is now paying the price.

Can't wait for the rest of the lineup this year. Missed out last time around due to fire/family visiting.

The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass free music festival returns to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for its 2018 installment October 5 – 7. Organizers just confirmed 10 more acts set to play the Warren Hellman-founded event.

A total of four medleys featuring portions of music from Hardly Strictly Bluegrass ’18 performers have been shared as a preview of the full lineup. Today, the 10 acts whose music was included in the fourth medley were confirmed. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass revealed those acts are Alison Krauss, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Tim Barry, Eilen Jewell, Mavis Staples, Peter Rowan, Kacy & Clayton, The Family Crest and Tracy Nelson.

The 10 acts from the fourth medley join a lineup that already included the Del McCoury Band, Los Lobos, The Greyboy Allstars, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Jeff Tweedy, I’m With Her, Matador! Soul Sounds, Deer Tick, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Marco & The Polos, Roky Erickson, Robyn Hitchcock: Electrospective, Ani Difranco, Tim O’Brien, Sera Cahoone, Gregory Alan Isakov, Howlin’ Rain, Courtney Marie Andrews, Darlingside, Aki Kumar, Gomez, JD Mcpherson, Evolfo, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Steve Forbert, David Bromberg Quintet, Patty Griffin, Andrea Gibson and Four Year Bender.

Full line-up released today.  http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2018/

WTF, Ween!

Dang, no Sweetheart Of The Rodeo 50th Anniversary, but the rest of that looks great.  Looking forward to finally attending HSBF.

There are a handful of acts I'd really like to see. Hopefully they'll all play the same day so I don't have to deal with the epic masses more than once.

Many management and staffing changes this year, and from what I've heard they're doing away with the Friends & Family sections they've always had at every stage, which is good for the masses as it will open more space close to the stages, but I got one of those passes every year so personally I say boo to that.

I guess I'll just have to suffer among the rabble.

Don Was and Friends = Wolf Bros?

when is the schedule released?

we'll be road tripping through the area, but most likely will only spend 1 day at HSBG.

No HSBF for me this year. Will visit SF a few weeks after and see the sites. 

Looks like Sunday w/Bo & Lebo & Friends, Peter Rowan, Moonalice, Tim O'Brien, Del McCoury, EmmyLou & Ween !

If I go at all it will be Sunday.

Peter Rowan, Tim O'Brien, Del McCoury, EmmyLou

Friday and Saturday I have other plans.  Been the last 12 yrs running.  Might be my first miss.

Friday Banjo looks great all day. 

First time HSBF for me.  Other than a blanket, hat and some sunscreen, any suggestions?  I'll probably throw a few snacks and a water bottle in a day pack.  Will there be food options in the park?

Thanks for the info, Slacker.  Looks like no rain is forecast for the weekend, so hopefully the sun breaks out and dries things out some more.

Bump ^ http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2018/webcast/fri-banjo.shtml

Live From Here is live from there right now. 

Check yer local NPR affiliate.

Oh, yeah.  Buckingham is a featured musical guest.  

Weir currently singing "Days Between" w/  Don Was.

He is 'sitting in'.

Another great day in the park.

Planted my chair at the Banjo Stage for Laurie Lewis' Bluegrass set, then wandered off to the Rooster Stage for Tracy Nelson's excellent set of Blues and Soul tunes backed by Buddy Miller and his stellar band.  Damnnnnn, that woman sure can belt it. Next I hit the food tents for a very serviceable carnitas burrito, which I wolfed down at the Swan Stage before the Don Was and Friends set.  Pretty impressive group of musicians on stage, including trumpeter Terrence Blanchard, sax and flute player David McMurray, drummer Terrence Higgins, conga player Lenny Castro, vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson, another dude from Detroit on vocals, a guitarist, a keyboardist, a second guy on a drum kit, Was on upright bass, and a three-piece female harmony trio including Big Freydia.  After the opening soul-vamp, Was introduced Weir and Buddy Miller.  The big band arrangement of Days Between was better than I'd expected.  Bobby was on point with the vocals, and Terrence Blanchard completely killed on his solo.  Can't recall hearing a trumpet on Dead tunes before.  Weir would have done well to exit stage left like Buddy Miller did after Days Between.  He looked a little out of place on the Papa Was A Rolling Stone medley into Walk Like A Dinosaur.  Next it was off to the Gold Stage for Los Lobos, and now Steve Earle back at the Banjo Stage.

Papa was a Roger Stone was a highlight...

"Days Between" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-08v_RoMbw

Terence Blanchard is very good.

Like VERY good.

Looks like Don Was had a big-league band.

Not a big surprise there.

Sweet Pea Atkinson!

Far out.

Wow. Just watched that Days Between video. One of the better versions of that song I've heard. It really works in more of a jazz arraignment.

If only they could get rid of those lyrics...

Once we grew into our shoes??
We told them where to go???
Walked halfway around the world????
On promise of the glow????????

Good grief.

Still, a really good version.

Atta' boy Terence.

Los Lobos closed with Not Fade Away>Bertha.  David Hidalgo was playing some heavy licks on Bertha.  As I headed back to the Banjo Stage for Steve Earle's set, I caught the beginning of Graham Nash's set as I walked by the Swan Stage.  He opened with Wasted On The Way, then started into a rearranged version of Marrakech Express.  It was okay, but not enough to keep me from moving on to catch Earle's set, which had some nice moments.  I liked the midset run of Galway Girl, Hear My Train A Comin' and I Know You Rider with Steve on mandolin.  He also played solid versions of Guitar Town, I Never Even Said Goodbye, Tanneytown, Copperhead Road (again on mandolin), The Revolution Starts Now, and some of his new material including So You a Want To Be An Outlaw and some tune about a guy fighting forest fires I'd never heard before.  For an encore, he and the Dukes had worked up a nice cover of the Animals song Warm San Francisco Nights.

Glad to hear that Slacker and Walstib had a good time too.  It was a lot more crowded than Friday, but having gotten oriented to the set-up on Friday, still pretty easy to get around.

Dry Branch Fire Squad (Friday)

Mavis Staples (Friday)

Tracy Nelson with Buddy Miller 

The Blue Angels (Saturday from the Rooster Stage.   They also flew over the Swan Stage during the Don Was set.  He called them the Blue Note Angels.  Don Was is the current president of Blue Note Records)

Don Was and Friends with Bob Weir and Buddy Miller, The Days Between

Los Lobos

Steve Earle & The Dukes

I'm with Her, Molly Tuttle, Tracy Nelson Don Was and Friends, Los Lobos were some of my favorites yesterday. Listen to that "Days Between" -  that version was KILLER. 

PS

I hope the guy who went down during Los Lobos NFA > Bertha survived. It was clear that his medical emergency was just more than being intoxicated. Looked like he could have been having a stroke..or heart attack. Watched him fall and hit his head hard, at least twice. The  bystander who decided to take control of the situation claimed to be a doctor  sent the EMT's away, said he was "fine".  The rest of us backed away. The guy was going in and out of consciousness, was anything but "fine".  Minute the EMT's  left the scene, the guy collapsed again, and then had a seizure.  EMT's were called again and finally  got him out of there and provided some medical care. 

Enjoying - Justin Townes Earle !

Moonalice with Jason Crosby !

SLESS ! MOLO ! SEARS ! CROSBY !! Oh YEAH !

Yes, Moonalice killed it today. I enjoyed Peter Rowan's set as well. Prairie Prince showed off his drumming chops doing 'Tommy'.

I wish I lived in NorCal sometimes...

Just amazing 3 days in the park   Just an amazing gift in amazing place and music is always freaking amazing

from my perspective the music may not have been as outstanding as some of the other years

 But the good news is I'm freaking exhausted and my legs hurt and and most of it to all the bouncing I did during the performance of Tommy which was my highlight of the weekend 

I average about 18,000 steps a day but I parked pretty far away  didn't want to deal with and if we circling the neighborhoods

long live music (love live)

What a great slice of San Francisco Summer this has been!  I'm at Oakland International Airport enjoying a last bit of the sunny skies and 80 degree temps before getting back to Seattle, where it will be 55 degrees and raining.  

I'm so glad that I finally got to HSBF.  A truly wonderful, peaceful and classically San Francisco event.  Nice to see such a varied demographic.  It's a festival that just about everyone can enjoy.   

I also got in some quality time visiting with my brother, sister-in-law and my nephew Jack.  Jack turns 29 next Wednesday.  He has been dealt a tough hand, having an as yet incurable brain tumor.  He finished a course of chemotherapy during my visit.  Unfortunately, between fatigue and nausea, he couldn't make it to the park for HSBF.  The positive energy there would have been good for him.  Hopefully, I was able to bring a little bit back to him every day.  He appreciated the HSBF t-shirt I gave him as an early birthday present. 

After going solo, and having a fun time getting oriented to the festival the first two days, it was nice to have my brother join me yesterday.  We arrived during Peter Rowan's set, saw Tim O'Brien, a taste of Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets and Del McCoury, then full sets from Booker T.  and Emmylou Harris.  It was his first time at HSBF, and it seemed to be good for his spirits.  His favorite was Booker T.'s Stax Revue set.  Can't say I disagree.  

Just a great, sun-splashed day in the park.  We're boarding now, so I'lll post a few more photos later.

Thank you S.F. for a real good time!

Booker T.  Washington's Stax Revue

This was really well produced.  I'd seen Booker T. at the Bumbershoot Festival here in Seattle.  While that was pretty good, this was ridiculous.  There was a full horn section, and a great trio of two men and one woman handling the vocals.  Nothing but songs released on Memphis' legendary Stax label.  

They opened with the instrumental theme to the Spaghetti Western "Hang 'Em High", Carla Thomas' "Gee Whiz" and Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign".   The rest of the set included Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood", Wilson Pickett's "Midnight Hour", Booker T. & the M.G.'s instrumental "Hip Hug Her", Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness", Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming", Booker T. & The MG's instrumental "Green Onions"' Otis Redding's "Respect" (which Aretha Franklin had the hit with, as Booker pointed out) and the closing Booker T. & the M.G.'s instrumental "Time Is Tight" (which The Clash covered on the "Black Market Clash" 10" EP).

Hopefully, someone got a good recording.   While I heard a lot of really good music this weekend, this set really stood out.

Emmylou Harris & the Red Dirt Band

Emmylou came on after a round of short speeches and an introduction by Warren Hellman's four children.  It was well done and helped me appreciate the spirit of this event.  Really positive moment.

Emmylou did her mix of her own material and tasty covers of Dylan, Gram Parsons/Chris Hillman Flying Burrito Brothers' material and traditional Americana.   As you can see it was still bright and warm when she came on, then the sun set and it started to cool down a little.  We walked out after "Sin City" as it was getting dark and we had a hike back to the car on Geary, and my brother didn't want to get caught up in the mass exodus.  I'd be curious to hear how her set ended.  We heard a little of Roky Erikson's set from the Swan Stage as we passed by, and eyeballed what looked like a really big crowd down at the Gold Stage for Ween as we walked out.  I would've enjoyed those sets too, but Emmylou is more or less the reigning Queen of this Fest, and I'm glad I wrapped up my first visit with her set.

I also want to send a shout out to Walstib.  It was great to see you again, man.  Sorry I missed getting to hang with you a bit more and that I missed Ms. M. and the rest of the Zoner crew you were with.  I came over to say hey after Booker T's set, but missed you.  Until next time, all the best.

I forgot that somewhere in the middle of that Booker T. set, they played a funky, groovy version of The Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself".   It had oddly been left out of Mavis Staples' set on Friday.

Thanks for the reports/reviews and photos!

Enjoyed all the photos and reviews. Listened to some of the audio streams here & there.  Bay Area this time of year is just gorgeous.

Dave,  in your first foto of Swan stage ((Sunday, October 7, 2018 – 03:25 am))  the guy about 5 o'clock looks like HappyCat the mixlr DJ.
Could be him,  he seems to stream Bayarean events mainly.  Check out his mixlr page -- http://mixlr.com/happycat/

Look at the showreel section;  lots of txr stuff.  Same glasses,  hat,  hair.

Glad you and the multitudes had a great time.