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SAN FRANCISCO — Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is such a gift.
It’s one weekend a year that thousands of music fans can leave their worries (and wallets) behind and gather to hear three days of free music in beautiful Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
No wonder so many turn out to enjoy this amazing present from venture capitalist/philanthropist Warren Hellman, who began hosting the free event in 2001 and kept it going annually until he died in December 2011. And it has continued since then, operated and funded by the Hellman Foundation.
With no admission and no tickets, it’s hard to figure out exactly how many people turn out each year. Estimates for the three-day attendance has been as high as 750,000 — only slightly less than the population as San Francisco itself.
With the price and a lineup that annually figures music icons, up and comers and stunning surprises (they don’t call it Hardly Strictly Bluegrass for nothing), it’s easy to understand why this has become the biggest annual music festival in Northern California — as well as one of the biggest in the world.
The festival kicked off with a sensational Day One bill on Friday, Oct. 6, with the music beginning around noon and scheduled to stretch until 7 p.m. The big attractions included bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss, legendary gospel/R&B singer Mavis Staples, mandolin great Chris Thile, Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham and so much more.
Yet, it was just the start. Over the full three-day run, the festival will host some 80 acts across six stages.
One of the big highlights from Friday was Chris Thile, the mighty mandolinist who was taping an episode of his popular radio show “Live From Here.” The California native, who is well known for his work with Nickel Creek and the Punch Brothers, delivered a great version of Radiohead’s “True Love Waits.”
. @christhile covers @radiohead "True Love Waits" at @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/vUvfgbuD2V
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 5, 2018
He’d also lead the band through a fun medley of new wave covers, going from Devo’s “Whip It” to Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” to Blondie’s “One Way or Another.”
Acoustic versions of new wave songs – one way or another, whip it, tainted love – by @christhile @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/YdDRo3QOp3
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 5, 2018
His set featured appearances by Hurray for the Riff Raff, Gaby Moreno and Buckingham, who is out playing solo shows after being unceremoniously booted from Fleetwood Mac earlier this year. Buckingham performs Oct. 9 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. (Show time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $65, www.ticketmaster.com.)
Staples was another highlight, which won’t surprise anyone who saw this accomplished vocalist perform at three previous Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festivals — in 2009, 2014 and 2016. Her voice was so powerful and soulful, captivating the large crowd that turned out to witness this legend in action.
Huge crowd for the amazing @mavisstaples at @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/9jh6XCwTEr
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 5, 2018
Mighty @mavisstaples at @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/DFkBnEK67B
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 6, 2018
Other acts on Friday’s bill included Patty Griffin, Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore with the Guilty Ones, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Langhorne Slim and the Lost At Last Band, the Mastersons and David Luning.
So good. @PattyGMusic at @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/dAC1up0DdC
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 5, 2018
Two greats – Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore – at @HSBFest pic.twitter.com/GOvyxigHoj
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) October 5, 2018
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass continues through Sunday. Music runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the festival grounds, which stretches through Hellman Hollow (formerly Speedway Meadows), Lindley and Marx meadows in Golden Gate Park.
Saturday’s best bets include Don Was and Friends (3-4 p.m.; Swan Stage), Los Lobos (4-5 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage), Jeff Tweedy (5:45-7 p.m.; Rooster Stage) and Ani DiFranco (6-7 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage).
The top picks for Sunday include Prairie Prince presents “Tommy” (11-11:45 a.m.; Banjo Stage), Booker T. Jones Stax Revue (3:50-5 p.m.; Banjo Stage), Roky Erickson (5:40-6:45 p.m.; Rooster Stage) and Ween (5:50-7 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage).
