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Everything about Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is big.
First and foremost are the crowds, with the estimated three-day attendance typically coming in at more than 500,000 for this annual free festival.
Then there’s the lineup, which is big both in talent and in sheer numbers. More than 80 artists are line up for this year’s event, Oct. 5-7 in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
That number includes some longtime favorites, such as Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Patty Griffin, who are once again set to perform at HSB for their faithful fans. But the festival also features many other big attractions, including some who are making their Hardly Strictly debuts.
The following are some of our top picks, slanted heavily toward what’s new and novel this year. For more information, visit www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.
Oct. 5
Ana Tijoux
The French-Chilean musician first gained attention as the MC of the hip-hop outfit Makiza during the late 1990s, achieving further success with her collaboration with Julieta Venegas on 2006’s “Eres para mi.” She’s been nominated three times for the Grammy Award for best Latin rock, urban or alternative album, most recently for “Vengo” in 2015. (Performing 12:30-1:15 p.m.; Swan Stage.)
The Greyboy Allstars
It’s going to get funky when this soul-jazz outfit takes the stage. The band definitely lives up to its “Allstars” tag, with a cast that includes such sensational players as saxophonist Karl Denson and keyboardist Robert Walter. (3:05-3:55 p.m.; Swan Stage)
Mavis Staples
OK, so this recommendation doesn’t quite meet the “new and novel” criteria, given that Staples is (thankfully) becoming somewhat of a Hardly Strictly Bluegrass regular. But we’ll make a exception in the case of this legendary gospel-soul artist, who first came to fame as a member of The Staple Singers in the 1950s. Her performance at the 2016 festival was incredibly powerful and we expect this return engagement to be just as mesmerizing. (4:15-5:05 p.m.; Banjo Stage)
Trampled by Turtles
Make sure to check out the band with the best name on the bill (or, really, pretty much any bill). Plus, a trip to this terrapin station presents listeners with a chance to hear a pretty cool blend of bluegrass, folk and rock sounds. (5:45-7 p.m.; Rooster Stage)
Oct. 6
Don Was and Friends
Was is a music icon, who first gained attention with the funk-rock troupe Was (Not Was). Then he went on to become a hugely successful record producer and eventually landed the job as president of the legendary Blue Note jazz label. No word yet on who his “Friends” are for HSB, but expect some real-deal players. After all, we’re talking about a guy who has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones over the years. (3-4 p.m.; Swan Stage)
Los Lobos
Yeah, so the wolves are no strangers to this festival. By our count, the band has played Hardly Strictly at least three times before. But spending an hour listening to David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas and (sometimes) Louie Pérez trade guitar licks in Golden Gate Park sounds pretty ideal. (4-5 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage)
Jeff Tweedy
Not sure how the Wilco frontman will use his time onstage. He could use it to perform from his solo album, ironically titled “Together at Last,” or maybe to play material from Tweedy (his project with son Spencer Tweedy). And the hipsters in the crowd will go absolutely bonkers if he does an Uncle Tupelo cut or two. We’ll basically take anything we can get from this acclaimed singer-songwriter, but — if requests are being taken — I would really like to hear “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.” (5:45-7 p.m.; Rooster Stage)
Ani DiFranco
It’s hard to overstate the impact that this incredible artist has had on modern day music. Of course, there’s the purely music side of the equation, with DiFranco having influenced and inspired legions of young singer-songwriters to pick up guitars and give it a go at open mic nights and coffeehouses around the globe. Yet, it also has to do with her fierce independence on the business side of the equation, paving a path for generations of other DIY musicians to follow. (6-7 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage)
Oct. 7
Prairie Prince presents “Tommy”
The accomplished drummer, known for his work with the Tubes, Jefferson Starship and other Bay Area bands, leads a group of musicians in what is being billed as a “faithful performance” of The Who’s ‘Tommy.’” Of course, that 1969 masterwork was a double-LP that stretched about 75 minutes in length. So, not sure how “faithful” a rendition fans can expect in just a 45 minute set. (11-11:45 a.m.; Banjo Stage)
Booker T. Jones Stax Revue
The legendary Hammond B3 player, who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, has worked with everyone from Ray Charles and Willie Nelson to Eric Clapton and Bill Withers over the years. He’s best known for his time as the leader of Booker T. and the MG’s, the amazing soul music outfit that collaborated with Otis Redding, Albert King and other mighty talents for the Stax Records label. (3:50-5 p.m.; Banjo Stage)
Roky Erickson
No true psychedelic-rock fan would want to miss the chance to this legendary ‘60s figure perform in – of all places? – Golden Gate Park. He was a founding member of the pioneering psychedelic act The 13th Floor Elevators, which gave the world 2½ minutes of sheer acid/garage-rock genius in the form of 1966’s “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” (5:40-6:45 p.m.; Rooster Stage)
Ween
You either get Ween or you don’t, right? Its smart-alecky brand of humor can leave some cold, while sending others into fits of hysteria. And not everyone digs the group’s dizzying, genre-hopping musical style, which goes from punk to country to metal to jam-rock without any discernIble rhyme or reason. But suffice it to say that you won’t see anything else at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass quite like this happy head-scratcher of a group, led by Gene and Dean Ween. (5:50-7 p.m.; Towers of Gold Stage)
