Latest news with #HardlyStrictlyBluegrass
San Francisco Chronicle
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass adds more artists to 25th anniversary lineup
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has unveiled a new wave of performers for its 25th anniversary celebration in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, expanding on what is shaping up to be one of its most eclectic lineups to date. The latest additions to this year's three-day, multi-stage festival include Low frontman Alan Sparhawk performing with progressive bluegrass band Trampled By Turtles, folk trio I'm With Her and Los Angeles-based Chicano rock outfit the Altons. Other acts on the bill are Canadian singer-songwriter William Prince, Sudanese pop-funk artist Sinkane, Bay Area jam band ALO, San Francisco singer-songwriter Kelly McFarling, blues guitarist Jontavious Willis, Texas country legend Jimmie Dale Gilmore with the West Texas Exiles, and the harmony-driven indie-folk duo the Watson Twins. They join a previously announced slate that features Lucinda Williams, Courtney Barnett, Samara Joy, Reverend Horton Heat and the String Cheese Incident, all set to perform at the outdoor event, which runs Oct. 3-5. The festival remains free to the public — a hallmark of the San Francisco tradition since its inception in 2001. 'We had the best time performing at HSB on a gorgeous sunny day back in 2018,' I'm With Her said in a statement. 'There's nothing like a weekend of music in Golden Gate Park, and we can't wait to return this fall!' The second phase of the lineup was confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 6, following a medley of song previews streamed on the festival's website and app. To commemorate the milestone, organizers will release a photography and essay book titled 'Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at 25: The Big Twang!', featuring images by Jay Blakesberg and a foreword by Emmylou Harris — the only artist to have performed at every edition of the festival. (The writer of this article contributed interviews to the book.) '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,' said Creative Director Avery Hellman. The celebration extends beyond the park, too. On Sept. 13, singer Lyle Lovett is scheduled to join the San Francisco Symphony for a special benefit concert at Davies Symphony Hall. On the eve of the festival, a sold-out tribute to Emmylou Harris at the Masonic will feature performances by Patty Griffin, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle, among others. The 'Out of the Park' nighttime concert series will also return, with artists such as Patty Griffin, Nick Lowe and Watchhouse playing at venues throughout the Bay Area in support of the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Additional performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 Announced lineup in alphabetical order ALO Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles Albert Lee Buddy Miller Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes Courtney Barnett Dan Tyminski Band Emmylou Harris I'm With Her Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the West Texas Exiles Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band Jontavious Willis Kelly McFarling Lucinda Williams Margo Price Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets Patty Griffin Reverend Horton Heat Rodney Crowell Rosanne Cash Sam Bush Samara Joy Shawn Colvin Sinkane Steve Earle The Altons The String Cheese Incident The Watson Twins Watchhouse William Prince
San Francisco Chronicle
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 lineup: First wave includes Lucinda Williams, Courtney Barnett
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco's beloved free music festival, announced the first round of performers for its silver anniversary celebration. Marking its 25th year in Golden Gate Park on Oct. 3-5, the outdoor event revealed an eclectic slate of artists spanning genres far beyond its bluegrass origins. 'I'm excited to return to Golden Gate Park for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,' Barnett said in a statement. 'Last time I played there was with Kurt Vile in 2017, and we all had such a great time!' Other acts joining the lineup are Watchhouse, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Dan Tyminski Band, Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band, and Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes. The initial lineup was confirmed Wednesday, July 23, following a medley of song snippets streamed on the festival's website and app. 'For 25 years, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has been a testament to the power of music to bring people together — free, inclusive and rooted in the spirit of community,' said Sheri Sternberg, one of the founders and executive producer of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, in a statement. 'What started as a humble celebration of bluegrass has grown into a beloved San Francisco tradition that honors the past while embracing the future.' In honor of its milestone year, the festival is expanding its programming with a series of special events. On Sept. 13, Lyle Lovett is scheduled to join the San Francisco Symphony for a benefit concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Conducted by Edwin Outwater, the performance will support the Symphony's Music and Mentors program, which aids music education in local public schools. Another marquee event, a tribute concert to Emmylou Harris — who has performed at every Hardly Strictly Blueglass festival — will take place Oct. 2 at the Masonic in Nob Hill. Titled 'A Tribute to Emmylou Harris & 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,' the evening will feature performances by Harris herself alongside longtime collaborators including Allison Russell, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle. Buddy Miller will lead the house band, the Red Hot Dirt Ramblers. Proceeds will benefit Bonaparte's Retreat, Harris' foster-based dog rescue nonprofit. The 'Out of the Park' series will also return, with nighttime concerts across local venues benefiting the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Upcoming shows include Reverend Horton Heat at Sweetwater and Patty Griffin with Lowe at the Great American Music Hall. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Oct. 3–5, 2025 Initial Lineup Lucinda Williams Samara Joy Courtney Barnett Reverend Horton Heat Watchhouse Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets Dan Tyminski Band Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band The String Cheese Incident Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes Albert Lee Buddy Miller Emmylou Harris Margo Price Patty Griffin Rodney Crowell Rosanne Cash Sam Bush Shawn Colvin Steve Earle
San Francisco Chronicle
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass reveals first wave of artists for 25th year in Golden Gate Park
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco's beloved free music festival, announced the first round of performers for its silver anniversary celebration set to take place Oct. 3–5 in Golden Gate Park. Marking its 25th year, the festival revealed an eclectic slate of artists spanning genres far beyond its bluegrass origins. Headliners include singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, Australian indie star Courtney Barnett, jazz vocalist Samara Joy, jam band the String Cheese Incident and rockabilly greats Reverend Horton Heat. Other acts joining the lineup are Watchhouse, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Dan Tyminski Band, Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band, and Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes. In honor of its milestone year, Hardly Strictly is expanding its programming with a series of special events. On Sept. 13, Lyle Lovett will join the San Francisco Symphony for a benefit concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Conducted by Edwin Outwater, the performance will support the Symphony's Music and Mentors program, which aids music education in local public schools. Another marquee event, a tribute concert to Emmylou Harris — who has performed at every HSB festival — will take place Oct. 2 at the Masonic. Titled 'A Tribute to Emmylou Harris & 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,' the evening will feature performances by Harris herself alongside longtime collaborators including Allison Russell, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle. Buddy Miller will lead the house band, the Red Hot Dirt Ramblers. Proceeds will benefit Bonaparte's Retreat, Harris' foster-based dog rescue nonprofit. The 'Out of the Park' series will also return, with nighttime concerts across local venues benefiting the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Upcoming shows include Reverend Horton Heat at Sweetwater and Patty Griffin with Nick Lowe at the Great American Music Hall. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Oct. 3–5, 2025 Initial Lineup Lucinda Williams Samara Joy Courtney Barnett Reverend Horton Heat Watchhouse Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets Dan Tyminski Band Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band The String Cheese Incident Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes Artists performing at the Emmylou Harris Tribute also appearing at HSB Albert Lee Buddy Miller Emmylou Harris Margo Price Patty Griffin Rodney Crowell Rosanne Cash Sam Bush Shawn Colvin Steve Earle
San Francisco Chronicle
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
These young Oakland musicians got invited to Trump's Kennedy Center. Here's what they decided
When President Donald Trump assumed control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this year, many left-leaning artists on its lineup faced a defining choice: Stay on the bill and risk forever linking their name to the president, or cancel and forfeit the chance to voice dissent from Trump's own stage. Ahead of a Friday, July 18 concert at the flagship Washington D.C. venue, Oakland Rising faced that exact dilemma. Of the seven-person music collective, three members plan to perform, while four have opted to refrain. Each had to articulate their own principles while giving grace to others who made the opposite decision. What's more, these musicians are taking this consequential stand at very young ages — one of its members can't even drive yet. B DeVeaux, 24, called the Kennedy Center invitation 'a moment where you decide what side of history you're going to be on.' That kind of predicament would have seemed unimaginable just a year ago for a youth group that only first performed at last year's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival in San Francisco. Oakland Rising was formed under the aegis of two-year-old nonprofit Follow the Music in collaboration with Hardly Strictly. The goal, said Follow the Music Executive Director Phil Green, was to 'change the narrative' around Oakland by spotlighting the prodigious talent of its young musicians, who could cycle in and out of the group as a career stepping stone. Current members' styles range from folk to jazz, bluegrass to R&B. After national booking agents Jaime Kelsall and Bruce Solar of Paladin Artists saw clips of the collective's debut in Golden Gate Park, the pair began helping Oakland Rising secure other gigs, including at the Kennedy Center, where Paladin had a relationship that long predated the Trump administration. 'We're not Trumpers. We're the furthest thing from,' Solar told the Chronicle. But after Trump's takeover, he explained, 'It is not our choice to tell (Oakland Rising) to do it or not do it.' Oakland Rising isn't the first to face the to-perform-or-not quandary and justify its decision publicly. In February, when Trump appointed himself chair of the center's board, decrying its previous 'woke' programming, specifically targeting LGBTQ content. These moves turned what had long been a bipartisan cultural institution into a highly politicized stage and quickly spurred many artists to withdraw any association. In March, Lin-Manuel Miranda scrapped a run of 'Hamilton,' telling the New York Times, 'We're not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center.' Meanwhile, Oakland comedian, author and TV host W. Kamau Bell went ahead with a stand-up appearance, posing a moral question in defense of his choice via his Substack: 'Is not showing up in the face of evil always the moral thing to do?' Naima Nascimento, 15, pointed out that there's a big difference between those artists and her. They're famous, and she's not. 'If I don't do it, no one's really going to care, because no one knows who I am,' she explained. A celebrity's absence is leverage; hers would just mean she's sitting at home, influencing little. August Lee Stevens, 25, was the third musician to decide to perform, alongside Naima and DeVeaux. She recalled asking herself, 'What is the intention behind it, and what is it that we want to say?' Done thoughtfully, it was a huge opportunity to represent themselves, their art and Oakland positively, she concluded. 'There sometimes feels like such a gap between my voice and the rest of the world,' she said. 'If I'm being presented this stage where I can go and speak up and make some kind of difference or stand on what I believe in … then I personally thought that was a good opportunity to take.' Micaiah Dempsey, 21, was one of the Oakland Rising members who declined to perform at the Kennedy Center. 'I don't like the idea … of being censored as an artist,' she said. She sees her music as for the people, broadly defined, and 'I just couldn't picture how that would fit in to the Kennedy Center and what currently they were standing for,' referring to the administration's array of 'rash moves' and its policing of artists' free expression. The two sides' reasonings sound similar. Both want to use their art to help others. They just came to very different conclusions about the best means to that end. Dempsey, who notes she's 'proud' of her collaborators for their different but 'beautiful' decision, acknowledges the shared principles. 'There's a bridge, and one person went across it, and the other person said, 'You know what? I'll wait till you reach the other side,'' she said. For the three performing in D.C., their concert might feel different than any other — the momentous decision they've made, being inside the walls of an administration they oppose. 'We're just three Black people from Oakland,' said DeVeaux, who uses gender-neutral pronouns. 'Our music and who we are, simply being on that stage is offense enough to whatever (Trump) may think he's upholding.' DeVeaux has sung in all-white spaces before, they noted, thinking especially of a performance in Eugene, Ore., of a song they wrote called 'Queen' that's dedicated to dark-skinned women who've been told they're not good enough. Being outside of their echo chamber, they said, 'makes me go harder or makes me want to be more purposeful and more punchy.' Three days after the Kennedy Center gig, DeVeaux, Naima and Stevens are scheduled to open for Pulitzer Prize-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens — who in February canceled her own spring Kennedy Center gig — at Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Dempsey was philosophical about what the diverging experiences might mean for the collective. 'As artists, we have the right to protest in doing and not doing. … If (D.C.) ends up being an amazing opportunity for them, that was in their plan,' she said. 'I know my door is coming.'
San Francisco Chronicle
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lyle Lovett to join San Francisco Symphony for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebration
Country singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett will join the San Francisco Symphony and conductor Edwin Outwater for a special concert at Davies Symphony Hall this fall, marking the 25th anniversary of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. The performance, set to take place Sept. 13, will feature Lovett and his Acoustic Group alongside the Symphony in a tribute to the free Golden Gate Park music festival that has become a San Francisco institution since its 2001 inception. 'Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has been an important part of the cultural soul of San Francisco,' said San Francisco Symphony CEO Matthew Spivey in a statement. 'It has been a joyful celebration of music, community and the spirit.' Lovett, a four-time Grammy winner and genre-defying performer, has long blurred the boundaries of country, jazz, swing, gospel and folk. Known for his lyrical storytelling and wry stage presence, he has released 14 albums since his 1986 debut. His collaboration with the Symphony is expected to blend the intimacy of his acoustic sound with orchestral arrangements, offering a unique musical experience that honors both the spirit of bluegrass and the sophistication of symphonic performance. The evening will also honor Nancy Hellman Bechtle, the late arts patron and sister of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass founder Warren Hellman. Bechtle, who led the Symphony from 1987 to 2001, was a frequent performer at the festival and a passionate supporter of the city's cultural life. 'This first-ever collaboration brings the meadows of Golden Gate Park to the stage of Davies Symphony Hall,' said Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Executive Director John Caldon in a statement. 'It's a beautiful way to honor the legacy of our dear friend Nancy Hellman Bechtle — and an uplifting reminder that music, in all its forms, brings us together.'
