from San Francisco to your screen

Since its inception in 2001, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (HSB) has been a staple on the Americana and roots music calendar. HSB was founded by Warren Hellman, a San Francisco venture capitalist, and is held every year in Golden Gate Park. Thanks to Hellman's generosity, it is a free festival and thanks to his love of music – he was an avid banjo player – it brings a variety of quality acts for attendees to enjoy. Hellman died in 2011, but made provision for future funding in his will, and the Hellman family has continued to run the festival ever since, even virtually for two Covid years. This year's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass takes place starting tomorrow, October 4th, 5th and 6th, 2024.

While fans from all over the world come to HSB, many of the festival acts can be seen – also free of charge – via the HSB webcast on HSB TV. The stages that will be webcast are Banjo, Rooster and Swan. and towers of gold. For those of us east of the Atlantic this can mean a pretty late night, but this is mitigated by the fact that HSB opens every day at 7pm Pacific time (3am for the UK and 4am Clock CST) closes. Stage times have now been released so music fans traveling to the West Coast can start planning their days and the rest of us can make our fantasy plans.

So what's going on? Like all good festivals, HSB24 begins with a clash, with Jessica Pratt simultaneously performing a tribute to Lucinda Williams (Songs From A Gravel Road) with Chuck Prophet, Kelly Willis, Steve Earle and Ismay; The latter is Hellman's granddaughter and leader of Williams' tribute act The Lake Charlatans. Other highlights on Friday include IBMA award winner Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, the Milk Carton Kids and Cat Power with their Dylan '66 show.

Saturday's bill would see Buddy Miller host his Cavalcade of Stars on the Rooster Stage (this year the Red Dirt Boys, Jobi Ricco, Teddy Thompson, Dom Flemons and Carlene Carter, as well as the legendary Mr Miller himself) with the promise of guest appearances . Other big names include Steve Earle, Mavis Staples, Alison Brown, Robyn Hitchcock and Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

Finally Sunday: Finished as always by Emmylou Harris (who may or may not be on the webcast), followed by Aoife O'Donovan with Hawktail, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Brandy Clark, Patti Smith and AJ Lee & Blue Summit.

It's tradition for guests to stop by with their friends throughout the festival, so you never know who might show up where. Here is a link to the full program and, as a foretaste, a video of Carrie Rodriguez with David Pulkingham on guitar from 2023.