October 4 – 6, 2024 | Hellman Hollow – Golden Gate Park
by Dave Golden
An estimated 750,000 fans flocked to Golden Gate Park, braving one of San Francisco’s hottest weekends in years, to enjoy three days of live music on six stages. The beloved annual event, originally launched in 2001 as ‘Strictly Bluegrass,’ marked its 24th season by showcasing a diverse range of performers, from bluegrass stalwarts to rock legends. Regular festival fixtures such as Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Dry Branch Fire Squad, and Alison Brown graced the stages once again, delighting the crowd with their signature sounds.
Over the years, the festival has evolved beyond its bluegrass roots, and this year’s lineup featured a wide spectrum of genres. Performers included rhythm and blues and gospel powerhouse Mavis Staples, indie rockers Sleater-Kinney, punk poet legend Patti Smith, and the experimental Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha, whose unique fusion of traditional sounds captivated the audience.
Making her first appearance at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Molly Tuttle, a Palo Alto native, shared how she grew up attending the festival. Tuttle, along with her band Golden Highway, delivered an energetic set on the Banjo Stage on Friday. On Saturday, she returned to the stage, this time joining Steve Earle’s band for a rousing performance that closed out the day’s events on the Banjo Stage.
The festival’s grand finale came on Sunday evening with Emmylou Harris, a beloved figure who has been a part of the Hardly Strictly tradition since the very beginning. Harris delivered a soulful set to close out the Banjo Stage, leaving fans with a fitting end to a memorable weekend in Golden Gate Park.
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