What would you pay to see dozens of great live acts, hailing from a wide range of musical genres, perform in one of the most beautiful historic settings in all of Northern California?
Probably a lot, right?
Well, just keep your wallet right in your pocket, music lover, because we’re talking about the annual free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival.
This year’s three-day event, set for Oct. 4-6 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, once again offers a mind-blowing lineup of musical talent, extending from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists and acclaimed indie-rock acts to blues and R&B greats. And, as per usual, there will be a goodly number of country, folk and, of course, bluegrass musicians performing as well.
And admission won’t cost you a dime.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get the most out of the festival. So here are a dozen of must-see acts scheduled for the 2024 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. The Music starts 1 p.m. Oct. 4, and 11 a.m. Oct. 5-6. For set times and other information, visit hardlystrictlybluegrass.com.
Oct. 4
Let’s kick off our list with the act that surely caught a lot of people’s eyes when the lineup first came out. Was it a misprint or could these punk/indie-rock icons really be playing this event? Whoa. We did not see that coming. Talk about underscoring the “hardly” in Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Yet, we absolutely adore the booking and can’t wait to hear Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein rocking their old classics as well as new tunes from this year’s “Little Rope” album on Day 1 of the festival. Details: 4:45 p.m. Oct. 4; Swan Stage.
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway
It will be yet another nice homecoming for this rising bluegrass star, who last year sold out two shows at the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park — just a stone’s throw or so away from where she grew up in Palo Alto. Tuttle is an amazing musician who has twice won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year award, and a really solid vocalist as well. She and her Golden Highway band have also nabbed the last two Grammy Awards for best bluegrass album — in 2023 for “Crooked Tree” and in 2024 for “City of Gold.” Details: 4:05 p.m., Banjo Stage. (Note: the band also performs with Steve Earle 5:45 p.m. Oct. 5 on the Banjo Stage.)
Cat Power
The adventurous singer-songwriter has something really cool in store for fans this time through town. She’ll be performing from “Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert,” her new live album that re-creates an iconic Bob Dylan gig from May 1966. Unlike that original show — which, as it turns out, Dylan actually performed at the Manchester Free Trade Hall although the location was misidentified during the bootlegging process — Cat Power actually record her version at Royal Albert Hall in London. Details: 5:55 p.m., Towers of Gold Stage.
Glen Hansard
The talented Irishman remains best known for his stellar work in the 2007 film “Once,” in which he co-starred with Markéta Irglová in a touching tale of two struggling musicians in Dublin (Ireland, that is). Hansard and Irglová’s memorable duet from the film — “Falling Slowly” — went on to earn an Oscar for best original song. He’s also crafted music as part of the Frames and Swell Season as well as during a solo career that includes 2015’s “Didn’t He Ramble,” which earned a Grammy nod for best folk album. Details: 5:50 p.m., Banjo Stage.
Oct. 5:
Mavis Staples
It’s straight-up legend time, as this powerhouse R&B/gospel vocalist — who first came to fame with The Staple Singers in the ‘50s — gets ready to amaze listeners with a songbook that includes such offerings as “I’m Just Another Soldier,” “Handwriting on the Wall” and “Respect Yourself.” This is your chance to see a woman who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame and Gospel Hall of Fame. She’s also a Grammy winner and Kennedy Center Honoree. So, seriously, just don’t miss this one. Details: 4:05 p.m., Banjo Stage.
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
The two absolute treasures of Americana/roots/country music are out on the concert trail supporting the newly released collaborative effort “Texacali.” (The album’s title is a nod to the two musicians’ origins, with Gilmore hailing from Texas and Alvin being a Californian.) This show, which finds the two icons playing with The Guilty Ones band, is one that longtime HSB vets will surely search out on Day 2. Details: 3:50 p.m., Swan Stage.
Oakland Rising
The East Bay ensemble, featuring a number of young and up-and-coming artists, is set to make its Hardly Strictly Bluegrass debut on Day 2 of the festival. The lineup includes MeloDious (a sibling act that has already performed at several local festivals), Ayo Brame (a 17-year-old saxophonist who recently sold out two shows at Yoshi’s in Oakland), August Lee Stevens (a vocalist who is receiving acclaim for the debut EP “Better Places”) and other Bay Area musicians. Details: noon, Arrow Stage.
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Award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu jazzing it up with Symphony San Jose
Haley Heynderickx
The Stockton native, who was raised in Oregon, is a talented indie-folk artist who has charmed fans with a number of EPs as well as the 2018 full-length debut, “I Need to Start a Garden,” which received positive reviews from Pitchfork, NPR and other outlets. She is finally set to return with a follow up — dubbed “Seed of a Seed” — on Nov. 1. Details: 2:55 p.m., Towers of Gold Stage.
Oct. 6:
Patti Smith
She’s an all-time great, one who has been making stunningly powerful music now for nearly 50 years. Yes, that’s right — “Horses,” Smith’s iconic full-length studio debut, came out way back in 1975. So, hopefully she’ll kick off the album’s milestone anniversary celebration a bit early by playing such classics as “Free Money,” “Redondo Beach” and, of course, “Gloria” in Golden Gate Park. Details: 4:50 p.m., Towers of Gold Stage.
Big Star’s Radio City
Speaking of anniversaries, fans of the highly influential power-pop outfit Big Star can turn out to the band celebrate “Radio City” turning a half-century old this year. “Radio City,” Big Star’s sophomore full-length, features such fan faves as “O My Soul,” “Back of a Car” and “I’m in Love with a Girl.” The tunes will be handled by an amazing group of players — Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Chris Stamey (The dB’s) and Pat Sansone (Wilco). Details: 2:05 p.m., Swan Stage.
Aoife O’Donovan
The superb vocalist, who remains best known for her work in the string act Crooked Still, is out on the road in support of her latest Yep Roc Records release, “All My Friends.” She’ll be joined by the all-star progressive bluegrass outfit Hawktail, featuring bassist Paul Kowert, mandolinist Dominick Leslie, fiddler Brittany Haas and guitarist Jordan Tice, as well as by the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Details: 3:50 p.m., Banjo Stage.
Bobby Rush
Don’t miss your chance to witness true blues music royalty when this 90-year-old Arkansas native hits the stage. The vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, who ran in the same circles as Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Etta James, Muddy Waters and other legends back in the ‘50s, is a member of both the Blues Hall of Fame and Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. Also, showing the value of patience and persistence, Rush won his first-ever Grammy in 2017 — at the age of 83 — when “Porcupine Meat” was named best traditional blues album. Since then, Rush has won trophies in that same category for 2021’s “Rawer than Raw” and in 2024 with “All My Love for You.” Details: 2:20 p.m. Banjo Stage)
