HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS
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HSB 2005
It was another amazing line-up at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate park, with the very best of Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, old-time, and rock-n-roll. There were even more great artists this year, which made for some really difficult choices between the various stages. Fans and musicans were wandering back and forth to catch as many of the great acts as possible. A big thank you to Warren and Chris Hellman for picking up the tab once again. It's an unbelievably generous gift to the people of San Francisco, as well as visitors to the city (like me).
You can also see my 2003 and 2004 HSB pictures on this page.
*** Click here to access slideshows for each year ***
WARREN HELLMAN:
As I've said before, Warren and his wife Chris are amazingly generous. They pay the entire cost of this event. It's free to the public. The photos below are of Warren introducing Steve Earle on Saturday and Emmylou Harris on Sunday.
SAN FRANCISCO:
San Francisco is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I did a little sight-seeing on Friday before the festival. These shots were taken at Presidio Park looking out at the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, which were surrounded by fog at the time.
FRIDAY AT SLIM'S:
On Friday night, I went to see the fantastic Buddy Miller and his band at Slim's. Buddy was joined by Emmylou Harris and Jim Lauderdale for a few songs each. Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane, and Fats Kaplin gave us a tremendous opening set. It was a perfect start to a great weekend of music.
CHIP TAYLOR & CARRIE RODRIGUEZ:
Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez kicked off the festival with a great set. I live in Austin and had heard lots of good things about this duo, but I hadn't seen them live yet. I really enjoyed their performance.
PATTY GRIFFIN:
Patty Griffin sang several of her achingly beautiful songs. You know you're hearing something special when both Emmylou Harris and Joan Baez are in the audience listening too.
Emmylou watching Patty:
Joan backstage with Patty between their sets:
JOAN BAEZ:
Joan Baez is still singin' protest songs with a voice that's as clear and beautiful as it was 40 years ago. She performed new original songs, some of her old standards, as well as covers by other great folks on the festival lineup like Steve Earle and Gillian Welch.
DEL MCCOURY BAND:
Del McCoury and his band are always a class act. They played a high-energy set that had the crowd jumping. Jason Carter (fiddler) did double duty; he played later with Earl Scruggs.
DOC WATSON:
Forget about the fact that Doc Watson is blind or that he is 82 years old. This living legend is an amazing guitarist and performer by any standard. He was joined by banjo player David Holt and his grandson Richard Watson (not pictured).
BUDDY MILLER:
Buddy Miller is a brilliant singer, songwriter and guitarist. But he's also one of the coolest and nicest guys around. Julie stayed home in Nashville this year and was of course missed. Buddy, his band and the McCrary sisters tore it up anyway with a very powerful set.
Emmylou Harris singing with Buddy (photo taken by my friend Craig Williams):
Buddy backstage with Victoria Williams, Jim Lauderdale and Dave Alvin:
THE KNITTERS:
The Knitters - The X fans were happy campers. During their set, the established "festival etiquette" went straight out the window. It was the only time during the weekend when I saw people rushing the stage. It wasn't the biggest crowd (that honor went to Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Steve Earle). But this particular audience was, how should I put it, spirited?
Dave Alvin:
John Doe:
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE:
Jimmie Dale Gilmore was joined by a slightly different group of musicians this time. His regular guitarist Rob Gjersoe was there. Jimmie's son Colin was also on stage. And Eamon McLouglin from the Greencards sat in on fiddle. Then there was a guest rhythm section, but I didn't catch the names. They played a solid set and everyone looked like they were having a good time.
EARL SCRUGGS:
Earl Scruggs is a one-of-a-kind legend from the bluegrass world. It's always a privilege to watch him play. Earl had a bunch of ace musicians with him, including his son Randy on bass, and Jason Carter on fiddle. Mr. Scruggs just celebrated his 81st birthday.
STEVE EARLE:
Steve Earle closed the show on Saturday with his "Bluegrass Dukes" (Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Casey Driessen and Dennis Crouch). Steve is the only guy I know who can get away with singing protest songs at a bluegrass festival. I'm sure there are others, but I doubt they're performing in front of 50,000 people. You can see more photos of Steve in the "Songwriter Circle" section below.
[This concludes Saturday's performances]
THE WAYBACKS:
The Waybacks kicked off day 2 of the festival. While Saturday was stereotypical San Francisco with grey skies and fog rolling in, Sunday was warm, sunny and Red-Tailed hawks were flying overhead. The Waybacks played lots of fun songs and set the tone for a beautiful day. Darol Anger joined them on fiddle.
ELIZA GILKYSON:
Fellow Austinite Eliza Gilkyson sang several of her moving and poignant songs, signed some CD's at the merchandise tent, then hit the road for another gig in LA that night.
THE BE GOOD TANYAS:
I have enjoyed the music of Be Good Tanyas for quite awhile, but had yet to see them live. They're a terrific girl group from Vancouver, BC whose music is sometimes a little dark. But what the hell, I like it that way. And judging by the crowd they attracted here, lots of other folks do too.
Here are a few more nice close-ups of the ladies (photos taken by my friend Craig Williams):
TODD SNIDER:
Todd Snider is a nut . . . but in a good way. His songs are hilarious, and he had the crowd rolling with laughter.
KEVIN WELCH / KIERAN KANE / FATS KAPLIN:
Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin might be my new favorites. I saw them at HSB and Slim's last year, but I must admit there was a bit of a delayed reaction. The more I hear 'em, the more I like 'em. Extremely talented musicians and song craftsman. They're up there in the same league as Steve, Buddy, Julie, Emmylou, Gillian and David. But why should that be a surprise? I think they all live within a few miles of each other in Nashville.
GUY CLARK:
Guy Clark reminds me of a big oak tree. His face and songs sure tell a story. He was backed up by Verlon Thompson on guitar and Shawn Camp on fiddle.
SONGWRITER CIRCLE:
Dave Alvin, Steve Earle, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Verlon Thompson - All on one stage at the same time, swapping songs in rotation (4 each). There was an interesting dynamic and phenomenon between these heavyweights. I don't think they were nervous about performing their songs to the audience. But they did seem a little nervous around each other. That is, until the music started. Then, everyone seemed to relax and enjoy themselves while playing and listening to each other. It was a really cool experience.
Songwriters:
Steve Earle:
Dave Alvin:
Joe Ely:
Guy Clark:
Backstage:
ROSANNE CASH:
Rosanne Cash is one of those artists that I have listened to, bought her CD's, and respected for years. But I've never seen her perform live until now. Rosanne was backed by a solid band, including her husband-guitarist John Leventhal.
EMMYLOU HARRIS:
Emmylou Harris was once again the big closing act and queen of the festival. People crowded toward the main stage to soak in her beautiful music. I chose to hang back a little bit and not get caught up in the "mosh pit". Consequently, these photos are a little weak. Oh well, I enjoyed the performance. As an extra bonus, Emmylou had Gillian Welch and David Rawlings come out at the end and do some songs with her. I was really glad about that, because I had to miss their set on Saturday (which is rare for me). The crowds had swelled, and I was trapped at another stage watching Steve Earle. Such are the hard choices at HSB.
Warren Hellman introducing Emmylou:
Emmylou Harris & Buddy Miller:
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings:
Here are a few more from a different angle (photos by Craig Williams):
Final Note: This concludes the 2005 HSB Festival. After seeing all of the artists listed above, would you believe that it represents less than half of the total festival lineup? I don't know about you, but that blows my mind.
HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS - 2004
It was another mind-blowing year at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco. Those of you who were there know exactly what I'm talking about. For the rest of you, do yourself a favor and try to make it next year. Three days, four stages, a who's who of Americana, bluegrass, old-time, country, alt-country, folk and even a little rock-n-roll. And best of all, it's FREE !!! Thanks to Warren Hellman.
Except where noted, photos by Ron Baker 2004. You can also see my 2003 and 2005 HSB pictures on this page.
WARREN HELLMAN:
Warren Hellman and his wife Chris are the benefactors. Everyone else: The 50,000 plus fans, musicians, workers, police, and people of San Francisco are all the beneficiaries of the Hellmans’ extreme generosity. I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Warren and Chris over the weekend (Chris and I even did some dancing during Emmylou’s show). They are really good people.
- Warren #1 Introducing Emmylou Harris
- Warren #2 Cooling it during Emmylou’s set
- Warren #3 Me and Warren watching Gillian Welch earlier in the day
The Crooked Jades’ motto: "Old-Time is Not a Crime". Far from it. Once again, this terrific San Francisco band had the honor of opening up the festival. They played a really fun set and got everyone fired up for the rest of the weekend. Way to go guys and gals !!!
Lots of fun Texas swing from Hot Club of Cowtown.
I really like these guys. Which of course translates to "buy more CD’s".
Sometimes misspelled and not to be confused with the Christian folk artist by the same name (who happens to own the web domain), Jon Langford is a prime example of the diversity at this festival. Hell, he’s been a punk-rocker in The Mekons. I guess he falls somewhere in the "alt-country" genre. But if you read the bio on his website, you’ll see that he plays in various Chicago bands and crosses over the boundary lines. It’s all good.
Alison Brown and her band play a unique style of bluegrass with a cool jazz flavor. She got her musical start in San Diego where I currently live. Check out her website bio. Thank God she bagged her career as a bond analyst and investment banker !!!
Peter Rowan and Tony Rice are like rock stars in bluegrass clothing. The crowd really filled in for these guys. It was a great set.
Steve Earle came solo this time; The Dukes were on vacation. That’s alright, he made plenty of music on his own. Some people don’t agree with Steve’s politics (there weren’t many who disagree at this show), but there is no denying that he is one of the greatest singer-songwriters on the planet. I personally don’t agree with all of Steve’s views, however I do love everything he does musically. I can’t get enough of that.
Lots and lots of Buddy and Julie. They played another fantastic show, along with their great band: Phil Madeira on B3, accordion and guitar; Rick Plant on bass; Bryan Owings on drums. They had the whole gospel tent revival vibe going on, and the crowd went crazy !!!
Great Backup Singers (Ann and Regina McCrary):
Emmylou Harris Joined in for Some Songs:
Some Great Black & Whites of Buddy, Julie and Emmylou (by my friend Craig Williams):
These shots are from the show at Slim’s on Friday night before the Festival. Buddy, Julie, their great band and backup singers, plus special guests Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle. Emmylou sang four songs with the Millers, and Steve did two songs during their encore. It was right up there with the best live shows I’ve ever seen.
A few more shots from another show in LA. Buddy, Julie and Victoria Williams:
Laurie Lewis, along with Tom Rozum and the band, put on an excellent show. Great playing and singing. Darol Anger sat in with them on fiddle. It was a really nice start to the second day. Photos 6 & 7 by Craig Williams.
I didn’t actually see this band, so I can’t comment. But my friend Craig Williams liked them and provided the photos. I figured I might as well post them. Darol Anger sat in with these guys too. He was a very busy guy during the festival.
This is a young and very talented band that I’ve been listening to for awhile, but I had not seen them live yet. I could have sworn they were older and that they had a darker complexion. A very cool mix of gospel, soul, funk and blues. Photos 2-4 by Craig Williams.
I have been a fan of Claire Lynch for a long time, but this was my first time seeing her perform live. She is one of the best singers and musicians in the business. Claire and her band played an excellent set, and I got to visit with her afterwards. I also got to meet Hazel Dickens (see picture below). They came over and sat with me during the songwriter circle (Guy Clark, Steve Earle, etc.). Photos 4-7 by Craig Williams.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore and his band played a great show. They also had Buddy Miller sitting in with them for the set. Jimmie and Buddy have worked together quite a bit in the past. As an added bonus to the fine music, I had the pleasure of visiting with everyone backstage before and after the show. Thanks guys !!!
Guy Clark is a legendary singer-songwriter from my home state of Texas. I’ve been listening to his music for many years but have not had the opportunity to see him live. Living in Southern California, I honestly didn’t think I would ever get the chance. But the festival organizers threw another great surprise at us by adding Guy to the lineup. He also participated in a songwriter circle with Steve Earle, Jesse Winchester and David Olney. I was extremely fortunate to meet Guy before he went on stage (see photo below).
Old Crow Medicine Show is an old-time string band with a rock attitude. They are tight with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and have been touring with them on a regular basis. After I left the festival, I went out to see friends in the Chico/Paradise area. I caught another show there with Gillian, David and Old Crow at Chico State. It’s fun and sometimes raucous music that definitely gets your hands and feet tapping. All of the Old Crow photos were taken by my friend Craig Williams.
Gillian and David gave another one of their fine performances. They are always a favorite at this festival or anywhere they play. The crowd got really big during their set. Here’s another angle. I went and saw Gillian and Dave again, along with Old Crow Medicine Show, at Laxton Auditorium on the Chico State campus. It occurred to me that I’ve probably seen them play live more than any other band or artist (not counting a few of my local friends in San Diego). I’m guessing it’s been about 20 times over the years. And because it has been spaced out over several years, they never get old. Of course new songs help with that too. Here are a bunch of shots from their performance:
Del McCoury was a new addition to the festival lineup this year. They are probably the tightest bluegrass band in the business. Having two sons in the group along with two other long-term members definitely helps. It was nice to see these guys again.
Shots from another show in San Diego:
Emmylou Harris was the closer once again. Her music is always the perfect way to end this fabulous festival. Emmylou’s voice and words tug at my heart and never fail to get an emotional response.
BACKSTAGE AND OTHER STUFF:
STRICTLY BLUEGRASS 2004 TROOPER OF THE YEAR:
This woman gets the “Strictly Bluegrass 2004 Trooper of the Year Award”. She broke her foot on the way to the festival, went to the ER, and came back for BOTH days !!! In the photo she was waiting for her friends to come pick her up after the Buddy & Julie Miller show. I saw her in the same spot the next day for Gillian Welch and others. I’m sorry to say that I don’t remember her name, but she definitely left an impression.
GETTING THERE:
On my way up to San Francisco from San Diego, I took a detour over to the coast and went through Big Sur and Monterey. It had been awhile since I’ve seen that area. Very beautiful and worth the extra miles.
LEAVING THERE:
After the festival was over, I took off driving north. I went through the Humbolt Redwoods State Park and then up to Eureka and Arcata. Next I drove east over the Trinity Mountains, passing by Whiskeytown Lake, through Redding, and down to the Chico-Paradise area to visit my friend Jim and his family. While there, I went to see Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Old Crow Medicine Show at Chico State University. On the drive back to San Diego, I saw the start of a fire in the mountains between the Napa Valley and I-5. I found out from news reports later that it spread fast and got really big. The winds were very heavy that day.
The Drive-Through Tree:
A Pond, Some Geese and Wild Turkeys:
Humbolt Redwoods State Park:
Whiskeytown Lake:
Paradise & Chico:
HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS - 2003
The following photos are from an outstanding festival in San Francisco called Strictly Bluegrass. They have actually amended the name to "Hardly Strictly Bluegrass" to be more accurate, since there are additional styles represented (e.g Americana, country, alt-country, folk, blues and rock-n-roll). But the core is still bluegrass and old-time music. Three days and three stages. This year's lineup was unbelievable, but what's even more amazing is that it was FREE !!! One very rich and generous man picks up the tab for the whole weekend. Warren Hellman is pictured below. What a guy !!
All photos by Ron Baker 2003. You can also see my 2004 and 2005 HSB pictures on this page.
WARREN HELLMAN:
- Warren #1 Warren introducing Emmylou Harris on the big stage . . .
- Warren #2 and Gillian Welch on the middle stage
- Warren #3 There's nothing like the word "Free" . . .
- Warren #4 to attract a big crowd
THE FLATLANDERS: JOE ELY, JIMMIE DALE GILMORE, BUTCH HANCOCK:
( www.theflatlanders.com )
This is a very cool old-time San Francisco band, which I became aquainted with via two of it's members (Lisa and Stephanie) who also play in an all-girl bluegrass group: Stairwell Sisters
BUTCH HANCOCK:
JUSTIN EARLE (Steve's Kid):
HOT RIZE (featuring Tim O'Brien ):
HAZEL DICKENS:
DALE ANN BRADLEY & COON CREEK ( www.daleann.com ):
JERRY & TAMMY SULLIVAN:
Note: Different spelling used on website URL
WOODY GUTHRIE TRIBUTE (Various Artists):
PARADISE, CALIFORNIA:
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