One of the many festivals that I have not had the opportunity to visit YET is one that transpires in California in Golden Gate Park called Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. These last two years I took more time away from the keyboard to focus on personal issues and get a new vehicle so I CAN get to more music functions on the east and west coast.
Back in 2001 a businessman named Warren Hellman began this festival, originally calling it Strictly Bluegrass. He intended to create a HUGE FREE PARTY for his community, and in the years to come, he actually turned down HUGE investment opportunities from companies that wanted to advertise there.
Now in 2024 Warren Hellmann has long since passed away ( 2011 ) however his foundation still funds this annual event held in the first weekend in October.
In 2004, they added the name HARDLY to the title, so they could add “non Bluegrass acts” to the roster. Here is the story of how the entire ordeal transpired:
In 2001 he originally had two specific artists in mind to headline this gig..Emmylou Harris and Hazel Dickens. Well, many of you know for a fact that Emmylou has always been like Sturgil Simpson and many others, in that her sound and entire show changed.
Initially, he thought he was getting the Nash Ramblers which was Bluegrass, however she showed up with a band called Spyboy, which had a New Orleans rhythm section! That prompted his decision to add the word “Hardly” to the name a few years later in 2004.
The fact that Hazel Dickens played this festival every year from 2001 until her death in 2011 is a testimony to the importance of this festival. She initially refused to play this festival for political reasons, but chose to play it anyway.
Present day in 2024, this festival is underway this weekend, and you can watch the entire live stream on YouTube OR RIGHT HERE on this very website article. We will include a festival map and much more, just like we do for a LONG LIST of festivals each year.
Also this weekend I have news from my friends over at North Springs Music Festival and also from the Hillberry Music Festival. There is always something going on over at Gary Hayes Country!