Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Adds The Altons, William Prince, Kelly McFarling & More To 25th Anniversary Lineup

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is gearing up for its 25th anniversary, and the festival is extending its lineup with Alan Sparhaw with Trampled by Turtles, I’m With Her, The Altons, William Prince, Sinkane, All, Kelly McFarling, Jontavious Willis and more. The three-day, multi-stage festival returns to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from Oct. 3 to 5.

“We had the best time performing at HSB on a gorgeous sunny day back in 2018,” I’m With Her said in a statement. “There’s nothing like a weekend of music in Golden Gate Park and we can’t wait to return this fall!”

Additional performers for this year’s festival will be announced soon. As part of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’ 25th anniversary celebrations, the release of “Haa photo book and essays, “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at 25: The Big Twang!” will be available for purchase. Photos are taken by Jay Blakesberg and other photographers, with a foreword by Emmylou Harris and an afterword by Steve Earle, as well as essays by Aidin Vaziri, Frances Dinkelspiel, Sylvie Simmons and Tricia Hellman Gibbs.

“For the first time in our history, we have decided to put together a book to share the memories we have ade for the past 25 years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,” Avery Hellman, Creative Director of the book, said in a statement. “We spent months collecting our favorite photographs of performances and candid moments to share with our audience. This book really tells the story of our unique place in the world of live music; it is guaranteed to delight you, and revive any forgotten memories of HSB.”

The San Francisco Symphony and Lyle Lovett will also perform on Sept. 13 to honor the memory of Nancy Hellman Bechtle.