Festival lineup offers 3 packed days
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass might be the greatest free music festival in the world — if you know what you’re doing. With over 500,000 people expected to attend the three-day concert in Golden Gate Park over the weekend, it’s crucial to know how to get there, what to bring and where to go. We have all the essential information below, including the lineup with stage times, basic rules and your best transportation bets. Oh, and don’t forget: layers! FRIDAY, OCT. 6
Banjo Stage (Hellman Hollow) Noon. Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands 1:15 p.m. Dry Branch Fire Squad 2:35 p.m. Billy Bragg 3:55 p.m. The Bo-Keys 5:30 p.m. T Bone Burnett Rooster Stage (Marx Meadow) Noon. Mega Bog 1 p.m. Jesse Harris 2:10 p.m. Big Thief 3:20 p.m. The Felice Brothers 4:30 p.m. First Aid Kit 5:45 p.m. Conor Oberst Swan Stage (Lindley Meadow) Noon. The Sam Chase & the Untraditional 1:15 p.m. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors 2:35 p.m. Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express 3:55 p.m. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 5:30 p.m. Brandi Carlile Bandwagon Stage (Hellman Hollow) 12:15 p.m. Molsky’s Mountain Drifters 1:30 p.m. Tracy Blackman 2:50 p.m. Foy Vance 4:25 p.m. Terri Hendrix with Lloyd Maines
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
Porch Stage (John F. Kennedy Drive at Transverse Drive) 11 a.m. Reed Mathis and Electric Beethoven Noon. Blackfoot Gypsies 1:10 p.m. The Nth Power 2:25 p.m. Midnight North 3:40 p.m. Rising Appalachia 4:55 p.m. HSB Blues Revue 6:10 p.m. Robyn Hitchcock Banjo Stage 11 a.m. Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn 12:10 p.m. Tim O’Brien Band 1:25 p.m. Peter Rowan - Dharma Blues featuring Jack Casady 2:45 p.m. Alison Brown and the Compass Bluegrass All Stars 4:15 p.m. Gillian Welch 5:45 p.m. Steve Earle and the Dukes La Victrola Stage (Hellman Hollow) 11:40 a.m. Howard Wiley 12:55 p.m. TBD 2:15 p.m. Willie Watson 3:45 p.m. TBD 5:05 p.m. Henry Rollins Bandwagon Stage 12:15 p.m. Sam Outlaw 1:30 p.m. Nancy and the Lambchops 2:50 p.m. Tyler Childers 4:25 p.m. Colter Wall Rooster Stage 11 a.m. The Go to Hell Man Band 12:30 p.m. Gurf Morlix 1:35 p.m. Bill Anderson 2:40 p.m. Lillie Mae 3:40 p.m. Dan Penn 4:45 p.m. Buddy Miller with the War and Treaty 6 p.m. Dan Auerbach Towers of Gold Stage (Lindley Meadow) 11 a.m. The Brothers Comatose 12:20 p.m. Moonalice 1:45 p.m. The Wood Brothers 3:20 p.m. Jamey Johnson 5 p.m. Robert Earl Keen Swan Stage 11:40 a.m. Pancho Sanchez 1 p.m. Justin Townes Earle 2:30 p.m. Ozomatli 4:10 p.m. Patty Griffin 6 p.m. Sturgill Simpson Hardly Strictly Silent Disco (Hellman Hollow) featuring Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist, Steve Fabus, Deejay Theory, Tom Thump, DJ Phleck, DJ Tobiwan, Motion Potion, U9lift
SUNDAY, OCT. 8
Porch Stage 11 a.m. Jade Jackson 12:05 p.m. Marco and the Polos 1:15 p.m. Sisters Morales 2:25 p.m.Well-Known Strangers 3:40 p.m. Weyes Blood 4:55 p.m. Ghost of Paul Revere 6:10 p.m. Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer Banjo Stage 11 a.m. Sons of the Soul Revivers 12:15 p.m. Hot Tuna Electric 1:35 p.m. Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones 2:55 p.m. The Flatlanders 4:15 p.m. John Prine 5:45 p.m. Emmylou Harris La Victrola Stage 11:45 a.m. Jello Biafra 1:05 p.m. Ciaran Lavery 2:25 p.m. Tyler Childers 3:45 p.m. Will Durst 5:15 p.m. Jello Biafra Bandwagon Stage 12:20 p.m. Lila Blue 1:40 p.m. The Brothers Gibb 3 p.m. Norbert Putnam and Friends 4:25 p.m. TBA Rooster Stage 11 a.m. The Secret Sisters 12:10 p.m. Kevin Welch, Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin 1:25 p.m. Aaron Lee Tasjan 2:45 p.m. Lampedusa featuring Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Lucinda Williams 4:05 p.m. Bob Mould Band 5:30 p.m. Junior Brown Swan Stage 11 a.m. Poor Man’s Whiskey 12:30 p.m. Randy Newman 2:10 p.m. Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real 3:55 p.m. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile (and the Sea Lice) 5:50 p.m. Lucinda Williams Towers of Gold Stage 11:45 a.m. Jon Langford’s Four Lost Souls 1:20 p.m. Big Freedia 2:55 p.m. Ornette’s Prime Time Band Reunion 4:50 p.m. Cheap Trick
GETTING THERE
Public transportation to Golden Gate Park is highly recommended. Several roads in the park will be closed during the festival, including John F. Kennedy, Transverse and Middle West drives. The designated ride-sharing, drop-off and pick-up location is Balboa Street and 30th Avenue.
Muni is likely the best bet. Those heading to the north side of the park from downtown should take the 5-Fulton bus (or the 5L, which should be a tad faster) that picks up riders at McAllister and Larkin streets, one block up from the Civic Center BART Station. Drop-off is at 30th Avenue and Fulton Street.
For those who plan to take the train to bus, or south to north, the Muni Metro N-Judah line provides access to the Sunset District side of the park. Festivalgoers can pick up the N-Judah next to the Caltrain station at Fourth and King streets — or at any of the downtown BART/Muni Metro stations — and take it to any number of stops adjacent to the park.
Muni lines 1,5, 7, 21, 28, 29, 31 and 38 will also get you within walking distance of the festival site.
Bicycling is also a great option. There are four main bicycle parking areas; three are self-service bike racks and one is valet. Once you’re there ...
Though many park roads will be closed to the public, festival organizers expect that the shuttle service within the park will be running as usual. Check the festival’s official online map for stop locations. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is a familyfriendly festival, but children and leashed dogs should be comfortable with very large crowds, loud music and extreme weather conditions.
ONLINE
For a complete schedule and more information, go to www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com. Acts on select stages can also be livestreamed on the site. A free mobile app features the full schedule, map, playlist and more.
BASIC RULES
No smoking. No busking. No camping. No solicitation. No saving spaces. Coolers, small blankets and short-backed chairs are allowed.
EAT AND DRINK
No alcohol will be for sale in the park; however, alcohol is allowed as per park rules: no hard alcohol or glass allowed; beer and wine in non-glass containers. Food vendors will be on site.