The experts at keeping the stage moving
There are roughly 100 acts at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and each is worthy of a heartfelt introduction. But first, here is an introduction to three of the stalwart stage masters of ceremonies:
Paul Mann
City: Bolinas
Occupation: I take care of horses and sheep and donkeys, and run a few beef cattle on my daughter’s ranch (the Mann Ranch, which previously belonged to Warren Hellman). I guess I’m a cowboy.
Stage: Banjo. That’s the stage that has Steve Earle ending on Saturday night and Emmylou Harris ending on Sunday night.
Attire: A 1942 Stetson hat that someone gave me, a decorated Western shirt, Lee Riders, which I have worn since I was 12, and a pair of Blundstone Australian work boots made in Tanzania.
How did you get the stage host gig?
A: Warren and I were both fans of Hazel Dickens and one day he said, “Wouldn’t it be great to get Hazel Dickens to come out and play Golden Gate Park?” Six months later we had a show: Strictly Bluegrass. I told Warren he needed an emcee. I was thinking somebody like Utah Phillips. He said he had somebody in mind. The next time I saw him I said, “Well, who is the emcee?” and he said, “You are.”
Favorite backstage memory: Meeting Odetta. I was active in the civil rights movement and hers was a voice from that time. It was just an honor to meet her. And meeting Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, people who were on the AM radio that you could catch late at night in Bucks County, Pa., where I grew up.
Favorite introduction: I was introducing Odetta and it was overcast and cloudy and I introduced her as one of the voices that came through loud and clear and bursting the clouds of oppression and goddamned if the sun didn’t burst through the clouds at that point. Who are you excited to see this year? A: Emmylou and her whole gang, the stage crew people.
What’s a stage host insider factoid?
A: We know who the prima donnas are and who are the ones who just flow with it and get things done. We also know that some of the most difficult ones to work with are just nervous about going on and that is how they work that out.
Mary Tilson
City: Berkeley
Occupation: Regulatory manager for a small pharmaceutical firm that develops target therapies for cancer. I also host “America’s Back 40,” which is a lot of what you hear at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, on Sundays at 1 p.m. on KPFA-FM.
Stage: I used to work Arrow, but it is not happening this year so I will be at Bandwagon on Friday and Tower of Gold on Saturday.
Attire: Many vintage dresses,and cowboy boots ... a Scully Western shirt with piping and embroidery.
How did you get the stage host gig?
A: In the very early years, I used to book the local-talent stage. Then I was conscripted to be an emcee (in 2008).
Favorite backstage memory: Listening to a discussion with Steve Earle and the Milk Carton Kids about their respective collections of really nice old guitars.
Favorite introduction: At the HSB after Warren Hellman died, I paid tribute to him as Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely were on stage ready to play. A guitar fell over and Jimmie said something to the effect of, “Thanks, Warren. We know you’re listening.” Who are you excited to see this year? A: Any band I’m not familiar with, and Brandi Carlile, Lila Blue, Billy Bragg and Junior Brown.
What’s a stage host insider factoid?
A: Backstage is not as glamorous as you’d think. I have never seen any sex, drugs or rock ‘n’ roll at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.
Tim Lynch
City: Albany
Occupation: Event manager for UC Berkeley. I also host “Dead to the World” on Wednesday nights on KPFA. The first hour is Grateful Dead, and the second hour is Americana and jam rock.
Stage: All over the place, but primarily on Swan.
Attire: Aloha shirt or a radio station T-shirt and jeans.
How did you get the stage host gig?
A: I was working at KPIG radio when KPIG was running the emcees. (Started in 2008.)
Favorite backstage memory: Getting hugged by Mavis Staples.
Favorite introduction: The year the Giants were good for the first time. It came down to the last game on Sunday. Two of my favorite hippie jam bands were there. Everybody was listening on the radio backstage. Then a kid had gotten lost and that was terrifying. I came onstage and announced, “We’ve found the lost kid, the Giants have made the playoffs, it is 4:20 and, from the high country of Colorado, this is the Yonder Mountain String Band.” The roar of the crowd for that combination of things almost lifted me off the stage.
Who are you excited to see this year?
A: Sturgill Simpson for sure. Midnight North is a local band that will surprise a lot of people, and Lampedusa, which will have Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams and Buddy Miller all onstage at the same time.
What’s a stage host insider factoid?
A: What I have found out from talking to musicians is that this is not the greatest free music festival in the country. This is the greatest music festival in the world. Both Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle told me that separately.