Hardley Strictly Bluegrass 17

Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Ca.

Photos and Review By Joseph F. Carney III, EarthMusic Photography

On a cool fall morning, the city streets are alive with music fans headed from every direction towards Hellman Hollow, Golden Gate Park for the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival. As folks move into the beautiful park, it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary festival. The first thing you notice is the diversity in the crowd, Everyone is here. All coming together in this the 50th Anniversary of the Summer Of Love, to witness Warren Hellman's dream of having a free bluegrass festival in San Francisco.

Nestled in the trees and fields, a weekend crowd of around 750,000 music fans moved smoothly, had picnics, sipped wine, played frisbee, and danced amongst the flags, totems and bubbles. 

The Augustines at The Independent

It's fortunate that The Augustines, a band that was recently on the verge of calling it quits, managed to find their way to recording their sophomore album, "Augustines." This past Monday night saw them in top form as Billy McCarthy (lead vocals & guitar), Rob Allen (drums) and Eric Sanderson (bass, keys & guitar) rolled through San Francisco with a stop at The Independent in San Francisco.

Where there's smoke.....there's fire

The old adage, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” was confirmed this past weekend as the band, Dragon Smoke pulled into San Francisco for a stop at The Independent, one of the best venues in the city to enjoy a show. Known for it’s excellent light and sound, it was a perfect evening with one of the finest bands working in New Orleans (or anywhere else for that matter). Dragon Smoke delivered one of those elusive performances one always hopes to see and hear once in a while. One that is perfectly paced, that has plenty of dynamic and emotional range and delivered by a band where one can sense they are right there…in the moment….at the top of their game. Played to a packed sold out house, the band played until way past midnight and the crowd responded in kind; loudly expressing their joy and satisfaction.

Tea Leaf Green at 20th Century Theater w Minus the Bear

Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco, comprising Josh Clark (guitar and vocals), Trevor Garrod (keyboards, vocals, guitar, and harmonica), Reed Mathis (bass guitar and vocals), Scott Rager (drums and percussion), and Cochrane McMillan (percussion). TLG is currently on a national tour and playing several festivals this summer including Allgood and High Sierra. Last two photos are Minus the Bear from Seattle. 

Images by Doug Siegel