Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco is one of the largest, free, and beloved music festivals in the country celebrating American roots music, announces its first participants in this year’s Let The Music Play On, led by returning artists Alison Brown, John Doe, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Yola, and first-time performer Sierra Ferrell. To keep community spirit high amid an unprecedented year, Hardly Strictly will become a global celebration, streaming new performance footage, archival sets, and fan memories October 2nd – 4th.
The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass production team traveled to U.S. cities rich in music history to capture performances and interviews, filmed without any spectators, in intimate local settings and historic venues. Music, a source of hope that speaks to the hearts of individuals when language fails, has the unique ability to overcome the barriers of cross-cultural divides. It is a gift that can bring communities together when it seems that hope is lost. The festival is striving to keep the ten pillars of community, joy, creativity, collaboration, freedom, peace, love, respect, gratitude, and spirituality, upon which Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was founded on, strong. To accomplish this and to support the loyal community of festival fans Hardly Strictly Bluegrass they made the choice to “Let the Music Play On.”
Artists Yola, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Alison Brown, Sierra Ferrell, shared their talents with performances filmed at various locations including the historic Ryman Auditorium. The team then headed to Austin to film a set with John Doe at The Continental Club.
“There is a great sense of community at Hardly Strictly,” says John Doe, “and I hope and pray that it’s back next year. It’s a one-of-a-kind.”
One of the most celebrated parts of the festival has been and continues to be its diversity. The festival’s values are reflected in the wide array of artists and genres carefully selected for and presented on the festival’s stages year after year. “Showcasing incredible talent is part of the fabric of HSB,” says talent booker Chris Porter, “whether it’s music legends and festival staples such as John Doe and Alison Brown, or up-and-coming artists like Yola and Sierra Ferrell, the high caliber 0f talent and variety of artists is what our fans have come to expect, and is what keeps them coming back year after year.”
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