Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2023 announces a second round of artists for their highly anticipated 2023 return to San Francisco’s, Golden Gate Park, September 29-October 1 including Kurt Vile & The Violators, Lilly Hiatt, Nora Brown w/Stephanie Coleman, Lucero, The Travelin’ McCourys, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Buffalo Nichols, Beth Orton, Mighty Poplar, and Carrie Rodriguez.
“As a long-time festival goer and new member of the team, I could not be more excited to get back to the park this year,” said HSB Executive Director John Caldon, who joined the organization in February. “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is as unique as it gets with its eclectic lineup of living legends and rising stars, as well as an extraordinary ability to reinvent itself while staying true to its spirit. With a fresh layout and new stages, including an intimate venue where live music will be presented for the first time, HSB23 promises to be a celebration of artists and community that will make your heart sing.”
The acts revealed today will join the previously announced:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit • Leyla McCalla • The Church • John Doe Folk Trio • Valerie June • Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram • John Craigie • Neal Francis • Bahamas • Gaby Moreno
This year, Hardly Strictly 2023 has also made some changes to the festival’s landscape to provide the best experience for both the audience and artists. The stage formerly known as Porch has been relocated to the west end of Hellman Hollow and is now the Arrow Stage. With a nod to the festival’s past and a design that preserves the tradition of letting bands perform in intimate environments, the Arrow Stage is slightly bigger than Porch Stage, but will be set lower to maintain the close-knit atmosphere.
Once Arrow had been revived, it became apparent that a new direction was needed for the Bandwagon Stage. The younger generation of the Hellman family took notice of McClaren Pass where the San Francisco Parks & Recreation gardeners were already making improvements to the plateau, enriching the lawn area and creating a perfect environment for a new performance space. This new stage, nestled in a wooded glade and dubbed Horseshoe Hill, will provide a cozy atmosphere for both performer and listener. Avery Hellman, grandchild of Warren Hellman, the festival’s founder, says, “Horseshoe Hill was influenced by a sense of place and developed with our most beloved Bluegrass legends like Hazel Dickens, Dolly Parton, and Bill Monroe in mind. We hope their legacies inform and inspire the up-and-coming artists, spoken word performers, and poets who will grace this stage for years to come.”
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