That ain’t fog rolling in…
But, first, a toast to Warren Hellman.
“Barbarian at the Gate” meets Good Samaritan at the Golden Gate: billionaire philanthropist Warren Hellman hosts the 9th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival at Golden Gate Park this weekend. He bankrolls the entire cost of the event… 6 stages, 80 bands and over 300,000 attendees, and has committed to sponsoring HSB for another 15 years after he dies. Hellman is a passionate advocate for the Bay Area. He also underwrites the San Francisco Free clinic and more recently, funded a new model for community journalism, which launches next year. Although he’s stepping down as chairman of Hellman & Friedman (the private equity firm he co-founded in 1984), Warren notes that he possesses at least one talent that is improving with age… his claw hammer banjo picking. Is there a more renowned figure lacking a Wikipedia entry?
The Inside Scoop to Hardly Strictly
- BYOB! Alcohol is allowed per park rules. Vendors will NOT be selling alcohol.
- Wear layers. Weekend weather will be partly cloudy and windy.
- Thank Warren Hellman personally by signing the HSB Scrapbook at the center information booth between the Arrow and Rooster Stages.
Local Talent: Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands (Saturday Oct 3, 11:10am at the Banjo Stage)
Top Performance: Natalie MacMaster (Saturday Oct 3, 3:40pm at the Porch Stage)
Mister Archer’s Top Pick: Del McCoury Band (Sunday Oct 4, 5:20pm at the Banjo Stage)
Warren’s Favorite: Emmylou Harris (Sunday Oct 4, 6:45pm at the Banjo Stage)
Additional highlights…
- Warren H. and the Wronglers (Saturday, 11:00am at the Porch Stage)
- Dry Branch Fire Squad (Saturday Oct 3, 12:10pm at the Banjo Stage)
- Austin Lounge Lizards (Saturday, 1:05pm at the Attow Stage)
- Duhks (Saturday Oct 3, 4:40pm at the Porch Stage)
- Gillian Welch (Saturday, 5:25pm at the Banjo Stage)
- World Party (Saturday, 6:50pm at the Star Stage)
- Galactic (Sunday, 3:05pm at the Star Stage)
- Aimee Mann (Sunday, 3:05pm at the Arrow Stage)
- Mavis Staples (Sunday, 4:00pm at the Roost Stage)
- Marianne Faithful (Sunday, 4:10pm at the Towers of Gold Stage)
- Neko Case (Sunday, 5:20pm at the Star Stage)
I doff my hat to Nic G, the fiddle to Warren’s banjo!
What: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
When: 2pm to 7pm Friday; 11am to 8pm Saturday-Sunday
Where: Speedway, Lindley and Marx Meadows, Golden Gate Park
Tickets: Mention “Mister Archer”… or just show up! Free!
