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HSB Heats up Golden Gate Park!

The Iconic Patti Smith closing the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival on Sunday!

The annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival attracts a half a million music lovers throughout the annual three day weekend. And this year was no exception. HSB '24 was heaving with live music lovers and artists from across the globe.


I attend nearly every year (apart from last year due to a broken arm). This years' HSB had some amazing sets with Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Jackie Greene, Andres Osbourne, and Eric McFadden to the intriguing British punk poets, John Cooper Clarke and Robyn Hitchcock. Something for everyone is what happens at HSB. Whether your favorite genre is rock, bluegrass, country or blue eyed soul, HSB has it all on offer.


This year my fave act was Glen Hansard (pictured below). I have never heard of him before Fridays' last set on the Banjo stage. Hansard is a singer songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. His HSB appearance was the last day of his two month long North American tour.

I'm going to start a little out of order describing what happened at the end of the first day. After Molly Tuttle I roamed around the park and chatted to lots of people. Some of which were The Music Soup readers (as I always try to wear a Music Soup tee shirt). One of those people was, Carol, someone I know from Santa Rosa. After my chat with her I was on my way to see Cat Power, at that moment the magic of HSB 2024 kicked in for me, and on the stage we were closest to started with an Irish singer songwriter, Glen Hansard. He was someone I knew nothing about. As soon as he started singing, my head whipped around and I said to Carol in that second that I changed my mind and headed briskly towards the stage where Hansard was at. Walked into the photo pit and started shooting whilst hearing the most amazing music. To me, he sounded like two of my favorite artists, Cat Stevens and Eddie Vedder combined. I was enchanted throughout Hansards' set. In my element and completely mezmerised by his voice and his music. It was so good and touched my heart so deeply I was nearly in tears. (Dont you just love when that happens?) Then he and another member of the band, broke into an Irish folk tune a cappella. Stunning! Absolutely gorgeous. To make it even better, this was during the moments that the sun was going down and if anyone has ever taken photos in the 'magic hour', you'll know what a special moment in time this was both visually and musically. I looked behind me to the 15 or 20 thousand in the audience and you could hear a pin drop during this a capella duos' performance! It was one of the most stunningly beautiful and magical moments I've experienced in any live music situation, ever. I am so grateful I saw that friend that just happened to be close to this stage, otherwise I would have never stumbled across this artist and had this wonderful musical memory. That's one of the fantastic surprises that can happen at a music festival. Finding music one would've never been exposed to otherwise. Now I'm a big fan and listen to Glen Hansard everyday since. Thank you Warren Hellman!


This festival is absolutely free due to the generosity of the late investment banker, and music lover Warren Hellman and the Hellman foundation. His love for music and his gift to the city of San Francisco is what keeps HSB an annual early fall event. Truly a beautiful gift to the city and to all the music lovers who attend.

HSB has grown from a one day event to a three day event over the last two decades through a dedicated gift to the city of San Francisco, by Hellman. The festival is free from corporate sponsorships, alcohol sales and any fees to the concert goers. Hellman was a true music lover and wanted HSB to live on after his death so he wrote it into his will. And it is the ultimate fall music festival to all us music lovers. And who wouldn't love a free weekend of live music, peace, love and plenty of kindness to go around at this 'good vibes' festival.


The weather on Friday couldn't have been better on this beautiful San Francisco day. Then by Saturday and Sunday it sure did heat up plenty! Unusual for the city in the fall but we all helped each other stay hydrated and well by frequent reminders by everyone from security to emcees and many mentions from the artists on stage as well.

As I can only describe my own experience of the artists I actually saw myself, these are the bands I can share with you. But as I was staying with five friends that weekend, it was fun to hear of their experiences at the end of each day from their time at the festival. Mostly we saw very different acts. So it was great to share and hear about the artists that I missed.

Starting on Friday my HSB began with the set, "Songs from a Gravel Road" featuring four singers, Chuck Prophet, Kelly Willis, Ismay and Steve Earle. They each took turns singing songs from the Lucinda Williams album. Beautiful sound to start the day. Then I went to the Swan stage for an American Indie folk duo, The Milk Carton Kids. For those unfamilar with this duo they sound like this centurys' Simon & Garfunkel. Lovely thoughtful songs with gorgeous harmonies sung by Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan.

They've been playing together for 13 years and are definitely worth a listen if you like music similar to Simon & Garfunkel. They played at the KRSH radio station Backyard Concert series about a decade+ ago, towards the start of their career...I saw them then and a decade+ later, I was as impressed if not more by their tight harmonies. And I'm glad these two are still making music together. After the Milk Carton Kids I went to the Banjo stage for Molly Tuttle and the Golden Highway. My friend Doug had played her for me years ago so I had to check her out. She was great, just not my thing as music is so personal and her bluegrassy/country sound was lovely but maybe not for this rocker. I left her set early but was told that at the end of her set, she removed her wig to show her completely bald head due to her being afflicted with the condition Alopecia. What a brave thing to do in front of all. Bravo to Molly Tuttle for her courage for being vulnerable and sharing this condition with the audience, as well as her lovely songbird-like vocals.

After Molly Tuttle was my wonderful surprise at the Glen Hansard set I described above. Hansard is an Irishman on the last day of his American tour. His set was so incredible that if he was not on his last day of his tour I would've gone anywhere to see him play again! When he finished, the joy in my heart and from what I saw, and also to those around me, was so gratifying. The woman next to me was from Ireland and we chatted for a few minutes after he finished about what is my new favourite artist. She said he is massive in Ireland. I'm not surprised. Ever since this set, people have suggested I watch the film, "Once"...So I did...and I watched it twice!!! I also love love stories and this had his music and a love story! 'Once' is a must see with Hansard and his music being the starring role. Apparently he is also in the film, "The Commitments" that is next on my 'to watch' list! If you are curious to know what this artist is like...Hansards' voice is beautifully eerie and distinguishable like Eddie Vedder and intense and deep like the Cat Stevens 70s days from songs such as "Father and Son", and "Tea for the Tillerman"! Perfect for me and for those of you that may favor vocals like Vedder and Cat Stevens.

The Glen Hansard set is what these festivals are all about. Seeing acts that you've never heard of before and the new music embedding itself into your heart as Hansard has done for me. After much thought, that set is now in my top twenty of all time. And that is a list that is hard to get into as I've been seeing live music for many decades and that's a lot of competition! HSB offered so much amazing music all weekend, but for me, this set was my fave HSB set of all time! I will be remembering HSB '24 for a long time to come. Grateful to Warren Hellman for this golden moment in my own musical journey!

Over the next couple days I saw, Dave Alvin, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Nigel Wearne, Robyn Hitchcock, John Cooper Clarke, James Hunter, Big Stars Quintet, A.J. Lee, Marco and the Polos, Wreckless Strangers, Wood Brothers, Jackie Greene, Anders Osbourne, Eric McFadden and the icing on the HSB 2024 cake...the legendary Patti Smith!

John Cooper Clarke and Robyn Hitchcock were icons from the punk days. Hitchcock played a few songs with his acoustic guitar, my fave being The Kinks' Waterloo Sunset. He also read some excerps from his book. Then there was John Cooper Clarke (75 yo), he was super interesting. He comes from Salford Lancashire. He is known as the Punk Poet, and comedian emerging and gaining popularity in the 1970s and 80s. Previously he has opened for bands like The Sex Pistols and performed with many different punk bands.

He had so many clever lines, whilst delivering them at a machine gun speed at times. Not quite rhyming slang but similar. One of the lines he had whilst talking about his second ex wife, "she left with the milkman. It was a very painful three hours watching them drive away!" (Note to those unfamiliar to milkmen in the UK -The milk float that the milkman drives in, goes at a very very slow speed.) And with Clarkes' dry, fast, rhyming delivery it was a very entertaining set. It may have been a better experience for all if the sound guy turned the volume up, even though there were many verbal complaints - during the show!

Jackie Greene and Anders Osbourne played on Saturday evening. They ROCKED the Banjo stage! And Eric McFadden joined them before the end and that was fantastic. Jackie Greene and Anders Osbourne took turns playing their own music together. I loved this! I think I've seen Jackie Greene three times just this year alone, and his performances are always good.

The two I wanted to see on Sunday were The Wreckless Strangers, and Patti Smith. Neither of which dissapointed. The Wreckless Strangers rocked the Arrow stage. For those who havent't heard the Wreckless Strangers, I'd describe them as a bay area blend of bluesy rock. And with the dynamic lead vocals from Amber Morris and David Noble, you cannot miss!

At 5pm Patti Smith entered the Towers of Gold stage....and wow! She attracted a massive audience of all ages. This was the first time I saw Patti Smith. And seeing her up close in person. She was so real and so very iconic. She seemed super happy to be on that stage. The attendees were even happier to see her. From the photo pit looking out into the crowd, it looked more like Woodstoock, seeing no end to the crowd and people were even in trees to see her! I had the first three songs in the photo pit. Looking at her a few feet from me, I saw a beautifully lined 77 year old woman that has kept her spirit fully intact. She was intense whilst singing, and almost chanting. She did not sing her most well known hit, 'Because the Night'. But she had no lack of material. She sang what sounded like intensley meaningful songs. None of which I recognized but one could tell, she meant whatever she was singing. I watched some from the pit and then tried to find a good spot to see the show but there were so many people it was hard to find a good watching place so I went backstage to watch (listen) from the side stage. I mostly had a view of her guest drummer, Barrett Martin (below).....Which in my world is also a win!

Every year thusfar, this festival is ALWAYS the one with the best vibe. I dont know if it's because it's free or something else. Or perhaps, is it because it's full of hippies. But I come away from HSB with a smile on my face and new music in my soul. This year it was Glen Hansard. Some of my other faves have played in recent years such as Robert Plant, Fantastic Negrito, Gallactic (with Stanton Moore) and loads of others. All amazing and memorable sets from HSB. The music is always great, but for reasons unknown to me, the festival is the most special feeling one in the bay area. As the kindness and great vibes seem to be felt by all. Proving this was my end of day on Sunday....After Patti Smith I ran over to the Wood Brothers on the next stage. I got there in time to shoot the last two songs from the pit. When it finished, I was packing up my gear when I heard two dudes in their 50s or 60s talking to each other from just over the railings saying goodbye. One said to the other, thank you so much for all your kindness throughout the weekend. I know it doesnt sound like a big deal when I re tell it via type to share with you, but the authenticity and gratitude in their voices made for a very special moment. And that moment said so much. Thanks again to the man that made all this music and kindness possible, Warren Hellman!


©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2024

A few random pics from my iphone, and various friends.


Day 1

©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2024


Day 2

©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2024