Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a free music festival started in 2000, and entirely funded by Warren Hellman, is a joyous annual event in San Francisco.
I’ve been attending, more or less, for many years, and this year’s highlight was the Kate Mcgarrigle Tribute with many of her family and friends singing her songs and clowning around.
The set was kicked off by Martha Wainwright, Kate’s daughter, singing Matapedia and Sloan Wainwright, her sister-in-law, singing NaCl. The guest stars that crossed the stage were some of my favorites, and all friends of the McGarrigle Sisters:
Maria Muldaur, Emmy Lou Harris, Buddy Miller, Steve Earle, Kate’s ex Loudon Wainwright, and Richard Thompson. Her songs were as extraordinary, funny, poignant and beautiful as ever, and the one non-Kate song was sung by Loudon Wainwright, about her!
Here is Emmylou and her Red Dirt Band from 2008
and Ricky Skaggs
And now for a gallery of those who have passed to the giant Banjo Jam in the sky!
Thank you, Warren!
Ashley Wolff 