The Facebook account forHardly Strictly Bluegrass, San Francisco’s free music festival at Golden Gate Park, has been hacked, event organizers announced.
Festival officials first became aware of the breach in May and notified security experts at Facebook and its parent company Meta about the issue. They have since been without control over the compromised account.
“We want to reassure our audience and the entire community that we are fully committed to resolving this issue and safeguarding the integrity of our online platforms,” saidJohn Caldon, who was hired for the new role of executive director last year, in a statement released Thursday, July 20. “Since detecting the hack, we have been working to address the situation.”
Founded in 2001 by the late investment bankerWarren Hellmanas a gift to the people of San Francisco, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has become a highlight of the Bay Area’s fall entertainment calendar, consistently drawing an estimated audience of 500,000 to the picturesque Golden Gate Park. The Hardly Strictly team emphasized that the Facebook account plays a critical role in communicating with fans and fostering a strong festival community. The festival also has officialInstagram,Spotify, andYouTubeaccounts.
Ahead of this year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1, organizers said they have asked Facebook to act swiftly in resolving the issue. Meanwhile, they encouraged their followers to stay updated by visiting theHardly Strictly Bluegrass websiteand downloading the festival app for the latest information. The lineup for the three-day concert will be unveiled gradually using these outlets via the traditional series of artist medleys.
预计第一个急转弯posted on Tuesday, July 25, commemorating Hellman’s birthday.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our fans as we navigate through this challenging situation,” Sheri Sternberg, executive producer of the festival, said in a statement. “We look forward to leaving technology behind and enjoying another amazing weekend in the park with you this year.”
Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com