Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2023: Rufus Wainwright, Rickie Lee Jones and Steve Earle among latest lineup additions

The free outdoor festival at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has unveiled its third round of artists, including Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and country troubadour Steve Earle.

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright said in a statement, “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is quite legendary in my book and I always wanted to play there.”

照片:大麻烦

Singer-songwriterRufus Wainwright, country troubadourSteve Earleand jazz-pop musicianRickie Lee Jonesare among the latest additions to theHardly Strictly Bluegrassfestival lineup.

“Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is quite legendary in my book and I always wanted to play there,” Wainwright said in a statement of the free three-day concert, set to take place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. “I am honored that after 50 years I finally am worthy of being on one of the stages in the Golden Gate Park.”

The latest lineup additions, confirmed by organizers Wednesday, Aug. 23, also include the female-led Brooklyn disco-soul actSay She She, bluegrass musicianSierra Hull, Santa Clara Valley singer-songwriterMargo Cilker, the all-star roots music outfitMighty Poplar, Tuareg performerBombino, retro country artistBrennen Leigh, the R&B actThee Sacred Souls, and the Soul Queen of New Orleans,Irma Thomas.

琼斯是中d to the bill last week alongside a group of poets that includes San Francisco poet laureateTongo Eisen-Martin, Kim Addonizio and Evan Kennedy.

Thousands gather at the Banjo Stage for the Fare Thee Well tribute to recently deceased musicians at the final day of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2022. Artists like Steve Earle, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Emmylou Harris played songs from John Prine, Nancy Bechtle, Justin Townes Earle and more.

Photo: Brontë Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Like its previous lineup announcements, a medley was released a day before, streaming on Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’official website和节日应用取笑这个消息。

More Information

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass:1-7 p.m. Sept. 29; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Free. Hellman Hollow, Marx and Lindley meadows in Golden Gate Park, S.F.www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

This latest wave of artists joins performers such as the indie actKurt Vile& the Violators, English singer-songwriterBeth Orton, local favoritesChuck Prophet& the Mission Express, the Americana actJason Isbelland the 400 Unit; and Australian alt-rockersthe Church.

This year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival will feature a revamped layout, new stages and the introduction of a new live music space called Horseshoe Hill, located in a grassy area of McLaren Pass.

Organizers on Wednesday also outlined some rules to help festivalgoers prepare for the concert:

  • Small bags, fanny packs and purses smaller than 6 inches by 8 inches by 3 inches; refillable water bottles; and backpacks and clear insulated bags no larger than 22 inches by 15 inches by 10 inches are allowed, as well as a small soft-sided cooler for medical or child care needs measuring under 9 inches by 6 inches by 3 inches.
  • Large bags or hard-sided coolers, large lounge chairs, and cases of beverages are not allowed.
  • There is no camping in Golden Gate Park.
  • Attendees will enter the festival grounds through a security checkpoint with metal detectors.

最后round of performers will be revealed through a teaser medley on Sept. 5, to complete the more than 70 artists on the final bill.

The festival will once again be available to stream around the globe viaHardly Strictly Bluegrass TV, which also includes original content and exclusive sets from the 2022 festival.

Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com

  • Aidin Vaziri
    Aidin Vaziri

    Aidin Vaziri is a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle.