10/6/2016

HardlyStrictlyBluegrass:BestmomentsfromSundaySFGate

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Hardly Strictly Bluegrass: Best moments from Sunday

ByMariecarMendoza Updated5:17pm,Monday,October3,2016

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LunaSoleildanceswithahulahoopduringtheHardlyStrictlyBluegrassmusicfestivalinGoldenGateParkinSanFrancisco,California,
onSunday,Oct.2,2016.

Despitemorningshowers,nothingputadamperonthelastdayofthisyearsHardlyStrictlyBluegrass.By
1p.m.,thecloudsparted,readyforthethreedaymusicfestivaltofinishstrongatGoldenGateParkon
Sunday,Oct.2.Morethan750,000peoplefloodedtheparkovertheweekend,withthelastcrowdcatchingan
eclecticmixofactsfromSundayopenertheHillbenderstoDropkickMurphys,RosanneCashandTBone
Burnett.TheSanFranciscoGiantswinovertheL.A.Dodgersgavefestivalgoersevenmorereasontocelebrate,
withpocketsoffanshootingandholleringaroundtheoutdooreventssevenstages.
Herearesomeofthehighlightsfromthelastdayofthefestival:
LittleVillageFoundationPresents...
VeterankeyboardistandproducerJimPughbroughtoutsomeoftheBayAreasfinesttonotone,buttwostages
forthreehoursofuniquelylocalmustatthefestivalSunday.TakingoverthePorchandArrowstages,Pughs
nonprofitrecordlabelbroughtWeeWillieWalker,AireeneEspiritu,MariachiMestizo,JohnBluesBoydandAki
Kumar.
Youguysreadyforsomeblues?YouguysreadyforsomeBollywood?KumaraskedfromtheArrowStage.
Well,youcametotherightplace.

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HardlyStrictlyBluegrass:BestmomentsfromSundaySFGate

TheBombaybornsingerandharmonicaplayerwhomeldshispassionforAmericanbluesandloveforhis
homelandsBollywoodtunes,gotthecrowdstompingandsingingalongwithcatchysongslikeBadanPe
Sitaare,JaanuMeriJaanandtheeversofunEeenaMeenaDeeka.
NowwhooutthereknowswhattheheckIwassaying?hesaid,withalaugh.
JudgingbytheapplauseKumarreceived,itdidntmatter.
Wynonna&theBigNoise
WynonnaJuddbroughtherstarpowerandsass(Itsallaboutattitude,andIvegotit!shetoldfans),
reminscingabouthertimeintheBayArea(shelivedastintinMarinCounty)andlamentingabouthersuperstar
momNaomiJuddwhomsheperformedalongsidefornearlyadecadebeforefindingloveinwithhercurrent
lineup(herhusbandCactusMoserplaysthedrumswiththeBigNoise).
WhenIusedtolivehereIusedtositontheporchandpraytoGodIdgetoutoftheNaomiJuddCorrectional
Facility,shequipped.
Butbetweenjabsathermom,Juddkeptitlightandfun,clearlyenjoyingtheBayAreabreezeandsunshine.
Wevecomealongwaytoinjectthisatmospherewithjoy,shesaid,beforegoingintoacoverofRaphael
SaadiqsStayinginLove.
AllenStone
TheWashingtonbornsoulsingerfitthesceneperfectlywhenhesteppedontotheArrowStage,withfunkyplaid
pantsandhislonghairblowinginthewindunderhissignaturebrimmedhat.Heplayedfanfavoriteslike
Voodoo,FakeFutureandLoveaswellastheaproposCelebrateTonightwherehesangtofans:San
Francisco,celebratetonight!
CAKE
TheSacramentobanddrewoneofthelargestcrowdsatoftheweekendattheSwanStage,rivalingtheswarmsat
thestageduringSaturdayperformersCyndiLauperandChrisIsaak.Fromitslate90shitslikeMexicoand
TheDistancetotheearlyaughtfanfavoriteslikeShortSkirt/LongJackettherewereplentyofsingalongs,
too.PowerfulsingingvoicesoftheBayArea,giveitupforyourselves!frontmanJohnMcCreaproclaimed,
applaudingthecrowd.
EmmylouHarris
SureCAKEwasplayingatastagenearby,butthelegendaryEmmylouHarrisreallytookthecakeduringthelast
nightatthefestival.UnderacottoncandycoloredSanFranciscosunset,Harrisbidfansgoodnightfromthe
BanjoStagewithsongslikeBrightMorningStars(dedicatedtothelatebluegrassmusicianRalphEdmund
Stanley,whodiedinJune)andacoverofthegreatCanadianphilosopherNeilYoungsAftertheGoldRush.
WhatagloriousthingthatWarrengavetous,HarrissaidofthelatefinancierandphilanthropistWarren
Hellman.ThisisgoingtogoonuntilinfinityIhope....Ijustloveplayingthisfestivalanditsbeenanhonor
toplayitsinceitsbeginning.

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HardlyStrictlyBluegrass:BestmomentsfromSundaySFGate

MariecarMendozaistheartscontenteditorforTheSanFranciscoChronicle.
Email:mmendoza@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@SFMarMendoza
ReliveHardlyStrictlyBluegrass2016withTheChronicleatwww.sfchronicle.com/hardlystrictlybluegrass/
2016HearstCommunications,Inc.

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