Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-07-22
Photo Credit: Jay Blakesburg
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has announced the initial lineup for its 2026 edition, returning to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park from Friday, October 2, through Sunday, October 4.
Now in its 26th year, the free music festival will once again present an eclectic bill of top performers spanning an array of genres, including AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Hiss Golden Messenger, Kathleen Edwards, My Morning Jacket, Old Crow Medicine Show, El Khat, Tyler Ballgame, William Tyler & Yasmin Williams, and John Craigie with The Coffis Brothers.
The lineup was teased with an exclusive medley streaming now through the official Hardly Strictly Bluegrass app and website. Additional performers will be announced soon.
“Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has been on our radar for years because it is a gift to the people of the Bay Area—a chance for all to enjoy the ritual of live music free of charge,” said Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket. “We’re honored to get the invite this year, and we can’t wait to feel the energy of such a special event.”
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass will kick off its 2026 edition with a special festival-eve benefit concert honoring legendary singer and songwriter Steve Earle, who has performed at every edition of the beloved San Francisco festival since its second year in 2002.
Set for Thursday, October 1, at The Masonic in San Francisco, An Evening Honoring Steve Earle will feature the three-time Grammy Award winner alongside some of his closest friends and collaborators, including Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Molly Tuttle and additional guests.
Buddy Miller will serve as the show’s musical director, with Reckless Kelly, featuring Greg Leisz, appearing as the backing band.
“We can think of no better way to bookend our silver anniversary than celebrating 25 years of Steve Earle at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass,” said executive producer Sheri Sternberg. “We are so fortunate to have legacy artists like Emmylou and Steve who have embraced our annual gathering since the beginning. We wanted to recognize their efforts with concerts benefiting charities that are important to them.”
“This year’s proceeds go to the nonprofit Sweetwater Spectrum, a community that provides adults with autism or similar intellectual and developmental disabilities with innovative, community-based, long-term housing. Our final flourish is that Buddy Miller will be with us as musical director once again, bringing his unique, special sauce to this tribute.”
The tradition of Out of the Park concerts will also continue this year, once again benefiting the Sweet Relief Bay Area Musicians Fund.
Many of the artists included in the initial lineup will perform nighttime shows at some of the Bay Area’s favorite venues, including Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at The Fillmore, Molly Tuttle at Bing Concert Hall at Stanford, Old Crow Medicine Show with Ismay at Sweetwater Music Hall, and Hiss Golden Messenger at Little Saint in Healdsburg.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2026
October 2–4, 2026
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
Initial Lineup:
AJ Lee & Blue Summit
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Hiss Golden Messenger
Kathleen Edwards
My Morning Jacket
Old Crow Medicine Show
El Khat
Tyler Ballgame
William Tyler & Yasmin Williams
John Craigie with The Coffis Brothers
Additional artists will be announced.
An Evening Honoring Steve Earle
Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Masonic
San Francisco, CA
Featuring Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, Elizabeth Cook, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Jackson Browne, Hot Tuna, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Molly Tuttle and additional guests.
Out of the Park Concerts:
September 28 – Molly Tuttle – Bing Concert Hall at Stanford
October 2 – AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Bandits on the Run – Sweetwater Music Hall
October 2 – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – The Fillmore
October 2 – John Craigie and Anna Moss – Great American Music Hall
October 2 – Tyler Ballgame – Cafe Du Nord
October 3 – El Khat – The Freight
October 3 – Old Crow Medicine Show and Ismay – Sweetwater Music Hall
October 4 – Kathleen Edwards – The Guild Theatre
October 5 – Jimmie Dale – HopMonk Tavern, Novato
October 6 – Hiss Golden Messenger – Little Saint, Healdsburg
