The 2nd Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2002
Two Concerts in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, October 5-6
 By Derek Brandon | Write to | Please comment in our guestbook! | 2001 festival report | 2003 report |
Do you use mayo on your BLT sandwiches? Well, over here in the UK most
people wouldn't know what a BLT was but if they did, they certainly wouldn't
put mayo on it. They do use mayonnaise, though. We use Hellman's I'm
glad to say and now the label promotes instant memories of the best Bluegrass
events I've ever been to. "How can that be?" I hear you ask.
Last year I reported on attending the first Strictly Bluegrass Concert in the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. You can check the report for yourself, but briefly it was a 6-hour concert with a line up to die for, in the fine-weather open air, and free. You just went, set up your blanket and enjoyed it. There was Emmylou Harris; Alison Krauss & Union Station with Jerry Douglas; Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek and a whole showfull of stars. Even Blue Highway only played the second stage. And who dreamed it all up and paid for it? One Warren Hellman, that's who. Not of the Mayonnaise outfit, however - he 's closer to Wells Frago Bank and is now a 68-year-old investment banker (and philanthropist, activist, music lover...) But he doesn't just 'stack it high and let it stink like manure'. Paraphrasing Mr.Hellman, "Spreading it around a bit makes things flourish." Way to go, Warren!
So this year's event, again held on Speedway Meadows, was the real deal - two days with two 8 hour concerts. Mind-bendingly good organisation and so many stars that the moon was alone in the sky that Saturday night! Last year there were two stages; on the secondary one the 'less prestigious' bands played to smaller crowds, but it gave more people a chance to play. This year there were not two but three stages: The Main Stage as before plus Stage 2 half way along and Stage 3 at the west end. Some bands from 2nd stage 2002 were 'promoted' to Main Stage this year. The ones I recognised were Blue Highway and Keystone Station. Stage two catered for the better-known local bands such as Dark Hollow and The Crooked Jades, most of whom played last year. Their stage rated a sun cover but suffered somewhat from the main stage PA. Stage three, which showed off lesser-known (or at least, less well established) local bands such as Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup and Belle Monroe and Her Brewglass Boys, wasn't affected by the main stage but didn't have a cover either; lucky it wasn't raining!
Other local bands playing on these stages included Strung Over!, The Crooked Jades, The Road Oilers, The Warblers (another Larry Carlin outfit!), The Alhambra Valley Band and marginally Bluegrass Trout's Rustic Revellers. Saturday was a beautiful day so we set off good and early to beat the crowds. Last year we had "rock star parking" but this year, well, we did almost as well but with a parking permit! The stage set-up and everything was unchanged. Plenty of room at 9.00 a.m. so... claim a prime spot for our blanket and low-backed chairs close to the Main Stage. Then off to get complimentary coffee in the VIP area. As I watched the food being prepared and set out in the refreshment marquee, it started to dawn on me that the organisers really know how to look after the performers, helpers and guests.
Keystone Station opened up the concerts First band on the Main Stage was our friend Larry Carlin's outfit - Keystone Station (duo Larry Carlin & Claudia Hampe, AKA 'Keystone Crossing' (article w/photo); Dana Rath (mando); Kenny Blacklock (fiddle) and Francis Mougne (banjo) (Keystone Station website) plus special guest singer and crack flatpicker Yvonne Walbroehl Article). It was a hard spot, but they did a great set. Then the #2 man, my man Paul Mann, took the stage and took charge - he was the very able MC from 2001, setting the scene in his brightly-coloured Hawaiian shirt! (He'll never forgive me for fogging the film...)
Not everyone was a 'bluegrass' act; one band that followed featured Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I didn't catch much of his spot but they were good even if he's more of an alt/country guy. Tennessee band Blue Highway (below) played well, with better presentation than last year. But still I think it's hard for a band to look good when they're strung out right across a big stage, and most full bands suffered from the 'daffodils in a row' syndrome. By way of contrast see Hot Rize (later). Dobroist Rob Ickes hails from nearby San Mateo, but now lives in Nashville, TN. Article w/photos: Rob Ickes& Tim Stafford in England
It was impossible to see every act, what with 3 stages and backstage going on, so I'll be picky. And I couldn't possibly describe in detail all those I saw, so I will mention salient points and let the photos speak for themselves. For the most part I'll try to convey the overwhelming atmosphere.
I'd heard mixed reports about Steve Earle when he played in Liverpool, England, so when he appeared with The Bluegrass Dukes and Tim O'Brien I paid attention. Steve was first class, he really was. Not all bluegrass - some countrygrass and rootsy, but an excellent band with great presentation.
The line-up was Steve Earle (vocals /guitar/ mando),
Still with Tim O'Brien, he played later as The Tim O'Brien Band (Tim O'Brien, vocals/mando/bazouki/fiddle; Bryan Sutton, guitar/vocals; Casey Driessen, fiddle and Dennis Crouch, bass), performing mostly his own compositions. Quality shows, dunnit? The Tim O'Brien Band
I was sad to catch only the very end of the Lynn Morris Band, comprising Lynn Morris (banjo/vocals), Marshall Wilborn (bass), Ron Stewart (banjo/fiddle/l.guitar), Jesse Brock (mando/vocals). I was sorry also to miss Stacey Earl & Mark Stuart, and Kim Richey, but I couldn't see everything.... There's a photo with some of these at Slim's, lower down.
We had seen Bluegrass Intentions before and their performance on
Stage 2 did not disappoint. They are a bay-area band comprising locals Eric
and Suzy Thompson (mandolin/fiddle/vocals), Bill Evans (banjo/harmony vocals),
Alan Senauke (guitar/lead vocals) and Larry Cohea (bass), they played real
down-the-middle Bluegrass.
Wonderful Hazel Dickens (with an all-star cast) is the whole reason (along with Emmylou) that the concerts are held at all. Warren explained that he intended the event to be two weeks later (like 2001) but Hazel couldn't make it, so he brought it forward. In turn we had to bring forward our vacation...
Hazel sang well last year (of
course!) but this year she excelled herself. What is it about these people
that makes them compulsive watching and listening? They just know how to
do it, I guess. I watched Warren
As the day progressed the sun got higher, but never too hot. Everyone got large, free, high-quality souvenier posters. Click for large image. Slightly pricy but very high quality, souvenir T-shirts were available. Our daughter's band, Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys, played Stage 3 at 1.00 pm. Turned out that the 'Main Man' was keen to see them so we walked down together, arriving just in time to see them start. Fair do's, they played (and performed!) well. Warren said, "These guys are great! Hey, look at the crowd they've pulled!" He was genuinely very pleased, which made me very pleased too, you can bet!
Belle Monroe & Her Brewglass Boys on Sunny Stage
3 Out of curiosity I had been asking people "Why are you here?" I was amazed when two separate couples in Belle Monroe's crowd said "We've come specially to see this band after hearing them on the internet!" This year we were privileged to experience the benefits of VIP status with a Press Pass. Warren really knows how to look after people and everyone who had anything to do with the events got the same treatment. The food, catered by Memphis Minnie BBQ Joint of the Lower Haight, was superb. A non-stop buffet of roast beef (the best I have ever tasted, honestly) chicken, barbecues, salads and more; soft drinks, coffee and tea (and beer for performers); the outside fenced-off VIP area had a free ice cream stall and hotdog stall. One sat down to eat next to one never knew whom. Then there were free T-shirts and ground blankets - smart, high quality dark green ones (to blend in with the grass...) with "Strictly Bluegrass" embroidered on them in gold. All too much. But it didn't end there.
Once again Slim's Night Club in the City hosted the Saturday night 'party'. Some Party! Complimentary valet parking... what a touch of finesse! Complimentary bar, but no abuse; I saw no-one drunk and even I was drinking bottled water... Running buffets at various points both inside and outside; food in various styles, all the best. Outside? Well, the back alley streets had been closed off and small tables and chair sets, complete with table lamps, placed all along the walls as an extension of the club. A series of impromptu jam sessions and concerts took place outside and on the Club Stage; Emmylou and Hazel Dickens featured strongly in the indoor ones.
Hazel Dickens sings in an on-stage jam session in Slim's At one point I was stood watching Hazel on her 3rd jam and close by was Warren Hellman. I said to Jean in a stage whisper, "Now there's someone in his 7th heaven!" Warren turned; "Derek, it doesn't get any better than this!" he said. And he was right. The Sunday Concerts Sunday was much the same as Saturday but with different acts and a hotter sun. Those whom bought T-shirts on Saturday got an extra free one, which many used as sun shades!
Daughter-father duo Jerry & Tammy Sullivan Hey - this is getting long, so be brief. The ones I didn't see, or hardly, included The Eileen Ivers Band; Jim White, Tift Merrit, Chuck Prophet and Stacey Earl & Mark Stuart There were a lot of great bands. Many times I'd been determined to see Laurie Lewis over in East Bay, but never made it, so it was great to see...
The Bluegrass Homecoming I mean, what do you expect from a line-up like that? Yes, and you got it!
Dale Ann Bradley
& Coon Creek (more pix to come)
They were the coup of the day; the act no-one wanted to follow. (larger photos to come)
(of OBWAT/Down From The Mountain fame) with an average age of only
12! Sarah (15), Hannah (12 in 3 days) and Leah (9) filed onto the stage,
shuffled into place and had everyone's instant attention and applause! I
could spend a whole page on them alone.
Still no guitar at the end of that number, so "We've got another a cappela for you!" Then Leah struck up a hard attack intro on her fiddle but skidded all over the strings. "Oh, shucks. I guess we'd better start that one over!" she said. Way cool! When this trio of young girls knocked out I'll be Right There Working for My Lord I have to say it knocked me out. They amazed everyone by throwing in a Swing number, Straighten Up and Fly Right, shoo-wap, do-wap! You'd have to be a real hard ass not to be melted down by these three! They were magic. I asked Warren whose idea it was to book them. "Mine," he said with a wry smile. He knew he'd done good. Peter Rowan & The Rowan Brothers.
By now the sun was high and the day had become very hot. Mr.Hellman noticed that people were wilting in the heat and called an assistant over. "These people are going to fry this afternoon - I need 7,000 bottles of water ASAP, will you see to it?" "No problem," she said, "I'm onto it!" Then, 5 mins later "It's all fixed!" 30 mins later the laden truck arrived and 7,000 bottles of water were distributed free of charge to the crowd. What a man! Alison Brown was very modern and contempory. Although she's obviously a class performer with a superb backing band, she's not my cup of tea (or jo, as you prefer). But variety is the spice of these concerts... (Larger photos to come)
I have to say that this band was the band of the weekend for me. Presentation, performance, singing, musicianship all 100% (as in 10/10). I cannot fault them. Not everyone likes uniform and even less folk like formal suits, but here they looked so good. Everything was hot, but I reckon Bryan Sutton was the hottest flatpicker I have seen. My wife Jean asked Bryan what other interests he had besides guitar. "There isn't anything else," he said. So now we know how these guys do it (apart from having an innate ability). Article: Tim O'Brien with Darrel Scott (UK gig) Emmylou Harris (Larger photos to come) appeared again this year, finishing off the concerts as the sun went down in the early evening. Photo: Julie, Emmylou and Buddy
Warren had addressed the crowds on both days, much to their delight. He mentioned the especially good co-operation he had received from everyone, especially the police. Then he asked "Shall we have three days next year?" Well I don't want to rain on his parade, but I personally think two days is it. It would mean days off work for most, and two days is a good time to stop while still ahead... But then heck, I'm not 'paying the piper'... For such a huge crowd the audience was so good natured! The security was really superfluous as far as trouble was concerned. They were there to listen to top-quality Bluegrass and have a good time and they did just that. There were no incidents for the police to worry about. I asked the police captain "How's it going?" and she said, "Can you believe it? All this and we get paid, too!"
There were 'Soggy Bottom Boys' look-alikes complete with long beards and one hardy young couple (right) danced all day both days. The organization team was first class, resulting in the production of a first class event. It wore me out, anyhow! Roll on October 2003! Derek Brandon, Chester England. Write to Answer to problem: A 'tar arn' is a tool for getting a tar off an auto wheel. And if the dancers write to me and mention what I said to them, I'll send some 2048x1536 pixel printable image files of this and other photos of them... Thanks to Larry Carlin and Pamela Brandon for proof reading.
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Everyone got a free 26" (66cm) souvenir
poster!
Speedway
Meadows
No sunshade on Stage 3 for Jeanie &
Chuck's Country Roundup!
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Steve Earle and The Bluegrass Dukes
Tim
O'Brien (mando/guitar/ vocals), Darrell Scott (banjo/ vocals), Casey Driessen
(fiddle) and Dennis Crouch (bass).
The Lynn Morris Band (right)
Warren Hellman transfixed
by Hazel Dickens!
Hellman,
sat on the ground, transfixed, watching Hazel.
Banjo isn't the only thing Pete Wernick picks
well... 
(Laurie Lewis, Herb Pedersen, Todd Phillips, Butch
Waller, Roland White & Gabe Witcher)
I missed Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek last year so this years
show (with Michael Cleveland on fiddle/mando and Tom Adams on Banjo) was
an eye opener. Perfect singing, perfect playing, perfect performing = a perfect
show. The interaction between Tom and Michael was a wonder to behold. They
are real professionals, even when it comes to photos. And not just poses;
Dale Ann obviously knows that "the only good photo is a good one," and (like
the Sensitive New Age Cowpersons,
Just
the star moments, like when, half way through a number Sarah broke a guitar
string and they stopped dead, looking around shifty eyed. Someone took away
the guitar then Hannah announced "Oh heck! I guess we'll have to do an a
cappela number now!" What applause!
Peter
Rowan was another first for me. Again, "Quality shows," and it showed here.
Midnight Moonlight was one thing but the high spot was The Land
of The Navaho.
Hearing
him sing it live was something else. But hush... was that a drum I
think I heard???
The
Hot Rize reunion (Larger photos to come) was
something many were waiting for, me included. In his introduction, MC Paul
Mann read out a list of Tim's 'qualifications', which seemed endless. Is
there anything this guy hasn't done? Tim O'Brien (vocals/mando/fiddle), Nick
Forster (bass/vocals), Pete Wernick (banjo/vocals) and
Bryan
Sutton (guitar/vocals) assembled to rapturous applause, said a few words
then started.
Supported
once more by Buddy & Julie Miller (guitar and percussion things respectively)
another top-rate concert resulted. How can she fail with facial bone structure
like that? A real looker who can play, sing and perform. Not always to my
taste and rarely bluegrass, but hey, who am I to complain? I was made up
to see her last year for the first time. Twice was icing on the cake. She
was so good I'll let her off for nearly bowling me over as she rushed off
the stage in Slim's... But, "That's one time, girl..."
Darrol Anger and Belle Monroe
This young couple never stopped
dancing!