Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Unveils Full 2025 Artist Lineup: Emmylou Harris, Jeff Tweedy, Margo Price, Steve Earle and More

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, photo by Jay Blakesberg

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has unveiled the final lineup for its 2025 event. From Oct. 3 to Oct. 5, San Francisco’s premier roots music festival will return to Golden Gate Park for its 25th annual staging with a top-tier lineup of performers rooted in the tradition of bluegrass and reaching out to vast array of genres and styles. The last update after four earlier announcements adds 34 new acts, bringing the grand total to 73.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass saved the best for last, with a final release that dwarfs its prior weekly rollout and features some of the biggest names in country, folk, bluegrass and more. The eclectic set of new entries is led by Emmylou Harris, the only artist to perform at all 24 prior stagings. Harris and her longstanding connection to the festival will also be independently honored at A Tribute to Emmylou Harris & 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a special event set at The Masonic on Oct. 2. Beyond the Honoree, the ppre-festival event will feature appearances from Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Allison Russell, Margo Price, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle and others.

The final update also adds festival sets from Cash, Griffin, Price, Crowell, Bush, Colvin and Earle, the latter of whom will revive classics from his vast catalog with The Hardly Strictly Dukes. They’re in good company among the other newcomers, who include stars like Jeff Tweedy, The War And Treaty, Dougie Poole, Hovvdy, Hannah Cohen, Cass McCombs, Albert Lee, Buddy Miller, The Mekons, Rose City Band, John Prine: Songs & Souvenirs w/ Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, Lola Kirke and many more.

Other artists confirmed for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 include iconic Americana singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, a collaborative set from Low’s Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles, roots-rock powerhouse Natahniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy, jamgrass pioneers The String Cheese Incident, bluegrass innovators the Dan Tyminski Band, Northern Caliornia jam staples ALO, blues firebrand Jontavious Willis, Marc Ribot: Map Of A Blue City, beloved Australian indie singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, I’m With Her–the Americana supergroup of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins–and the intergenerational bluegrass revival combo of Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project, playing the music of Old & In the Way and more.

“Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is always the great homecoming,” local legend Rowan offered in a release. “Sharing the stage with Sam Grisman and his band of young talented players, infused with the legacy of Old & In the Way, is a real treat. Warren’s legacy lives on.”

In the spirit of its founder, philanthropist Warren Hellman, HSB continues to honor and celebrate American roots music completely free of charge. For fans unable to attend, the festival will be available for streaming on the HSB TV platform.

“For 25 years, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has been a testament to the power of music to bring people together—free, inclusive, and rooted in the spirit of community,” said Sheri Sternberg, HSB’s Executive Producer and Co-Founder. “What started as a humble celebration of bluegrass has grown into a beloved San Francisco tradition that honors the past while embracing the future. We’re proud to carry forward the legacy of Warren Hellman and look forward to gathering once again in Golden Gate Park for a weekend of unforgettable music.”

Learn more about Hardly Strictly Bluegrass at hardlystrictlybluegrass.com. Get an inside look at last year’s festival here.