Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Expands 2025 Artist Lineup: I’m With Her, Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles, ALO and More

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, photo by Jay Blakesberg

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass has unveiled the second wave of its 2025 artist lineup. 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 second lineup announcement adds nine new acts, bringing the total so far to 19.

The eclectic set of new entries to the highly anticipated event includes a collaborative set from Low’s Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles, vintage soul revivalists The Altons, genre-bending multi-instrumentalist Sinkane, Northern Caliornia jam staples ALO, blues torchbearer Jontavious Willis, country singer-songwriter William Prince, Marin-based folk artist Kelly McFarling, outlaw country ensemble Jimmie Dale Gilmore and the West Texas Exiles, indie-folk sister act The Watson Twins and I’m With Her, the Americana supergroup of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins.

“We had the best time performing at HSB on a gorgeous sunny day back in 2018,” I’m With Her shared in a statement. “There’s nothing like a weekend of music in Golden Gate Park and we can’t wait to return this Fall!”

Other artists confirmed for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2025 include iconic Americana singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy, jamgrass pioneers The String Cheese Incident, bluegrass torchbearers the Dan Tyminski Band, psychobilly mainstay Reverend Horton Heat, folk duo Watchhouse, folk-rock singer-songwriter Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, SoCal rocker Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes and beloved Australian indie singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett.

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 (bitly). The festival also released an exclusive teaser medley of its performers, now streaming on the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass website.

“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.”

On the evening prior to the event, a special show will take place at the Masonic. A Tribute to Emmylou Harris & 25 Years of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, will feature Emmylou Harris—the only artist to perform at every HSB—joined by Rosanne Cash, Sam Bush, Allison Russell, Margo Price, Patty Griffin, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle and others.

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