This past weekend, thousands of folk and bluegrass fans were treated to two days of remarkable concerts paid for in full by San Francisco investment banker, Warren Hellman. The notion of a multi-millionaire using his money to build support for independent, non-corporate, and often overtly politically progressive music has to be an “only in San Francisco” phenomenon. And Hellman not only pays for the whole Hardly Strictly Bluegrass extravaganza, he actually played with one of the bands.
Where in America can people see a weekend of free concerts featuring Steve Earle, Joan Baez, Roseanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Doc Watson, Calexico, the Be Good Tanyas and fifty other top folk and bluegrass stars? Only in San Francisco, and only because it is all assembled and paid for by Warren Hellman.
Think of all the super rich, Fortune 500 people in the San Francisco Bay Area and then try to name those who have given back to the community in a way that supports an independent, socially conscious form of culture. This is not the rich giving to the Opera or Symphony, or donating millions for building a hospital wing named after them—rather, its about using wealth to broaden public exposure of a largely non-commercial industry.
This past weekend was the fifth such festival. Two years ago, the crowd was maybe 20% of this year’s throng. Crowds are building as people get exposed to the music, and as they get to hear performers who typically aren’t played on commercial radio.
An investment banker, Hellman has made a great investment in America’s music future. And based on the huge and happy crowds this weekend, it’s paying off.
Beyond Chron thanks Warren Hellman for his generosity in making Hardly Strictly Bluegrass possible. And we also thank Kevin Welch, Joe Ely and of course Joan Baez for their great anti-war songs. Welch’s “We are all working for the man again” deserves to become a classic—and as more people hear it, maybe it will.
