Lucky 13

Saturday afternoon

Golden Gate Park Lloyd's Lake

Bettye Lavette early set

Bettye Lavette singing Lucinda Williams "Joy"

Mike Farras and The Roseland Rhythm Revue, Sunday morning

very crowded beneath blue skies

Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock)

Tift Merritt, Sunday at the Porch stage

boys at the Porch stage

Allison Brown, Tim O'Brien, Vince Gil (Tribute to the Masters)

Sunday morning calm

keepaway

more keep away with he who likes being kept away from

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell play a spirited set

their set and the view from the Keep Away games area

Friends and Family area, Banjo stage

Sunday morning (it's great crowded but even better when there is plenty of room to breathe)

photo by Dexter, as the festival comes to a close

Another wonderful Hardly Strictly year, referred to as "Lucky 13".  With the mix of  the hot sunny weather-(everyday was in the 80's!) and also the government shut down meaning no Blue Angels for Fleet week making  for a very crowded festival, as everyone came here.  Later estimates were that Golden Gate Park was  2.5-3 times more crowded than last year. That's crazy.  Also, I thought last year's line up was more diverse than the Lucky 13th but it's still an overload of musical riches.  Maria and I volunteered on Friday watching over  four compost, recycle, landfill stations.  Dedicated to our responsibilities (perhaps a little too much), this didn't allow the visiting of other stages but the Banjo stage was great anyway.

      New discoveries:  Mike Ferras and the Roseland Rhythm Review (TN), The Alah-Lahs(LA,CA), The Brothers Comatose (SF)

    Other sets enjoyed: Bettye Lavette, Seldom Scene, Tift Merritt, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell     Bonnie Raitt (killed on Friday),  The Flatlanders, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Dave Alvin with Greg Leisz, Justin Townes Earle, Tim O'Brien (as is Buddy Miller, always good in any configuration), Boz Scaggs ( old soul stuff), Calexico, Peter Rowan, Ralph Stanley, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham of the Waterboys, Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Laurie Lewis, Allison Brown  
       
      Sets I missed: (due to heat, rest, scheduling conflicts): Los Lobos, Buddy Miller, Kate McGarrigle tribute,  Natalie Maines, Trampled by Turtles, Felice Brothers, First Aid Kit, Low, Deep Dark Woods, Go To Hell Man Clan.  However many of the sets were streamed and are archived. Visit here:
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2013/

        It's during the evening music, playing catch or keep away with the boys and Maria,and sets at the intimate Porch stage . Despite all the people, the calm and goodness that this event generates.   It can't be beat.  Life can be so good.