Everything took place over five stages in beautiful, huge Golden Gate Park. The sun was out, the crowds were friendly and the air was thick with substances that may or may not be legal in California.
SF's answer to Central Park.
Other colours of grass are available...and most were being smoked around us.
These are The Opera Dukes. "What would happen if you mixed Bluegrass and Opera?" the program asks. Something roughly similar to mixing oil and water.
This is where it was really happening.
Yep, one banjo in attendance so they qualify.
The haircut I aspire to.
Hundreds could be seen through the smoky haze.
The best seats.
Classic festival sight #14. Is that a real beard?
Most rubbish tattoo ever.
Gogol Bordello, the cutting edge of gypsy punk.
Banjo + tuba = makeshift band. Away from the main stages plenty of people simply struck up on their own instruments, which was one of the best bits. These guys are from the Bluegrass Society of Northern California (I must join).
How country can you get? On the left is Justin Townes Earle, son of legend Steve Earle. And they were playing real bluegrass: "This next song's about a girl who's 80% trouble and 20% trash."
These guys were certainly enjoying the show.
In San Francisco?! Maybe we're closer to the frontier than we think.
