Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 12 - Oct 5, 6 & 7, 2012

Warren Hellman
Hellman Hollow Plaque (formerly Speedway Meadow)
Introducing Emmylou (2010)
With/ Emmylou Harris (2010)
The Wronglers w/ Jimmie Dale Gilmore (2010)
w/ Alison Krauss the First Year (2001)
w/ Doc Watson (2005)
First Gig (Before the Wranglers became the Wronglers!) (2005)
"Warden" Hellman Keeps P.M.W. in line (2005)
With Steve Earle and Elvis Costello (2010)
With MC Hammer (2010)
With Heidi Clare (2010)
With Gavin Newsom, Hazel Dickens, Emmylou Harris (2009)
Banjo in hand (2009)
With G.E. Smith (2008)
The Wronglers (2007)
Receiving the IBMA Award with his wife, Chris (2007)
With Ron Thomason
In costume for PMW performance for the kids (2006)
Saying good night with Emmylou (2006)

F. Warren Hellman, Beloved Father, Husband, Brother; Private Equity Pioneer; Founder of San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
(1934 - 2011)

Yes, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival will go on! Next year's dates are October 5, 6, & 7, 2012

We are happy to announce that there will be a public celebration for Warren at the newly re-named Hellman Hollow (previously known as Speedway Meadow, site of the Banjo Stage in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco) on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012. Of course, this will be a FREE EVENT open to the public. "THE ROAD GOES ON FOREVER AND THE PARTY NEVER ENDS!" Save the date - details will be coming soon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the San Francisco Free Clinic (sffc.org), The Bay Citizen (baycitizen.org) and the San Francisco School Alliance (sfschoolalliance.org). Also, consider a donation of blood or platelets to your local blood bank. In San Francisco and the Bay Area, Blood Centers of the Pacific (bloodcenters.org) provides this gift of life to those in need.

There was a beautiful and moving memorial for Warren, including speeches from his friends, sister, children and grandchildren plus performances by Emmylou Harris and The Wronglers on Wednesday, December 21 at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco. View the entire service by clicking play in the video below.

"What does move me is the philanthropic stuff," he told Forbes magazine in 2006. "Giving really does move me. Part of it is selfish. It's fun to be appreciated. But the other part is that good things really are growing."

He called the bluegrass festival a "selfish gift," one that he, the musicians and the community could all enjoy.

"How could you have more fun than that?" he told Forbes. "What the hell is money for if it isn't for something like that?"

Hellman Family Statement
Tears, Laughter and Plenty of Music (Article on Memorial Service)
Friends, Family Remember Warren Hellman
Big Twang Theory (A History of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass)
Speedway Meadow Renamed Hellman Hollow
Bay Citizen Obit
SF Gate Obit

Facebook Twitter

Previous Years

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001

site by chime