The eighth edition of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival--investment banker Warren Hellman's baby--took place last week. The free show, which Hellman has spent millions to produce over the years, filled Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow with music-lovers of all ages. Sunshine and clear skies were icing on the cake.

The lineup this year featured the likes of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant; Emmylou Harris [ tickets ]; Ralph Stanley [ tickets ] and the Clinch Mountain Boys; Jerry Jeff Walker; Dave Alvin [ tickets ]; Ricky Skaggs [ tickets ]; Jerry Douglas [ tickets ]; and Hazel Dickens [ tickets ]. Shaking things up further were Gogol Bordello [ tickets ], Elvis Costello [ tickets ] with High Whines and Spirits, Mike Farris and Sharon Little, to name a few.