We would have taken some more closups of the artists, but you know what? It was pretty goddamn crowded out there at HSB this year! It was especially crowded come around 5:30 p.m. when Neko Case went on in Lindley Meadow, which was perhaps too small a venue for her when the show's free. We think maybe Mr. Hellman should consider just taking over the polo field next year, or not inviting such big names. But it was, if you could stake out a few feet of grass to call your own, a lovely couple of days. (Photos by SFist/Joey DeRuy and Generik11 on Flickr.) more ›

It's going to be a semi-warm weekend and just possibly (though we can't promise anything) it will be sunny in Golden Gate Park at least on Friday and Sunday, so the ninth annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass promises to be as jammed packed with free music seekers as ever. The annual roots music fest is sponsored by local billionaire and banjo-player Warren Hellman, and once again this year features some big acts that fall into the "hardly strictly" area, like Aimee Mann, MC Hammer, Okkervil River and Marianne Faithfull as well as a whole bunch of down-home American banjoin' and fiddlin'. It takes place in the Speedway and Lindley Meadows (basically the same grounds as Outside Lands, minus the Polo Field). And did we mention it's completely free? Below, a few quick recommendations. more ›

Hopefully, everyone got their anti-cyclist venom out yesterday, and we can turn now to this scene of unfortunate pain and near tragedy. It looks like a poor cyclist was smacked by a Sports Utility Vehicle going in reverse on Wednesday in Golden Gate Park. Here we give you a pic of the cyclist and after the jump, one of the Toyota 4Runner that hit him. (via SF Citizen) more ›

Sunday's annual Opera in the Park gathering was well attended by opera lovers both committed and occasional, despite the iffy weather. Whatever some may say about opera being a dying art form, people still enjoy hearing the greatest hits, like selections from La Boheme and Il Trovatore. Here, some pictures of the performers and the crowd spread out across Sharon Meadow and Hippie Hill. At around 4:30 p.m., the hippies moved back in and took their rightful place. more ›

As many of you probably know, the weather took a turn for the San Franciscan on Sunday and Golden Gate Park remained socked in all day. But that did not deter fans from coming out to Outside Lands to see their beloved M.I.A. (who made a single shout-out to the Beasties and sang a two-song cover medley, and also had two slightly creepy twin redhead backup dancers), Modest Mouse and of course, Tenacious D. Whatever you may say about them not being real musicians, they certainly are entertainers, and from the flat screen TVs in the Winehaven wine tent their set sure did look fun. Band of Horses' late set in Lindley Meadow was mesmerizing and mellow, and Calexico also did a bang-up job with six or seven horns on stage to boot. But the best performance of the day, if we had to choose, came from recently re-issued soul singer Bettye LaVette, who sang a doozy of a number called "Let Me Down Easy" and also covered Sam Cooke's "Change is Gonna Come," which she sang at President Obama's inauguration. See some pics here, also including Slug of Atmosphere fame, the hippie-hunky Avett Brothers, the "brothers" Gene and Dean Ween who constitute Ween, and those joyful and boisterous kids from Brooklyn, Matt & Kim. more ›

The second day of Outside Lands on Saturday was equally as hot (temperature-wise) as the first, and the crowd was estimated at near the festival's capacity of 60,000 -- and it was all probably thanks to Dave Matthews Band and The Black Eyed Peas (and not, as we might have hoped, TV on the Radio, who were nonetheless swell). Other highlights were the Street Sweeper Social Club (featuring Boots Riley of The Coup and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine), Deerhunter, Bat for Lashes, the ever emotive Conor Oberst, and we got to hand it to Jason Mraz for keeping it breezy with a set of surf music -- not our thing, but the girls seem to like it. Here are some pics by SFist music editor Moses Namkung, and a gallery of Day 3 is here.
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The weather for Outside Lands this weekend is looking downright grand, so for those of you with tickets and those still on the fence, SFist brings you this roundup of highlights. more ›