The full, funky lineup for Stern Grove's 79th season is upon us: It's now available on the festival's website. And, as has been the case for many years, the acts booked for the free Sunday concert series represent an eclectic mix of crowd-pleasers.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, the New Pornographers, and an amazing-sounding tribute to William Onyeabor are all reason to celebrate. But the big names also mean that plenty of people will be there to stake out, Portlandia-style, entire enclaves of folding chairs, blankets, etc. etc. So wake up early, kids, because the older set seems to have no trouble doing so.
So far we'd known about one surefire hit, Janelle Monáe, whose show-stopping performances always draw crowds. She opens the festival, and from there, it goes like this, with all shows at 2 p.m.
June 19: Janelle Monáe, Midtown SocialJune 26: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Bayonics
July 3: Hieroglyphics, dance crews Mix’d Ingrdnts and Golden State Breakers
July 10: San Francisco Symphony
July 17: Joan Osborne’s Soul Revue, John Brothers Piano Company
July 24: Julieta Venegas, La Misa Negra
July 31: San Francisco Ballet
Aug. 7: The O’Jays, MJ’s Brass Boppers
Aug. 14: Atomic Bomb: Music of William Onyeabor featuring Jamie Lidell, Luke Jenner, Money Mark and Sinkane; Afrolicious
Aug. 21: The New Pornographers, Astronauts, etc.
Previously: Janelle Monáe Will Open, Electrify Stern Grove Festival
