Two weeks ago I went to The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. My sister picked me up at the Oakland airport, we picked up two other friends, ate some Indian food, and drove over the Bay Bridge to Golden Gate Park to hear John Prine. That first evening of the festival only Banjo Stage was open and it was the first time that weekend I thought about my version of heaven. For one thing, it’s about the park itself. Central and Prospect Park look sissy and urban, unwild compared to Golden Gate. The trees are tall, hundreds of feet tall. There are some redwoods, but more eucalyptus and pines. It’s hilly, green, and so varied and wooded. I passed hundreds of branches on the ground covered with pinecones the size of grapefruits. I was the only sad urbanite there wanting to take them home. And this is an urban park mind you. That night, Prine played to thousands of people; geese flew overhead, the trees tossed their upper boughs in the wind, the sun set, and I felt great to be “home” in the bay area. It was definitely good enough as is. What brought heaven to mind was when John Prine invited Emmylou Harris to the stage to sing a couple songs with him, and then Robert Plant. Lyle Lovett and His Big Band were up next, so Prine and Lovett figured they could do a few duets for the audience while the sky went from blue to purple and orange. I didn’t know I loved Lyle Lovett before that. And then he thought he could just invite Old Crow Medicine Show up to play a few songs with him. These selfless gifts of songs were all the more joyous to be around, because they weren’t selfless. I loved observing how much fun the musicians were having, and what a treat it was for them to jam with each other in this utterly gorgeous and wild place. My heavenly vision took hold and didn’t let go. My sister, Dana, and I were there Saturday day and night, Sunday day and night, and then she dropped me at the airport to fly home Monday morning. I basically commuted across the country to hear the music and of course see Dana. But besides the music and good times together, I was reminded what I have to look forward to when I die, the big bluegrass festival in the sky.
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