Warren Hellman is a man with deep pockets and a deep appreciation of traditional bluegrass music.  The fact that he lives in San Francisco is just a matter of good luck for its citizens.  This year marked the ninth consecutive year that he's gifted Shaky Town with his Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, and it's an event that locals are loathe to miss and travelers are eager to see.

By many accounts this year's show was busier than last. Some exhibitors saw their visitors increase three-fold. Curiously, in my opinion the entry level of value components moved up a notch despite the economy. There were still plenty of sub $3K components to be had, but for the most part, components weren't bundled by price, with a few exceptions. There were plenty of $3K electronic components paired with $10K speakers, and vice versa. The rooms displaying $100K amps were getting plenty of action. Secrets' Coverage from Ed Becker...Ed will be adding pics and comment throughout this week....