San Francisco’s popular Stern Grove Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of fans to the Sunset district with weekly outdoor concerts every summer, is canceled this year. It’s the first time the festival, known for eclectic programming of indie rock, hip-hop and classical music alike, won’t take place in its 83-year history.
The 2020 lineup was to include headliners Animal Collective, Jimmy Cliff, Cuco, Billy Ray Cyrus, Macy Gray, Hanson, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Symphony and Tower of Power. Openers Emily Afton, Cindy Lee, North Mississippi Allstars, The Onyx, Megan Slankard and Ana Tijoux were also set to join them on the bill. Organizers say they plan to book some of the same acts for the 2021 edition.
The announcement comes as California continues its shelter-in-place orders. Gatherings of hundreds of people are unlikely to happen, Governor Gavin Newsom has said in press briefings, until there’s a coronavirus vaccine, which will likely be in 2021.
In the meantime, Stern Grove is launching a video series called Best of the Fest that features footage of memorable concerts on the festival’s website, YouTube and Facebook, including performances by Sheila E., Pink Martini, the Doobie Brothers, George Clinton and more. These will stream every Sunday June 14–August 16. Additionally, the festival will soon announce an arts education program for children that will include dance and music classes.—Nastia Voynovskaya
