John Hartford Strawberry '86 

SO GLAD THAT JOHN HARTFORD'S SET AT STRAWBERRY WAS CAPTURED SO HE CAN BRING JOY TO US ALL OVER AGAIN TODAY!!

One of a kind , John had a vision of music that touches deep, he wrote, played and sang like no other. Truly a performer unmatched.

I am sitting here tonight with a combination of tears. A lot of them are for the loss of this magnificent man. Others are for the lossof this magnificent talent, the likes of which, we will likely never have again. The rest of the tears are for the joy that this video brings back such fond memories of seeing him in concert quitea few times. Truly one helluva an amazing man! It would have been an honor to be a guest on board any of the Paddlewheelers that he piloted along the great Mississippi. He was a licensed Captain. Near his house is a marked buoy that is shown on the charts as John Hartford's. He had a pier on his property that they would pull into when he wanted to work. Such a loss of knowledge and history went with him when he passed. From music to River lore. I miss him to this day.

I saw John perform shows in the 1980s like this. Loved every minute. In the mid-90s, John and I actually became very good friends, and we frequently visited with him in Nashville. We would stay at his guest house, and he would give us the keys to his Cadillac and let us drive around town if we needed to. On one occasion, he and his band came and stayed the day at my house in Marcellus, NY, prior to a show he played near there that night. I sure do miss him! RIP John, and thank you for all the hospitality, friendship, and wonderful music.

The way that dude could engage an audience is something else.

So unique, outstanding songwriter and what an entertainer. Love him.

Always makes me smile watching and listening to John Hartford 😊 . Whenever he played with other musicians they were always the cream of the crop and unbelievable mutual respect and great music. It always felt like he was so relaxed and like playing in out living room or in the backyard. And this done with fiddle, guitar, banjo, vocal, and dance. Wow! Amazing!

Oh Dearest John, Hartford of Ever: such wondrousness in one human!

1:09:30 he makes his rounds in the crowd. I was fortunate to have been to half dozen of his concerts. Probably most memorable was at Red Rocks. Playing Orange Blossom Special he started at the stage and without skipping a beat fiddled up the stairs in the thin mountain air to the top of the amphitheater , then back down again. Such an amazing and talented musician. Never be another one quite like him. So GREATFUL for the post.

This never gets old

I remember John Harford in the 60s on the Glen Campbell Show. He wrote a good many songs, the most memorable one was "Gentle on My Mind" for Glen. I remember him sitting on a metal chair behind Glen at the end of his show. He was playing either a guitar, or a banjo. Some time in the late 70s I had purchased one of his greatest albums, "Aero-plane." Great album! Vassar Clemens played fiddle on this album. He's up there in my mind of one of the great bluegrass talents of all time. I had the pleasure of seeing and meeting John at Uncle Tom's Farm Bluegrass Festival in my home county of Edgefield SC in the mid 80s. My father was owner/editor/publisher of the local paper and I was lucky enough to obtain press passes (not only because of the small newspaper connection, but I also knew Tom Mims who sponsored the event at his cattle farm outside of Edgefield). It was a 3 day event but he only had 1 show on Saturday afternoon. I was back stage after his performance. He didn't want an interview and was on the shy side. But my best memory was right at the front of the stage watching him perform solo, tap dancing and playing his fiddle just like on this video. Great memories! John will be remembered by me as one of the best talents of all time!

Too bad I can't hit the like button a million times..

Pure musical genius... enjoyable, profound and timeless! Thank you John Hartford!

Thanks so much for making this available for all! What a ntional treasure was John Hartford!!!

Oh I so love this man and his talent. I just wish I had known him earlier. he surely is a national treasure..

I was fortunate to have seen JH perform at the Philly Folk Fest in the late60’s. It was the first time I saw anyone play their face like an instrument. John could play anything! He was a creative genius. Thank you for sharing this.

Got to see him live in the late '70s at the Great Southeast Music Hall in Atlanta, Ga. EPIC!!

Thank you for this !! I took my 3 sons to their 1st ever concert to see John at the old Ark in Ann Arbor. They sat on pillows in front of the stage. They were 8, 6, and 6 yrs old and totally mezmerized by John and Roy Huskey. They are all in their 40’s now, and still remember. Love John !!!

Genius

We used to go watch play John on the Julia Belle in Peoria when ever he was there. My daughter grew up mesmerized by him. She would dance right in front of where he was playing but before long she just stood and stared. Wonderful childhood memories!

My stepdad met this guy on a steamboat on the Miss back in the 80's. He had a picture with him from that day and I always wondered why the hell that photo was so important to him(my stepdad being a banjo player). This video helps me understand. Thanks for the upload!

What a genius. I’m mesmerized!

Co-producer and director Dale Batchelor's work is incredible.

One of the greats.

I roadied for Dusty Cowboy Productions sound company that did a Bluegrass Festival that John Hartford headlined. Early '80's. He was amazing.

Fantastico... grazie per averci dato l'opportunità di vedere questo capolavoro di concerto..

My first time watching John Hartford, and I must say what a master player... I just found Tony Rice for the month ago on strawberry 86 and I saw this and I said this is the first thing I'm going to see from John Hartford actually I watched a doc Watson 88 festival merlefest saw him play and then I came here what's the first time like I said but what a master player.. I discovered Tony Rice about a month ago strawberry 86 talk about picka' , songwriter and singa..

I saw this show at Strawberry and many times at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. He was a singular talent, such a brilliant songwriter, singer and instrumentalist and such a compelling performer. One year in Telluride a guy I knew was hang gliding above the field. John looked up and started singing to him, doing a play by play as my friend was descending and preparing to land on the field.

Late one night, early one morning, after sleeping off a bloody mary and a coupla several fine goblets of zinfandel, RU-vid delivered to my doorstep this magic moment in this time of coronavirus. Thanks to your beautiful spirit, John Hartford, and thanks for sharing, Sonora.

You mentioned he has extensive knowledge of Mississippi lore .. you're right .. another list of his accomplishments was he was a Mississippi steam boat captain. A pretty great accomplishment!

Coming out shredding.

amazing. what a gem

I was blessed to see him in person on The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour when I was in highschool. I was so impressed with his talent that I even took banjo lessons in later years.

As a banjo, fiddler, and guitarist John was a genius. I play these instruments myself and me say to listening public John was very special.

So great to see Mr. Hartford perform live after hearing Jim Wood's stories about him in his documentary.

love you john.

Sierra Nevada and one of the greatest entertainers of all time....blew my mind as a teenager

He bounced right back from that sound snafu.

I saw him at the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival in upstate NY in 1983. This brings back a great memory.

While I'm tempted to plow through these great old Strawberry sets one after the other, I think I'll go slow and savor every minute of each as if it were the first time. For getting this stuff out and circulating, many thanks. Good move. Brilliant in fact!

great

I listened to the album that most of these songs were on, while driving across country west for the first time. John has such a cool way of just keeping time and letting the song breathe.

This particular show was epic but more so backstage than the performances , dad and I backstage with the varsity team of bluegrass legendary players and partiers..... New Grass, John, Tony ..... and more! OMG we had so much fun better music jamming back stage.....

To the 12 thumbs down clickers: You're just wrong.

Amazing grace coffeehouse Evanston Illinois WONDERFUL!

Great Concert....So called country artists of today could take a lesson or three....thanks for sharing John at his best!

Thanks for sharing the video. His speaking voice vs his singing voice is so crazy but I see the nose size and the old man breathing in the air! Hartford rips now and forever a generational and life time talent of fun and awesome music.

El que va fer aquest home només està a l'abast dels genis. Es va lliurar plenament a la seva feina i alguns dels seus espectacles en viu han d'haver marcat en positiu els que van tenir el goig de ser-hi. La seva cançó i el poema de GENTLE ON MY MIND és patrimoni de la humanitat. Thanks John!.

:) Lotsa Hartford love down here on earth! :)

Yeah buddy, good stuff.

to think 10 people would downvote this....i cant

Thank you so much! Made my snowday today!

Excellent well done from Chas.

LOVELY! Thank you for dusting this off & sharing with us

Buenísimo

Thank you

Wow, yet another gem! Thank you

This is amazing. thanks for sharing!

This video shows why even famous bluegrass bands didn't want to play after him. With just one person.

super stud

How many times can you open a show by requesting a little more bass on your plywood?

roland kirk.john hartford.andy goessling. tim carbone. i can barely chew gum while i stumble.

I didn't know that John played a 5 string fiddle. Anyone know any information on it? Thanks for the fine post.

Yep😂

Was there ever a vhs release of the strawberry 86 fest?

I guess I didn't know he played a five string fiddle.

It's not gymnastics...... he burned some calories, playing dancing, he didn't copy anyone annnnd a sense of fun and humor

Bella musica però con troppe pause!

Its a shame you cannot see his foot work tapping in his oversized shoes for every song.😢

He could play a little...