Our advice to those attending the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival? Don't try to catch everything. Don't even strive to see every single one of your favorites.

The former's not even possible with about 80 acts performing on six stages during the event's three days. The latter likely will lead to a frustrating attempt to navigate between stages and through hundreds of thousands of like-minded fans.

The best bet is to pick a handful of acts that you really want to see each day and then try to make it happen. Consider whatever else you catch during the weekend as a bonus.

Here are some recommendations:

Friday

  • Hammer, 11:30 a.m.: The Oakland rapper, known for popularizing those baggy "Hammer pants" in the late '80s and for such old-school hip-hop jams as "U Can't Touch This," "Pray" and "Too Legit to Quit." What he'll cook up for Hardly Strictly is anybody's guess.

  • Tom Morello and Nightwatchman, 3 p.m.: The guitarist has melted faces (figuratively speaking, of course) with his electric alt-rock outfits Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club. Yet he also regularly tours with his acoustic project, Nightwatchman, which released its second CD, "The Fabled City," in 2008.

  • John Prine, 4:15 p.m.: Nobody mixes heartbreak and humor better than the man responsible
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    for such great tunes as "Donald and Lydia," "Dear Abby" and "Souvenirs." (He also performs Oct. 1 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.)

  • Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, 5:45 p.m.: As unbelievable as it sounds, Lovett never has performed at Hardly Strictly.

    Saturday

  • Okkervil River, 1:35 p.m., Towers of Gold Stage: This great indie-rock outfit from Austin, Texas, seemingly can fit in at any festival. If you haven't heard the group's most recent album, "The Stand Ins," correct that situation immediately.

  • Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, 2:30 p.m., Star Stage: This ensemble appeared at last year's Hardly Strictly and many fans called it one of weekend's highlights. Among his collaborators here are Berkeley violinist-vocalist Laurie Lewis and steel-guitarist Cindy Cashdollar.

  • Boz Scaggs and the Blue Velvet Band, 2:30 p.m., Rooster Stage: The Bay Area classic-rock hero has put together an all-star group, featuring James Cotton, Nick Lowe, Buddy Miller, Jimmie Vaughan and others, to pay tribute to the immortal blues man Jimmy Reed. If you don't want to deal with the big crowds, go see Scaggs and the Blue Velvets Oct. 1 and 2 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco — but, of course, those club gigs aren't free.

  • Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, 2:40 p.m., Banjo Stage: The famed comedian also plays a mean banjo. He comes to Hardly Strictly in support of his first all-music album, "The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo."

  • Songwriter Circle, 3:45 p.m., Rooster Change: Let's be honest, these "songwriters-in-the-round" deals can be deadly boring. We trust that won't be the case when Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Dar Williams, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer join forces.

  • World Party, 6:50 p.m., Star Stage: The tuneful British alt-rock group, lead by Karl Wallinger (formerly of the Waterboys), is best known for the 1993 hit record "Bang!" The band has played relatively few live shows in North America in the last decade.

    Sunday

  • Moonalice, 11 a.m., Arrow Stage: This classic-rock supergroup features guitarist G.E. Smith (Bob Dylan, "Saturday Night Live"), drummer John Molo (Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh), keyboardist Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship) and bassist Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna), among others.

  • Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3, Noon, Rooster Stage: During his 34-year recording career, the English singer-songwriter has been involved in more than his fair share of intriguing projects. The one he's bringing to Golden Gate Park, featuring R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, ranks near the top of the list.

  • Booker T. & the Drive-By Truckers, 12:15 p.m., Arrow Stage: On a break from his most-famous band, Booker T. & M.G.'s, the Marin County resident and Hammond B-3 dynamo has spent the year working with the acclaimed alt-country outfit the Drive-By Truckers. You can get a taste of the collaboration by listening to Booker T. Jones' latest solo record, "Potato Hole," which also features Neil Young.

  • Mavis Staples, 4 p.m., Rooster Stage: The one-in-a-million R&B/soul/gospel vocalist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Staple Sisters in 1999. Her classic tunes include "I'll Take You There," "Respect Yourself" and "Uncloudy Day."

  • Marianne Faithfull, 4:10 p.m. Towers of Gold Stage: The legendary British pop singer is touring in support of the all-covers project "Easy Come, Easy Go," a terrific endeavor that finds Faithfull putting her distinctive touch to Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby," the Decemberists' "The Crane Wife 3" and other striking selections.