Billy Strings Plays West Virginia Dive Bar for Hours on Day Off
Billy String has always been a fan of trying to keep it intimate with fans, even as he’s playing arenas and other large venues. Upon occasion, he’ll also book side gigs while in town playing sold-out arena shows at places like The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, or ACL Live in Austin. But a few lucky revelers in Charleston, West Virginia got the ultimately intimate Billy Strings experience on Sunday night (8-2) as Billy stopped into the Empty Glass, cap. 100 or so, with live music every night.
Billy String jumped up on stage with his Gibson SG electric guitar, and according to the lucky bastards who were there, played all night. Video corroborates that Billy sat in with the John Inghram Band, throwing down licks on songs like “Troubled Times” from Leftover Salmon, and J.J. Cale’s “Call Me The Breeze.” He also performed with Candi Jenkins, who happened to be in town taping a performance on NPR’s Mountain Stage.. Strings supplied lead guitar and vocals for a version of “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad.”
According to one account, Billy Strings was at the bar the whole night, and after stepping off the main stage, he went out on the acoustic porch to pick with local guitarist Jakob Thomas for some two hours. So no, this was no “poke your head in, poke it back out” scenario. Strings was up until the wee hours of the morning keeping locals entertained.
The Empty Glass is semi famous in certain circles. First opened in 1985, it’s hosted some legendary performances from folks like Jason Isbell, Chuck Berry, The Avett Brothers, and Gov’t Mule. You can now add Billy Strings to that list. He is in town getting ready to perform at the Charleston Coliseum on Tuesday, August 4th after having to reschedule from April after breaking his leg.
Billy Strting is readying the release of his new album So Much For Goodbyes on August 28th. He just released a new song from the album “Mill Town Flood” on Friday.
Good times in Charleston.
August 3, 2026 @ 6:32 pm
Oh man …
How serendipitous!
August 3, 2026 @ 8:34 pm
What is there not to love about Billy Strings? He walks the walk of an icon.
August 3, 2026 @ 8:52 pm
So many artists get attention by being azzholes but Billy gets attention for being awesome.