You See, This is Why Billy Strings Is “The Man”
You think you had a busy weekend last week? Try the Billy Strings itinerary on for size. After releasing his first original album in three years—the 20-song Highways Prayers on Friday, September 27th—Strings was also throwing his own music festival over the weekend, the Billy Strings Renewal Festival in Buena Vista, Colorado.
Then right before Billy was set to take the stage for his headlining performance Friday night to play songs from the new album, he got a call from back home. His wife was in labor, and about to give birth to the couple’s first child—a son. It couldn’t have been an easy decision, or maybe it was. Either way, Strings departed the festival for home as the lineup was reshuffled in his absence.
On Saturday, the talent on site stepped up to try and make up for the lack of Billy Strings at the Billy Strings festival. And even though many traveled and paid good money to see Billy and weren’t able to, they also saw what many in attendance considered some of the most memorable live music moments they’ve ever witnessed.
It was fellow flatpicking phenom and fast-rising bluegrass star Molly Tuttle stepping up into the Billy Strings void. This felt appropriate since the two came up as close friends and friendly rivals on the bluegrass circuit, trading off IBMA trophies for Guitar Player of the Year, and more recently, Grammy Awards for Best Bluegrass Album.
Leading up to the headliner set, the band of Billy Strings consisting of Billy Failing on banjo, Royal Masat on bass, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle formed an outfit nicknamed “Clusterpick,” with legendary bluegrass pickers Jerry Douglas, Larry Keel, along with members of Mountain Grass Unit, Molly Tuttle’s Golden Highway band, cellist Nat Smith, and Mark Levy from Circles Around The Sun all taking turns leading the band or following along.
Then Molly Tuttle took the stage to cap the night off with the Billy Strings band behind her, playing a massive set that consisted of some 29 songs, culminating in an epic rendition of the Beatles tune “With a Little Help From My Friends,” sung famously by Ringo Starr. The song and the performance both held special significance. It was Ringo Starr who’d lent his private jet to Strings so he could make it home in time for his son’s birth.
Those in attendance claim it was a performance for the ages, even if some felt a little conflicted. Of course everyone can understand Strings wanting to be there for his son’s birth. But they did pay for two Billy Strings performances, and walked away with none. Also, it’s not like these things come up on short notice. The coinciding of the festival within the birthing window seemed a little shortsighted.
You wouldn’t want to characterize it like the Renewal Festival audience was in outright revolt. This was no Eric Church scenario where he 86’d a show for a basketball game. But there were a few rumblings from folks who felt a little short changed by the experience. After all, there’s no live performer on the planet who can replace Billy Strings, especially in the minds of his most devoted fans.
But even though there was mostly understanding, if not slight disappointment from the audience as opposed to outright anger, on Monday afternoon (10-1), new father Billy Strings let it be known that refunds would be offered to anyone who feels they deserve them. Appreciate what this means. The festival happened. All support and fellow headliners played, and who knows how much money was expended in production costs. But this was proud pops Billy making it right to his fans.
And you know for sure that some didn’t feel like a refund was needed. It’s really the thought that counts. And as disappointing as many might have been that they weren’t able to see Billy Strings, back east in the heart of of bluegrass country in Kentucky and the Blue Ridge of North Carolina, they were experiencing a bad weekend of Biblical proportions in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, putting whatever hardships Billy and his fans endured into the bigger context.
Bluegrass music goes on, but there are those moments that define your life indelibly, from the virtuous to the disastrous. That is what should always be our topmost priority.
And in the end, Billy Strings made it right.
October 2, 2024 @ 6:38 pm
When’s the new Boomswaglers coming out?
October 3, 2024 @ 11:19 am
Not soon enough.
October 2, 2024 @ 6:39 pm
I just read your CMT article from earlier today and in the comments the discussion about woman representation and you explaining it’s about “putting the right women in the right positions” … Molly Tuttle was a great choice for this festival who seized the opportunity of festival headliner. I bet a lot of people went home Tuttle fans. Hopefully Renewal is on Nugs.
As for Billy, I wouldn’t expect anything less. This is a musician/ performer fans can confidently invest.
October 2, 2024 @ 7:36 pm
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent, article.
MAJOR Kudos to all of the musicians who stepped ALL the way up.
A lifetime of RESPECT.
And, Congratulations to the Billy Strings family.
Did you ever think you could love anything/anyone so much …
October 2, 2024 @ 8:49 pm
Billy is just an artist that seems to do everything right. You just want to cheer for. It kinda sux that I can’t go to the smaller club shows anymore , but if there is anyone I root for to just achieve massive response and expanding fan base it is him. He really is unique. I completely respect what he does and he has ended up being one of the biggest touring draws in the world. He is an A+ generational talent. Idk if he will ever become a true iconic household name like a Hendrix, marley, or SRV. It’s a different media world, but he is doing the same things with a genre.
October 3, 2024 @ 5:55 am
In the GQ interview published the night before the release of “Highway Prayers,” Strings eluded to a small club tour several times with less production and an opportunity to interact and see the fans’ faces.
Strings is friends with John Mayer who recently embarked on a solo club tour and reported back to Stings how much he loved it.
A solo Strings (or some kind of duo – Don Julian?!?!?) club tour might be in the future.
October 3, 2024 @ 6:51 am
He’s also continued to book smaller shows upon occasion at places like The Ryman, Georgia Theater, Moody Theater, etc. My guess is he will still offer these opportunities. A whole tour would be cool, but also might cause ticketing chaos.
October 3, 2024 @ 8:50 am
And the VFW in Nashville.
In the interview, you can kind of hear him working the logistics out. He referenced that he recently sat in with high school metal band for a show in Grand Rapids. It was supposed to be a secret appearance, but he couldn’t help himself and posted on IG the day before what he was doing. And the show was wildly successful and sold out (and all the merch!).
So could he not announce the shows until the week of (day before) on social media and not sell actual tickets but access through a name list (something not transferable)? Could a 500 seat venue manage a list of names in which people have to show an ID?
And would it bring a solo show temper demand?
October 3, 2024 @ 1:11 am
I saw where majority was fine with what happened and encouraging any body that wanted a refund to donate it to Flood causes or even having that be an option for Billy’s team to do through the process. That’s making lemonade out of lemons. Hats off to Billy on even going this route and I’d bet he will do make up shows for ticket holders down the line. He’s such an easy guy to cheer for
October 3, 2024 @ 8:21 am
He just made a post that they’re refunding all tickets due to him missing the show. The GQ article and now this make me even a bigger fan and I hope we all protect him at all costs from outside crap, influences, and anything else.