Guitarist Billy Strings brought together a number of his musical friends at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on December 22, 2018 for String The Halls, a benefit for the homeless. The tradition continued at Marathon Music Works on December 21, 2019 with the 2nd annual String The Halls charity concert. Billy Strings pivoted String The Halls to video in 2020 due to the pandemic and while the shows were expanded to a two-night run in 2021 the 3rd annual String The Halls was canceled after a member of the guitarist’s crew tested positive for COVID-19.
2020’s String The Halls: Home For The Holidays featured Billy Strings and his band performing 12 bluegrass classics. The 12 videos were rolled out daily between December 14 and 25, 2020. Posters were sold as was audio of the entire series. Proceeds benefited Nashville Rescue Mission, Musically Fed and Second Harvest Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee. The final video was shared on this date in 2020.
Check out Billy Strings, bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and banjoist Billy Failing’s String The Halls: Home For The Holidays performances below:
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Think Of What You’ve Done
Originally recorded by The Stanley Brothers in 1958 for King Records, the band’s “Think Of What You’ve Done” performance was filmed in black-and-white to throwback to that timeframe.
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Stone Walls & Steel Bars
“Stone Walls & Steel Bars” was penned by Ray Pennington and Roy Marcum and was first recorded by The Stanley Brothers in 1963. Strings and his bandmates debuted their rendition of the song in Asheville on April 18, 2019.
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Unwanted Love
Written by bluegrass duo Don Reno and Arthur Lee Smiley with Harry Leftwich, “Unwanted Love” was first recorded in 1958 and eventually released in 1962 on Country Singing & Instrumentals. Billy Strings has performed the song frequently since its debut in April of 2017.
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Y’All Come
Strings led his bandmates through Arlie Duff’s “Y’All Come” in the fourth installment of the series. The guitarist and his group debuted their version earlier in 2020. Bill Monroe, George Jones, Patti Page and Bing Crosby are among others who have covered the song.
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Tipper
“Tipper” is a tune penned by Tony Rice for the famed guitarist’s 1986 album, Me & My Guitar. Sadly, Tony Rice died one year ago today on Christmas 2020. Billy Strings debuted his version on July 19, 2019 at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. The song has been a staple of Strings’ live repertoire ever since.
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Likes Of Me
Country Music Hall Of Famer Jerry Reed originally wrote and recorded “The Likes Of Me” for his 1969 studio album, Better Things In Life. Billy Strings debuted “Likes Of Me” at the inaugural 4848 Festival on July 13, 2019. Forty-five additional versions have been played by Strings and company since, including 17 covers of the tune in 2021 alone.
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These Old Blues
Bluegrass singer and guitarist Larry Sparks wrote “These Old Blues” for his 1974 debut self-titled studio album with The Lonesome Ramblers. Billy Strings has been covering the number since 2016 though it’s become a rarity of late. Only three versions of “These Old Blues” were played by Strings and his bandmates in 2021.
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Will You Be Loving Another Man?
Billy Strings’ “Will You Be Loving Another Man?” for String The Halls: Home For The Holidays marked his band’s debut performance of a song written by Lester Flatt and Bill Monroe. Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys initially recorded the tune in 1947. The guitarist and his band played “Will You Be Loving Another Man?” live in front of an audience for the first time on February 23, 2021 at The Capitol Theatre. Four additional versions followed later in the year.
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Katy Daley
Herman Wright penned “Katy Daley” but Billy fashioned his cover on The Stanley Brothers’ version. Strings debuted the song live in 2016 and played “Katy Daley” seven times in 2021, including on December 1 in New Orleans.
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Ralph’s Banjo Special
Banjoist Billy Failing stars in the instrumental “Ralph’s Banjo Special.” The song is by The Stanley Brothers and is also known as “Daybreak In Dixie.” Strings and company have played the song live 10 times with each version coming between December 14, 2019 and December 5, 2022.
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My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’
The Bill Monroe classic “My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’” has been part of Billy’s repertoire dating back to 2015. A mere two plays came from Strings in 2021 after his band recorded a take as the penultimate String The Halls: Home For The Holidays video in December of 2020.
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Tennessee
Billy Strings closed out the series with a take on “Tennessee” by the “King Of Bluegrass” Jimmy Martin. Strings debuted his rendition at Nashville’s Station Inn on July 18, 2020. Thirteen additional versions followed with the most recent taking place in Glasgow, Scotland on December 11, 2022.
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[Updated article originally published December 25, 2021]
