Modern bluegrass superstar Billy Strings has announced Highway Prayers, his first studio release since his 2022 father-son team-up LP Me/And/Dad and his first solo studio collection since 2021’s Renewal. The 20-track LP, co-produced by Billy Strings and Jon Brion, is due out on September 27th, 2024. In celebration of the album announcement, Strings has also shared the album’s first single, “Leadfoot”, and an accompanying music video.
In the lead single, “Leadfoot”, Billy Strings confronts a legendary reckless driver. The song’s music video takes that concept one step further, casting Billy as an old man and the titular speed racer (played by Nate Flores) as a… high-out-of-his-mind cross between Sasquatch and Frankenstein’s monster? Sure, let’s go with that. Whatever “Leadfoot” is, the video Strings made in his name is entertaining and surreal from start to finish thanks to the song’s catchy, revving vocal line and cameos from Vince Herman (Leftover Salmon), Brian Haskell, and Katie Sullivan.
The track itself is largely a Billy Strings solo venture—he’s credited with contributing vocals, banjo, guitar, bass, steel guitar, and ebow electric guitar in addition to the rumbles of his beloved 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle—with the only non-Strings credit going to drummer Matt Chamberlain. Watch the official Billy Strings “Leadfoot” music video below.
Billy Strings – “Leadfoot” (Official Music Video)
Per the vinyl pre-order page, Highway Prayers features 20 tracks including a mix of never-before-heard material and songs Strings has introduced during his live performances. It’s unclear at this point whether Vince Herman played a part in the music on the record, but with his appearance in the “Leadfoot” video, it seems he’s a “character” in at least two of the album’s songs—the LP also features “Catch & Release“, a previously issued 2020 track recounting a Billy-and-Vince story about a brush with the law while fishing.
The announcement of Highway Prayers follows the recent release of Billy Strings Live Vol. 1, the singer-songwriter-picker-bandleader’s first-ever live album. Check out some promo clips for the album the new Billy Strings album, Highway Prayers, view the full track listing below. Pre-order your vinyl copy here.
Related: How To Livestream Billy Strings’ 2024 Summer Tour
Billy Strings and his band are in the midst of a busy summer tour. For a full list of upcoming dates, head here.
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Billy Strings – Highway Prayers – Full Track Listing
- Leaning on a Travelin’ Song – 3:58
- In the Clear – 2:57
- Escanaba – 4:34
- Gild the Lily – 5:06
- Seven Weeks In County – 4:16
- Stratosphere Blues / I Believe in You – 5:51
- Cabin Song – 3:15
- Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4AM) – 3:15
- Malfunction Junction – 4:52
- Catch and Release – 2:14
- Be Your Man – 4:01
- Gone a Long Time – 3:02
- It Ain’t Before – 3:46
- My Alice – 4:06
- Seney Stretch – 4:34
- MORBUD4ME – 2:55
- Leadfoot – 2:46
- Happy Hollow – 2:46
- The Beginning of the End – 3:57
- Richard Petty – 1:57
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