After making his triumphant return to the stage last weekend following the birth of his son, Billy Strings celebrated new beginnings with two sold-out performances at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday and Saturday.
The first night of Strings’ stay at Gainbridge Fieldhouse opened with the hauntingly beautiful “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song”, the first of several debuts off his new album, Highway Prayers. Without missing a beat, he launched into “Taking Water”.
Midway through the first set, the band delivered the heartwarming “Pretty Daughter”, a poignant nod to Billy’s newborn child and the renewed sense of respect for women that his arrival inspired. The theme of personal growth continued with “Richard Petty” and “Freedom”, two songs that saw Billy and the band step to the front of the stage, gathering around a single mic for a more intimate performance.
The second set kicked off with the energetic “Malfunction Junction”, another debut that showcased the band’s unshakable chemistry. But perhaps the night’s most surreal moment came during “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe in You”, the night’s final debut, where the band took the crowd to cosmic heights with Strings on his Martin 12-string HD12-28, bassist Royal Masat on a Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard, and banjoist Billy Failing on a Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo. A psychedelic take on Pink Floyd‘s “Brain Damage” was a welcome surprise, followed by “Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow”, which Strings dedicated to a couple who just got engage, before the band brought it all back home with a fiery rendition of “Doin’ My Time” with a “Thirst Mutilator” tease.
The encore, “Going To The Races”, made its first appearance in 310 shows (last time played 8/28/21) and was the perfect way to close out the first night.
Night two opened with the raucous “Know It All” with a tease of the traditional “Sally Goodin’”. The first set offered a mix of introspective originals like “My Alice” and crowd favorites like “Red Daisy”, while also delving into classic covers including Bob Dylan‘s powerful “Drifter’s Escape”. “It Ain’t Before” marked the night’s sole debut off Highway Prayers.
The second set displayed Strings’ reverence for his musical roots. A string of traditional bluegrass numbers—including “John Deere Tractor” and “Sally Goodin’”—highlighted his ability to honor tradition while still pushing boundaries. This effect was furthered when he paused to express how honored he was to have recently recorded with one of his heroes, Willie Nelson, before playing their collaboration, “California Sober”. The emotional weight of this tribute carried into the melancholic “End Of The Rainbow” and the ethereal “Nights In White Satin”, both of which painted the venue with a reflective, almost dreamlike quality.
The night wrapped up with “Uncle Pen”, a nod to bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, bringing the weekend to a close on a high note. With each performance, Billy Strings further cemented his status as both a torchbearer for bluegrass tradition and an innovator leading the genre into the future.
Check out pro-shot videos and photos from Billy Strings’ Indianapolis run below and scroll down to view the full setlists. Next up are two more sold-out shows in Huntsville, AL, followed by an appearance at the Concert for Carolina benefit featuring James Taylor, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and more, and then a special O Billy, Where Art Thou? Halloween run featuring a theatrical stage production with actors from the cast of O Brother, Where Art Thou? and special guests Jerry Douglas, Sierra Hull, Duane Trucks, Lindsay Lou, and many more. For tickets and a full list of upcoming Billy Strings dates, head here.
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Billy Strings – “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song”, “Taking Water”, “Running” – 10/11/24
Billy Strings – “Know It All”, “My Alice” – 10/12/24
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Setlist [via Billy Base]: Billy Strings | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, IN | 10/11/24
Set 1: Leaning on a Travelin’ Song[1], Taking Water, Running, While I’m Waiting Here, Run Down, Pretty Daughter, Richard Petty[2], Freedom[2], Gone A Long Time, Love Like Me, Highway Hypnosis
Set 2: Malfunction Junction[1], Secrets, Be Your Man, Everything’s The Same, Fire Line, Thirst Mutilator, Hollow Heart, Stratosphere Blues > I Believe in You[1, 3], Brain Damage (Pink Floyd), Ain’t Gonna Work Tomorrow[4, 5], With A Vamp In The Middle, Wargasm, Doin’ My Time[6]
Encore: Going To The Races[7]
Notes:
- Debut – Original
- Band minus Alex around single mic front of stage
- Billy Strings on a Martin 12-String HD12-28, Royal Masat on a Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard & Billy Failing on Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo
- Dedicated to happy couple who just got engaged!
- Last Time Played 2023-12-29 | 44 Shows
- “Thirst Mutilator” tease
- Last Time Played 2021-08-28 | 310 Shows
Setlist [via Billy Base]: Billy Strings | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, IN | 10/12/24
Set 1: Know It All[1], My Alice, Escanaba, Gild the Lily, Nothing’s Working, Red Daisy, Home Of The Red Fox, Drifter’s Escape, It Ain’t Before[2], Must Be Seven[3], John Hardy
Set 2: John Deere Tractor, The Fire On My Tongue, Sally Goodin’, California Sober[4], Hello, City Limits, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Love and Regret, Baltimore Johnny, Katy Daley, End Of The Rainbow, Nights In White Satin (The Moody Blues), Seven Weeks in County, Uncle Pen
Notes:
- “Sally Goodin’” (Traditional) tease
- Debut – Original
- “Pyramid Country” tease
- Billy shared how great of an honor it was to record this song, with one of his heroes, Willie Nelson
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