Billy Strings brought his unstoppable bluegrass juggernaut to Huntsville, Alabama on Friday for the first of two nights at the Orion Amphitheater.
The evening began with “Hide and Seek”, a fan-favorite that immediately set the tone for what would be a night of exploration. The opening jam soared, leaving plenty of room for Strings and his bandmates—Jarrod Walker (mandolin), Royal Masat (bass), Alex Hargreaves (fiddle), and Billy Failing (banjo)—to stretch out as they navigated intricate solos and rhythmic interplay. From there, they settled into “Cabin Song”, a more contemplative tune that allowed the band to lean into their tight harmonies.
One of the night’s early highlights came with “Lumpy, Beanpole, & Dirt”, where the band delivered an unexpected “Death Trip” tease, paying homage to the Bad Livers and giving a nod to their punk-bluegrass roots. “Seney Stretch”, a tune off Strings new album Highway Prayers, kept the energy high before the band dove into “This Old World”, a modern bluegrass classic, and then turned up the heat with “Ernest T. Grass”.
The first set hit a high point with “Heartbeat of America”, a powerful, politically charged anthem, and fan favorite “Dust In A Baggie” closed the frame.
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The second set began with the uptempo “Leadfoot”. Billy, sporting his Masterton ML-1 Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo, and Billy Failing on guitar, traded licks as the song evolved into a freewheeling jam. They continued with “In The Clear”, which featured further improvisatory exploration.
“Harbor of Love” provided a moment of emotional depth before the band launched into “Watch It Fall”, with its poignant themes of environmental destruction and societal decay.
The energy ramped back up with “Slow Train” and the high-octane “Meet Me At The Creek”. The group then gathered around a single mic for a stripped-down rendition of “Standing In The Need Of Prayer”, a spiritual tune that brought a hush over the crowd. Another highlight came with the performance of “If Your Hair Is Too Long, There’s Sin In Your Heart”.
As the night drew to a close, Strings and his band unleashed a series of fast-paced tunes that kept the energy high, including “Happy Hollow”, “Sophronie”, and the rollicking “Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4 AM)”. But it was the emotionally charged “Away From The Mire” that provided one of the most memorable moments of the evening. The song built to a powerful crescendo, with Billy pouring his heart into the lyrics before taking the crowd on a soaring, cathartic ride.
For the encore, Billy returned solo for a haunting a capella rendition of “And Am I Born To Die?”, a traditional hymn that left the audience in awe. The band returned for one final number, “Ole Slew Foot”, a raucous, barn-burning closer that had everyone dancing in the aisles.
The opening night at Orion Amphitheater was packed with virtuosity and emotion, but that was just round one. Strings returns to the venue tonight for another sold-out bluegrass picking party. He’ll then head to Charlotte, NC for the Concert for Carolina benefit featuring James Taylor, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, and more, followed by 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 – “Hide And Seek” – 10/18/24
Setlist [via Billy Base]: Billy Strings | Orion Amphitheater | Huntsville, AL | 10/18/24
Set One: Hide and Seek, Cabin Song, Lumpy, Beanpole, & Dirt¹, Seney Stretch, This Old World, Ernest T. Grass, Bringing In The Georgia Mail, Heartbeat Of America², I’ve Just Seen The Rock Of Ages, Dust In A Baggie
Set Two: Leadfoot³, In the Clear, Harbor of Love, Watch It Fall, Slow Train, My Love Come Rolling Down, Meet Me At The Creek, Standing In The Need Of Prayer⁴, If Your Hair Is Too Long, There’s Sin In Your Heart⁴, Happy Hollow, Sophronie, Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4 AM), Away From The Mire
Encore: And Am I Born To Die?⁵, Ole Slew Foot
Notes:
¹ “Death Trip” (Bad Livers) tease
² “Who Knows” (Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys) tease
³ Billy on his Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo & Billy Failing on guitar
⁴ Full band front of stage around single mic
⁵ Billy Strings solo a capella (band on stage)
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