Billy Strings on Sunday provided an update on his growing family after missing his scheduled performances at his Renewal festival to be with his wife, Ally Apostol, who went into labor with the couple’s baby boy shortly before Friday’s show as due to begin.
“Hey yall!! Quick update..” he wrote on social media on Sunday afternoon. “I arrived in Buena vista Thursday night ready to rock out at renewal with my band and all my friends .. but knowing in the back of my mind that there’s a chance I might have to get back to Michigan at a moments notice if my wife went into labor.. we were really hoping that baby boy would wait till Sunday morning at least but he had plans of his own.
“Friday morning I got to the festival site and did a soundcheck and a quick Q&A set about the album..” he continued. “I was hanging out backstage getting ready to rehearse for our set when my wife called and told me her water broke. I immediately hopped on a jet (thank you ringo star [sic] for lending me your ride) and headed back.” [Side note: Wait, that Ringo Starr?? Talk about getting by with a little help from your friends.]
While Billy Strings had to leave his own party, his band and the many other talented musicians on hand at Renewal in Buena Vista made sure that the gathered audience still got a memorable weekend of music. On Friday, Billy’s band—comprised of Billy Failing (banjo), Royal Masat (bass), Jarrod Walker (mandolin) and Alex Hargreaves (fiddle)—handled the scheduled headlining set without Strings, sharing vocals duties and welcomed a string of special guests including cellist Nat Smith (for the full, two-set performance), guitarist/vocalist Jon Stickley (for all of set two), guitarist/vocalist Larry Keel, and members of Mountain Grass Unit.
For the festival’s second and final day on Saturday, Renewal put out an adjusted schedule featuring adjusted performances by booked acts Mountain Grass Unit, Full Cord, Jerry Douglas Band, and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway as well as a “Clusterpick” set hosted by Billy Strings’ band, a Renewal Family Band set featuring “Molly Tuttle, Jerry Douglas, Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat, Alex Hargreaves, Billy Failing, & The Whole Dang Family” (see full setlist), and a dual-band Full Cord vs. Mountain Grass Unit set.
“I was mortified to leave the fans hanging,” Strings added on Sunday, “and to leave the responsibility of the gig to my band and friends who stepped up and kicked ass in my absence. ( I owe you all a cold beer!) but I was so excited to get back to my wife because she needed me…
“I got to Michigan Friday night around midnight and we have been in labor ever since..” Billy went on. “We labored all day yesterday and we’re still in the race. Ally is doing amazing! she is so strong. I’ve never witnessed anything like it. There is an unbelievable amount of strength and courage in that woman. We are still here and she is doing great work. Baby and mother are both healthy. We are hoping to meet our boy today! I’ll let you all know when he’s here. But for now please just keep sending Ally all of your thoughts of love and strength. … I cannot wait to meet him ❤️.”
He added, “Regarding renewal. I WILL find a way to make it up to you.. just give me a sec to be with my family. I’ll figure out a way to make it up to you I promise! … And for those wondering .. as long as all goes well here in the next day or 2, pine knob is definitely a GO!!
“Thank you for your patience and understanding during this amazing time .. and always for your love and support. You all mean the world to me. Thank you 🙏 ,” he concluded.
Read the full update from Billy Strings below and stay tuned for more coverage on the action at Renewal.
View this post on Instagram