Long before sold-out arenas and Grammy wins, Billy Strings was just a kid from Michigan with a passion for flatpicking. In those early years, Billy began posting YouTube videos that fans can still revisit more than a decade later. His 2012 rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock”—recorded when he was just 20—offers a snapshot of that formative era and the style that would eventually help bring bluegrass to a previously unfathomable level of mainstream popularity.

Billy Strings — “Jingle Bell Rock” (Joe Beal, Jim Boothe)

Back in 2012, Strings—then performing under his given name, William Apostol—was honing his craft at house parties, small gigs, and through informal online recordings. Those early clips, including a viral performance of “Dust in a Baggie”, showcased a young musician developing his voice while already displaying remarkable technical skill and confidence.

For fans who have come to cherish Billy Strings’ holiday traditions, the String The Halls series likely comes to mind. The beloved concert series—launched in 2018, continued in 2019, pivoted to virtual performances in 2020—quickly became a seasonal highlight, blending festive standards with virtuosic picking and surprise collaborations. As Live For Live Music has previously covered, String The Halls evolved into something far more than a holiday gimmick, delivering standout moments like the communal, gospel-tinged finale of “I Saw The Light,” featuring an all-star cast including Sierra Hull, Michael Cleveland, Lindsey Lou, Larry Keel, Dave Bruzza, and more.

Billy Strings, Sierra Hull, Michael Cleveland, Lindsey Lou, Larry Keel, Dave Bruzza — “I Saw The Light” (Hank Williams) — Nashville, TN — 12/21/19

[Video: Music City Maven]

For those missing the glow of that series this year, the 2012 “Jingle Bell Rock” clip—and the broader archive of String The Halls videos and nugs livestreams—offers a perfect substitute. Thirteen years later, with a healthy dose of nostalgia, it’s clear that even in a modest holiday jam, the seeds of something special were already there—wrapped, fittingly, in tinsel and twang.

If you need more Billy Strings, nugs has got you covered with over 600 archival shows while we wait for him to return to stages in February 2026. Now through January 5th, nugs is offering new subscribers a year of All Access membership for $99.99, as opposed to the usual $199.99. Start streaming here.

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