Billy Strings returned to Memphis, TN’s FedEx Forum last night after kicking off his final run of 2024 at the venue on Friday. The evening featured a varied mix of solo, duo, trio, and full-band arrangements sprinkled with personal stories and thrilling jams, showcasing Strings’ versatility and his band’s cohesion.

Billy opened the show solo, seated at the front of stage for “Be Your Man” and “Dust In A Baggie”. He then welcomed Jarrod Walker to join him on mandolin for a duo version of “Thirst Mutilator”. Fiddler Alex Hargreaves then came out for a trio rendition of Jimmie Rodgers‘ “Sleep, Baby, Sleep”, which Strings prefaced with a pair of heartfelt anecdotes. First he reminisced about hearing his dad play the song as a child through their house’s paper-thin walls, and then he told the crowd how it was the first song he played for his own newborn son when he came home from the hospital. The touching moment was the emotional centerpiece of the first set, though the show was still just getting started.

The band reached full strength after that, as bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing joined the trio around a single mic for “Freedom” and “How Long Have I Been Waiting For You?”. The quintet then took their posts as the set continued with “Slow Train” and extended, jammed out versions of “While I’m Waiting Here” and “Away From The Mire” with “Must Be Seven” interpolated between the two. The first frame concluded with “New Country Blues”, “Ernest T. Grass”, which featured a slow, funky intro,  and “Ridin’ That Midnight Train”.

The musical highlight of the night, and perhaps the whole run, was an inspired jam on “Gild The Lily”, but that 13-minute opus wouldn’t arrive until the end of the second set. First came tight versions of “Malfunction Junction” and “Secrets”, which gave way to a sprawling “Fire Line” jam. Then a pairing of “The Lonesome River” and “In The Morning Light” led into a short yet memorable “The Preacher And The Bear”. Another compact composition, “Cabin Song”, then preceded the first debut of the night, the traditional “St. James Hospital”.

Billy broke out his “Bride” Preston-Thompson D-SBA Custom guitar for “Guitar Peace” and Pink Floyd‘s “Fearless” then presented “Libby Phillips Rag” before diving into the standout “Gild The Lily” jam to finish the set.

Another debut, this time a cover of The Delmore Brothers‘ “Midnight Train” drove it home in the encore slot, bringing a strong weekend in Memphis to a close.

Billy Strings’ tour continues this Tuesday in Tulsa, OK. Fans can stream the whole tour live via nugs.net. Not subscribed? Sign up here to access these and other subscriber-exclusive livestreams in addition to an extensive catalog of live concert recordings. [Editor’s Note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your nugs subscription or purchasing a download/Billy Strings livestream via the links on this page helps support our coverage of the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]

Scroll down to check out a gallery of images from Billy Strings in Memphis courtesy of photographer Allison Scavo.

Billy Strings – “Be Your Man”, “Dust In A Baggie”, “Thirst Mutilator” – 12/7/24

Billy Strings – “St. James Hospital” – 12/7/24

[Video: MrTopdogger]

Billy Strings – “Fearless (Pink Floyd)” – 12/7/24

[Video: MB1 Music]

Billy Strings – “In The Morning Light” – 12/7/24

[Video: MB1 Music]

Billy Strings – “Sleep Baby Sleep (Jimmie Rodgers)” – 12/7/24

[Video: MB1 Music]

Billy Strings – “Away From The Mire” – 12/7/24

[Video: MB1 Music]

Billy Strings – “Gild The Lily” – 12/7/24

[Video: J.R. Tomberlin]

Setlist [via BillyBase]: Billy Strings | FedEx Forum | Memphis, TN | 12/7/24

Set 1: Be Your Man [1], Dust In A Baggie [1], Thirst Mutilator [2], Sleep, Baby, Sleep [3, 4], Freedom [6], How Long Have I Been Waiting On You? [6], Slow Train, While I’m Waiting Here, Must Be Seven, Away From The Mire, New Country Blues, Ernest T. Grass [7], Ridin’ That Midnight Train
Set 2: Malfunction Junction, Secrets, Fire Line, The Lonesome River, In The Morning Light, The Preacher & The Bear, Cabin Song, St. James Hospital [8], Guitar Peace [9], Fearless [9], Libby Phillips Rag, Gild The Lily
Encore: Midnight Train [10]

  1. Billy Strings Solo, Seated Front of Stage
  2. Billy Strings and Jarrod Walker Duo, Seated Front of Stage
  3. Billy Strings, Jarrod Walker & Alex Hargreaves Trio, Seated Front of Stage
  4. Billy Shared 2 Stories: first as a kid growing up in his trailer and often falling asleep hearing his dad playing this song through the paper-thin walls. Second, he shared about driving his son home from the hospital and this being the first song Billy sang to his new baby boy
  5. Last Time Played 20232-10-04 | 78 Shows
  6. Full Band Around Single Mic, Front of Stage
  7. w/ Slow, Funky Intro.
  8. FTP – Traditional
  9. Billy Strings on his “Bride” Preston-Thompson D-SBA Custom guitar
  10. FTP – The Delmore Brothers