After staging an epic theatrical production based on O Brother, Where Art Thou on Halloween, Billy Strings returned to CFG Arena on Friday to finish his two-night stand in Baltimore with an unforgettable, special guest-filled finale.

The entire first set comprised all 20 tracks of his recently released album, Highway Prayers, including the debut of the 420-friendly, “MORBUD4ME”. Opening with “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song”, Billy welcomed frequent collaborator (and his former neighbor) Lindsay Lou. From there, he plowed through Highway Prayers’ tracklist, with tunes like “Escanaba” and “In the Clear” capturing both the roots and reach of Billy’s sound. When “Gild the Lily” came up, the presence of Widespread Panic‘s Duane Trucks on drums, Cris Jacobs on twelve-string guitar, and Nat Smith on cello infused a lush, layered feel that transported the crowd into a cinematic, almost orchestral atmosphere.

Throughout the night, the chemistry on stage was palpable. With each guest’s arrival, Billy adapted, bringing out new textures and angles to his music. “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe in You” saw the return of Duane Trucks and added Smith on keyboard, alongside Lou’s harmonious backup vocals.

Then, there was “MORBUD4ME”. Having rolled out the rest of Highway Prayers following its release at the end of September, Billy Strings debuted the stoner’s anthem with a touch of theatrical flair, using a bong and sampler to craft a live beat. Sierra Hull, Lindsay Lou, and Rachael Davis joined in on the sesh, providing backup vocals.

Billy Strings – “MORBUD4ME” – 11/1/24

[Video: Troy Laur]

After the Highway Prayers marathon, Billy Strings shifted gears and delighted fans with a second set stacked with covers that ran the gamut from bluegrass to rock and beyond. Starting with a rousing rendition of “Baltimore Johnny” by The Del McCoury Band, strings was joined by Sierra Hull, who returned to the stage for a series of bluegrass classics. The pair of bluegrass torchbearers worked through Bill Monroe’s “Midnight on the Stormy Deep” and the traditional “Little Maggie”, each song highlighting the exceptional synergy between the musicians and paying homage to genre’s deep roots.

As the covers flowed, so did the guests. Jerry Douglas, who played his dobro on a few songs in set one, returned for “Can’t Let Go” alongside Rachael Davis, Leftover Salmon‘s Vince Herman, Duane Trucks, Lindsay Lou, and Sierra Hull, transforming the stage into a festive bluegrass jam session. The company’s rendition of Blind Willie Johnson’s “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” marked its first performance since 2019, with Herman bringing a gravelly edge to the bluesy favorite.

Then came some unexpected Halloween treats. The night’s heavy metal highlight arrived with a fiery rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” featuring Duane Trucks on drums. This unexpected detour into hard rock ignited the audience, with Billy unleashing a blistering solo that honored the original while stamping it with his own distinct style.

Billy Strings with Duane Trucks – “Leaders”, “Paranoid” (Black Sabbath) – 11/1/24

[Video: Bassjedi32]

Other crowd-pleasers included Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream”, performed with Cris Jacobs, and a geographically appropriate “Streets of Baltimore” that saw the company in full force. “Dust in a Baggie”, which featured Douglas and Trucks, added a nostalgic touch, connecting back to the beginning of Strings’ musical journey for those who have followed his career from its early days.

The night ended with a cheerful take on “Y’all Come”, bringing all of the evening’s guests back for a final hurrah. The energy on stage was infectious as the musicians joined in with big smiles, spontaneous solos, and a sense of camaraderie that left fans with a feeling of being part of something truly special.

Billy Strings’ Halloween run finale not only showcased the brilliance of Highway Prayers but also celebrated the eclecticism and community spirit that define his music. With surprises, an extra heady debut, and a powerful collection of covers, Billy proved once again that he’s a master of both innovation and tradition.

Check out a video playlist and photos from Billy Strings’ Halloween finale in Baltimore below, and scroll down to view the full setlist.

Next up, Strings returns to the stage for a special 50th anniversary taping of Austin City Limits featuring Leon Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., and many more on November 21st at The Moody Theatre in Austin, TX. Billy will close out 2024 with a December run that includes a three-night New Year’s Eve celebration at New Orleans’ UNO Lakefront Arena. His 2025 winter tour will kick off in January with three “360° shows” at Denver’s Ball Arena, followed by two weekends at Asheville’s ExploreAsheville.com Arena in February, a two-night stand in Atlanta, and a three-show homecoming in Nashville, finishing at the legendary Ryman Auditorium on March 2nd. For a full list of dates and tickets, head here.

Billy Strings – “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song” (With Lindsay Lou), “In the Clear”, “Escanaba” – 11/1/24

 Billy Strings – CFG Bank Arena – Baltimore, MD – 11/1/24

[Videos: Bassjedi32]

 

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Setlist [via Billy Base]: Billy Strings | CFG Bank Arena | Baltimore, MD | 11/1/24

Set 1: Leaning on a Travelin’ Song [1], In the Clear, Escanaba, Gild the Lily [2], Seven Weeks in County [3], Stratosphere Blues / I Believe in You [4] [5], Cabin Song, Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4 AM) [6], Malfunction Junction [7], Catch and Release [8], Be Your Man [9], Gone A Long Time [3] [9], It Ain’t Before, My Alice, Seney Stretch, MORBUD4ME [10] [11], Leadfoot [12], Happy Hollow, The Beginning of the End, Richard Petty [13] [14]
Set 2: Baltimore Johnny [7], Midnight On The Stormy Deep [9] [15], Little Maggie [7] [9], Can’t Let Go [16] [17], Nobody’s Fault But Mine [17] [18] [19], Leaving London [20], John Hardy [9], John Law Burned Down The Liquor Sto’ [21] [22] [23], Hey Joe [24] [25], Act Naturally [26] [27], Ain’t No More Cane on the Brazos [27] [28], Leaders [29], Paranoid [29] [30], Running Down a Dream [31] [32], The Streets Of Baltimore [33] [34], Dust In A Baggie [35], Y’all Come [36]

SETLIST NOTES

  1. w/ Lindsay Lou (Bluegrass and Americana singer and songwriter) on vocals
  2. w/ Royal on bass guitar, Nat Smith (Internationally-performing cellist), Duane Trucks (Widespread Panic drummer), and Cris Jacobs (Local American singer and songwriter)
  3. w/ Duane Trucks (drums)
  4. Billy Strings on a Martin 12-String HD12-28 & Royal Masat on a Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard
  5. w/ Duane Trucks (drums), Nat Smith (Prophet Rev2 Synthesizer), and Lindsay Lou (vocals)
  6. w/ Jerry Douglas (Grammy award-winning Dobro player)
  7. w/ Sierra Hull (Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist)
  8. Billy Strings solo
  9. w/ Jerry Douglas (dobro)
  10. Debut – Original
  11. Billy on a small MG10XU 10-Channel Mixer, using a Boss Vocal Looper
  12. w/ Billy on Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo, Billy Failing on guitar, and Duane Trucks (drums)
  13. Band (minus Alex) single mic front of stage
  14. All of Set 1 is Billy’s new album Highway Prayers played in full from Track 1-20 w/ Special Guests
  15. w/ Sierra Hull on vocals and mandolin
  16. FTP – Randy Weeks
  17. w/ Duane Trucks (drums), Sierra Hull (mandolin, vocals), Rachael Davis (vocals), Vince Herman (guitar), Jerry Douglas (dobro), and Lindsay Lou (vocals)
  18. Vince Herman and Lindsay Lou on lead vocals
  19. Last Time Played 2019-12-21 | 411 Shows
  20. w/ Jerry Douglas (dobro) and Nat Smith (cello)
  21. w/ Chris Thomas King (New Orleans Grammy and Country Music Award-winning blues guitarist, actor, and author) on guitar and lead vocals
  22. w/ Sierra Hull (mandolin), Lindsay Lou (vocals), Rachael Davis (vocals), and Jerry Douglas (dobro)
  23. FTP – Chris Thomas King
  24. Jerry Douglas on lead vocals and dobro & Nat Smith (cello)
  25. Last Time Played 2021-09-18 | 306 Shows
  26. FTP – Johnny Russell
  27. w/ Tim Blake Nelson (American actor and director) on lead vocals, Vince Herman on vocals and guitar, Nat Smith (cello), Chris Thomas King (guitar), Sierra Hull (mandolin, vocals), Lindsay Lou (vocals), Rachael Davis (vocals), and Duane Trucks (drums)
  28. FTP – Traditional
  29. Billy on his electric PRS guitar, Duane Trucks (drums), Nat Smith (Prophet Rev2 Synthesizer), and Royal on electric bass
  30. Last Time Played 2019-11-13 | 422 Shows
  31. w/ Cris Jacobs on lead vocals and guitar, Duane Trucks (drums), and Nat Smith (cello)
  32. Last Time Played 2019-05-11 | 496 Shows
  33. w/ Cris Jacobs on lead vocals and guitar, Jerry Douglas (dobro), Duane Trucks (drums), and Nat Smith (cello)
  34. Last Time Played 2022-07-22 | 212 Shows
  35. w/ Jerry Douglas (Dobro), Cris Jacobs (guitar), and Duane Trucks (drums)
  36. w/ Everyone