Billy Strings‘ two-night weekend stay in St. Louis culminated on Saturday with a full-band Punch Brothers sit-in. What started as a guest spot by bandleading mandolinist Chris Thile eventually evolved into an appearance by the entire group during the 12-song encore.
After a full two-set show with big jams on “Meet Me at the Creek” (featuring a nod to Primus with a “Conspiranoid” tease), “Fire Line”, “Highway Hypnosis”, and “All Fall Down”, Strings returned for the encore with Thile to perform around a single mic. Saturday’s show added to Billy and Chris’ growing history of collaborations, dating back to February 2024 when they played New York’s Lincoln Center and CBS Saturday Morning together in the same weekend. They went on to share the stage for a special duo set to open last summer’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival, then in January, Strings appeared on Thile’s new Energy Curfew Music Hour podcast to perform alongside Chris and his Punch Brothers.
Billy Strings — “Likes Of Me” (Jerry Reed) > “Meet Me At The Creek” — 6/14/25
As Strings explained ahead of the 53-minute encore, Punch Brothers just played a show across town at The Pagaent. With Thile joining him around a single mic, Strings encouraged the rowdy Saturday night crowd to “turn this arena into, like, a library for a second. ‘Cause we’re all un-electrified here.” Billy and Chris proceeded to rocket through a sandwich of traditional “Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit in a Log)” stuffed with Leslie Keith‘s “Black Mountain Rag”.
One of the things that makes Thile one of Strings’ most sought-after guests is the way that he instrumentally challenges the guitarist. From their first onstage interaction at the Lincoln Center for the finale of the 65th Street Sessions concert series, Thile has pushed Strings to his creative limits with his unique approach to songs that Billy has played for years. That level of mutual musical admiration was heard throughout their duo collaborations on Saturday before the rest of the Punch Brothers—Brittany Haas, Noam Pikelny, Chris Eldridge, and Paul Kowert—joined in along with Strings’ bandmates Billy Failing, Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat, and Alex Hargreaves.
While there was limited space around that same single mic, the professional musicians made room for everyone in the jams. Strings kicked things off with Bill Monroe‘s “Uncle Pen”, but Thile got a turn on the mic for Billy’s debut of Jesse Fuller‘s “Ninety Nine Years and One Dark Day”. Despite the multitude of cell phones capturing every note, the gigantic LED screens, and a battalion of professional videographers streaming the show on nugs, Saturday’s encore was able to capture some of that old-time feeling that lies at the heart of the bluegrass ethos. The extended ensemble rummaged through classics from The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Jimmie Skinner, David Grisman, and more before fittingly bidding farewell with Don Reno‘s “I’m Gone, Long Gone”.
Check out some fan-shot videos from Billy Strings in St. Louis, featuring a full-band sit-in by the Punch Brothers. nugs subscribers can replay the livestream and listen to full-show audio. Start streaming on nugs here. Not a subscriber? Get 75% off today with their $5 promo when you order your subscription here. [Editor’s note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your subscription via the links on this page helps to support our work covering the world of live music. Thank you for reading!] Strings’ spring tour will conclude with a set at Charlotte Bluegrass Festival on Thursday and two sold-out nights in Lexington, KY. Check CashOrTrade, Ticketmaster, or StubHub for resale tickets.
Billy Strings, Chris Thile — “Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log)” (Traditional) — 6/14/25
[Video: Doug Heck]
Setlist: Billy Strings | Chaifetz Arena | St. Louis, MO | 6/14/25
Set One: Likes Of Me (Jerry Reed) > Meet Me At The Creek [1], Crossing Muddy Waters (John Hiatt), Show Me The Door, Fire Line, Bronzeback, Love and Regret, Sophronie (Alton Delmore), Ernest T. Grass (Ronnie Bowman, Dan Tyminski) > Secrets
Set Two: Leaning on a Travelin’ Song > Sally Johnson (Traditional), 10,000 Miles From A Friend, Run Down (Jeff Austin) > Kentucky Mandolin (Bill Monroe), Be Your Man, Highway Hypnosis, Harbor of Love (The Stanley Brothers), Blue Mule (Peter Rowan) [2], California Sober, Everything’s The Same, The Cuckoo (Traditional) > Long Forgotten Dream, All Fall Down (John Hartford) [3], The Beginning of the End
Encore: Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log) (Traditional) [4] > Black Mountain Rag (Leslie Keith) [4] > Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log) [4], Uncle Pen (Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys) [5], The Letter Edged In Black (Hattie Nevada) [5], Ninety Nine Years And One Dark Day (Jesse Fuller) [5] [6] [7], Doin’ My Time (Jimmie Skinner) [5], The Lonesome River (The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys) [5], My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling (Bill Monroe) [5], Summertime (Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward) [5] [8] > E.M.D. (Eat My Dust) (David Grisman) [5] [8], Rank Stranger (The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys) [5] [8], I’m Gone, Long Gone (Don Reno) [5]
[1] “Conspiranoia” (Primus) tease
[2] “Blaze On” (Phish) lyric change
[3] “Safety Dance” (Men Without Hats) tease
[4] Billy Strings duet w/ Chris Thile on mandolin around single mic
[5] w/ the Punch Brothers around single mic
[6] w/ Chris Thile on lead vocals
[7] FTP
[8] w/ Paul Kowert on bass