Billy Strings has gifted fans with a treasure trove of pro-shot concert footage, uploading five full-show videos to his YouTube channel from standout performances spanning the past two years. From the intimate confines of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to his largest show to date at Denver’s Ball Arena, each video captures Strings and his band ascending creative peaks at notable venues, whether paying tribute to grunge legends, diving deep into traditional material, or stretching originals into extended improvisational journeys. Together, the pro-shot videos offer front-row access to some of the most memorable performances from Strings’ recent tours.
First up, 2/25/24 standout performance at the iconic Ryman Auditorium featuring an ambitious Nirvana Unplugged tribute alongside covers spanning grunge, jam, and bluegrass traditions. Special guests Nate Smith (cello), Jamie Dick (drums), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), and Molly Tuttle joined Strings for a memorable evening that included tributes to Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Phish, Leftover Salmon, and Widespread Panic. The encore brought the full band and guests around a single microphone for a traditional rendering of Hank Williams‘ “I Saw The Light.”
Billy Strings – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN – 2/25/24
Setlist: Billy Strings | Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN | 2/25/24
Set One: Fire Line, Reuben’s Train (Traditional) [1] > Thirst Mutilator [2] > Reuben’s Train (Traditional), While I’m Waiting Here, Cold Cold World (Blaze Foley), Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Meet Me At The Creek, Nothing’s Working [3], Nutshell (Alice In Chains) [3], Red Rocking Chair (New Lost City Ramblers) [3], Back On The Train (Phish) [3] [4], Down In The Hollow (Leftover Salmon) [3] [4] [5]
Set Two: Home, My Alice, Heartbeat Of America, Show Me The Door [3], Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (Pearl Jam) [3] [6], Crown Of Thorns (Mother Love Bone) [3] > Leaders [3], Pickin’ Up The Pieces (Widespread Panic) [3] [4], Highway Hypnosis [3] [4], Something in the Way (Nirvana) [3] [7], About A Girl (Nirvana) [3] [7]
Encore: I Saw The Light (Hank Williams And His Drifting Cowboys) [3] [4] [8] [9]
[1] “Third Stone From The Sun” (Jimi Hendrix) tease
[2] Slow intro
[3] w/ Nate Smith on cello and Jamie Dick on drums
[4] w/ Ronnie McCoury on mandolin
[5] Mayor McCheese danced across the stage, a nod to Leftover Salmon who originally released this song.
[6] Billy shared the story of winning his 4th grade talent show with this song, inspired by his mom’s love of music and Pearl Jam.
[7] FTP
[8] w/ Molly Tuttle on guitar
[9] Full band and guests around single mic
8/23/24, the opening night of Strings’ two-night summer tour finale at L.A.’s Kia Forum delivered an extended “Meet Me at the Creek” that ventured through The Doors‘ “Hyacinth House” before returning home. The show balanced original compositions with traditional material and closed with Alice In Chains‘ “Nutshell” flowing into “Wargasm”.
Billy Strings – Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA – 8/23/24
Setlist: Billy Strings | Kia Forum | Inglewood, CA | 8/23/24
Set One: Seven Weeks In County, Home Of The Red Fox > Ole Slew Foot (Johnny Horton), In The Morning Light, Red Daisy, Meet Me At The Creek > Hyacinth House (The Doors) > Meet Me At The Creek, East Virginia Blues (Traditional), Freedom, Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log) (Traditional)
Set Two: California Sober > Pretty Daughter (Bad Livers), Hellbender, Love and Regret, End Of The Rainbow (Frank Wakefield) > Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Love Like Me, Whisper My Name (New Grass Revival), Fire Line > Reuben’s Train (Traditional)
Encore: Nutshell (Alice In Chains) > Wargasm
1/25/25, Strings’ biggest show to date, drawing approximately 20,000 fans to Denver’s Ball Arena. The setlist paid tribute to late Yonder Mountain String Band frontman Jeff Austin with a performance of “Run Down”, along with covers of Widespread Panic and The Seldom Scene.
Billy Strings – Ball Arena – Denver, CO – 1/25/25
Setlist [via bmfsdb.com]: Billy Strings | Ball Arena | Denver, CO | 1/25/25
Set One: Red Daisy, Heartbeat of America, In the Morning Light, All Fall Down (John Hartford), Happy Hollow, Long Forgotten Dream, Away From the Mire, Wait a Minute (The Seldom Scene), Fire Line
Set Two: Hide and Seek, Bronzeback > John Hardy (Traditional), Seven Weeks in County, California Sober, Run Down (Jeff Austin), Alberta (Doc Watson), Sally Goodin > (Traditional), Secrets, Pickin’ Up the Pieces (Widespread Panic), Dust in a Baggie
Encore: Big Spike Hammer (The Osborne Brothers)
4/19/25, Strings’ 2025 spring tour closer featured a rare performance of Gordon Lightfoot‘s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”—only the third time Strings played the maritime ballad commemorating the 1975 Lake Superior tragedy. The evening’s centerpiece was a 16-minute “Thunder”, featuring lyrics by Grateful Dead wordsmith Robert Hunter, while solo acoustic moments showcased Strings on clawhammer banjo.
Billy Strings – Koka Booth Amphitheatre – Cary, NC – 4/19/25
Setlist [via BillyBase]: Billy Strings | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | Cary, NC | 4/19/25
Set One: Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Must Be Seven > Thunder (Robert Hunter) [1], Greenville Trestle High (James Jett) [2], Gone A Long Time, Living Like An Animal > New Country Blues (Emmitt-Nershi Band), Be Your Man > Thirst Mutilator > Hollow Heart
Set Two: Groundhog (Traditional) [3], Country Blues (“Dock” Boggs) [4], Secrets > How Mountain Girls Can Love (The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys), Escanaba, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Tennessee Stud (Jimmie Driftwood), Happy Birthday To You (Cliff Richard), Running The Route [5] > End Of The Rainbow (Frank Wakefield)
Encore: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot)
[1] “Must Be Seven” teases
[2] Last Time Played 2024-04-13 | 71 show gap
[3] Billy Strings solo front of stage
[4] Billy Strings solo on clawhammer banjo front of stage
[5] After noticing a birthday sign in the crowd, Billy led the crowd and band in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Keller’s 10th birthday.
Last but not least, 5/31/25 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. A 17-minute “Meet Me at the Creek” anchored the first set, while the second set featured a cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Tangled Up In Blue”. The show highlighted Strings’ versatility with solo acoustic performances, full-band arrangements around a single microphone, and even a baritone banjo appearance on “Leadfoot”.
Billy Strings – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI – 5/31/25
Setlist: Billy Strings | Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids, MI | 5/31/25
Set One: Must Be Seven > Meet Me At The Creek [1], John Deere Tractor (Lawrence Hammond), Thirst Mutilator > Taking Water, My Alice, Seven Weeks in County, Slow Train (Leroy Drumm, Cal Freeman), If Your Hair Is Too Long, There’s Sin In Your Heart (Bobby Davidson) [2], Harbor of Love (The Stanley Brothers) [3], Malfunction Junction > Little Maggie (Traditional)
Set Two: Leadfoot [4], Love and Regret, Whisper My Name (New Grass Revival), Love Like Me, Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan) > All Fall Down (John Hartford), Catch and Release [5], Brown’s Ferry Blues (Delmore Brothers) [5], Sally Goodin (Traditional) > Know It All, I’m One Of Those, Turmoil & Tinfoil, The Beginning of the End, Old Home Place (The Dillards) [6]
[1] “Inspector Gadget” (Levy & Saban) tease
[2] Full band (minus Alex) around single mic, front of stage
[3] Full band around single mic, front of stage
[4] Billy Strings on his Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo & Billy Failing on Guitar
[5] Billy Strings solo
[6] Last Time Played 2024-09-27 | 53 show gap
Train songs: 1
With Strings and his band continuing to push the boundaries between bluegrass tradition and improvisational exploration, these videos offer a comprehensive look at where Strings has been and hint at where he might be headed as he gears up for 2026. For more Billy Strings concert videos and live audio recordings, head to nugs. [Note: Live For Live Music is a nugs affiliate. Ordering your subscription or purchasing a download via the links on this page helps support our work covering the world of live music. Thank you for reading!]