Billy Strings

[Kevin Jenness]

I'm watching a concert of Doc Watson's music by the Billy Strings band. If you like mountain music it doesn't get much better than this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk4SWmDbMNI

[Phillip Mitchell]

Thanks for posting that, Kevin. I hadn’t seen that and am looking forward to digging in with this for the next hour +.

Billy Strings is an absolute monster player/songwriter that has taken the bluegrass world by storm that last couple of years. Have you listened to any of his albums / original material? It is revolutionary and I don’t use that term often.

Doc has been a favorite of mine since I started playing guitar 20+ years ago. Spent a lot of years learning to fingerpick and trying to emulate his style (and Tommy Emmanuel / Chet Atkins.) I live within half an hour of his home and have been fortunate enough to see him play several times and even met him a few times before he passed away. What a life he lived!

Last year or so, as part of our nightly bedtime routine, I introduced my youngest son to Doc’s music (he was 3-4 at the time) We spent at least 3 months listening to so many different Doc songs at bedtime, though he had his favorites that we would borderline overplay. His music is part of the curriculum of our family and really happy to see Billy helping to spread it far and wide.

[Kevin Jenness]

I've only seen youtube clips of Billy Strings after reading a profile in the New York Times that focused on his tough upbringing. I was glad to find this one as Doc has been a favorite for a long time. I have his first two lps that I inherited from my uncle, including "Gonna lay down my old guitar" that ends this concert. He was a beautiful soul and a fountain of Appalachian roots music. I was fortunate to see him play several times. It's great to see the tradition carried on in such style.

[Holmes Anderson]

Billy Strings always seems to be on tour so plenty of opportunities to see a live show. Hundreds are available to stream on nugs dot net. Definitely different than a typical bluegrass show.

[Dave Fritz]

Thank you, Doc Watson is one of a kind. Good to see a young fella taking it on.

[Peter Mich]

Thanks for sharing the link. I love it.

[Frank Pratt]

Wow, that young feller has got some busy fingers. Great band.

[Jim Becker]

Billy Strings has been getting a lot of attention lately...a fine bunch of musicians for sure!

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks for this Kevin. Doc Watson has been in my music collection since the days when it was all on vinyl.

jtk

[roger wiegand]

Have to give it a listen. As more of a traditional bluegrass guy I'm leery of anyone who achieve pop status (Doc certainly never did, was fortunate to see him live dozens of times). Have very mixed experience with other bands in a similar vein-- absolutely love the Infamous Stringdusters, like Railroad Earth, can't abide Greensky Bluegrass or the Punch Brothers.

[Jim Becker]

Roger, we live in a time where a wide variety of genres are getting attention and even airplay that "crosses barriers", especially on non-commercial radio and the 'Tube. I first heard Billy Strings on Late Night with Colbert but then there was airplay on my local non-commercial station.

[John K Jordan]

I'm watching a concert of Doc Watson's music by the Billy Strings band. If you like mountain music it doesn't get much better than this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk4SWmDbMNI

Good find, thanks for that!

I've caught Doc Watson a few times when he played in Knoxville, a bunch of years ago.

JKJ

[Keith Outten]

Billy Strings, two thumbs up!

[Dave Bunge]

Billy Strings is very talented and versatile: finger picking, flat picking and singing a variety of styles of music.

Here's one of my recent favorites, Billy finger picking and singing an old Dylan tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-T2qTLF6o

Also, his live performance on stage with Tommy Emmanuel is pretty amazing. Fast forward to the 9:10 mark if you're short on time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO8IwPbALK4

[roger wiegand]

OK, sampled a bunch of what's on Youtube this morning, and I'm impressed. Pretty straightforward bluegrass and flatpicking, done very well. Wonder how/why his band has crossover appeal where so many other similarly good bands don't.

[Jim Becker]

Wonder how/why his band has crossover appeal where so many other similarly good bands don't.

Marketing and exposure done well. I mentioned above that I first heard Billy Strings on Colbert a few months ago. It's not unusual for new acts or old acts with new material to get exposure that way. And "newer" musicians are really working the various media channels, including video on the 'Tube and TikTok really hard these days.

[Holmes Anderson]

OK, sampled a bunch of what's on Youtube this morning, and I'm impressed. Pretty straightforward bluegrass and flatpicking, done very well. Wonder how/why his band has crossover appeal where so many other similarly good bands don't.

Billy Strings has a unique style and sound in addition to the amazing talent. Every show has some straightforward bluegrass and also jams and covers. Last summer and fall most shows included at least a couple of 10+ minute extended jams and one or two grateful dead covers. The atmosphere at the shows is sort of unique too. There is a mix of rednecks, hillbillies, dead heads, millennials, and just plain bluegrass people.