Billy Strings

Billy Strings

A Michigan native who's lived in Nashville since 2015, Strings didn't set out to become known as a singer, although he's become recognized as one of acoustic music's most expressive vocalists. His melodies are often breezy but there’s often a counterpoint within the lyrics, especially on songs like “The Fire on My Tongue.” “I never set out to be the best singer. My goal was just to master expressing myself through bluegrass music and so many of those players just sing how they talk. Then, when I grew up, I learned that I liked Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin, so that influenced me, too. A song on this record like Red Daisy’ is totally a bluegrass song, but there’s also a song like ‘Leaders’ that I wrote with my buddy Steve Poltz. Who even knows how to define that one?” The musicianship throughout Renewal is outstanding, as Strings surrounds himself with touring bandmates Billy Failing (banjo, vocals, piano), Royal Masat (bass, vocals), and Jarrod Walker (mandolin, vocals, guitar), as well as guests John Mailander (violin), Spencer Cullum Jr. (pedal steel) and Grant Millikem (synth). In addition to producing, Wilson plays percussion, celesta, and harpsichord. The instrumental tracks “Ice Bridges” and “Running the Route” especially show the camaraderie of the sessions. Strings grew up playing traditional bluegrass with his dad until he was introduced to a new generation of younger artists embracing acoustic music. That revelation led to his own willingness to branch out beyond bluegrass and his ability to pull in fans from every corner of the live music scene, which is evident through recent collaborations with everyone from Luke Combs to RMR, Del McCoury to Fences.

See Billy Strings tour dates