Billy Strings Makes ‘Austin City Limits’ Debut

Watch Billy Strings make his ACL debut along with a set from Sarah Jarosz.

By Nate Todd Oct 24, 2021 • 9:14 am PDT

Billy Strings Austin City Limits Debut

 Photo courtesy KLRU-TV/Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton

Billy Strings made his Austin City Limits debut last night on PBS. Strings performed songs from his Grammy-winning 2019 album Home, his 2021 LP Renewal and more on the renowned live music program.

Fellow Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz opened up the episode, making her third appearance on Austin City Limits. Jarosz performed songs from her 2020 album World On The Ground, which is a collection of songs reflecting on growing up in Wimberley, Texas not far from Austin. Those songs included the Grammy-nominated “Hometown.” Sarah also delivered a cover of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” ahead of set closer “I’ll Be Gone.”

Billy Strings got his Austin City Limits debut underway with the staple “Dust In A Baggie.” Billy and his band — mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjo player Billy Failing — then got into material from Home with “Must Be Seven.” Billy led the band through the first two verses before Failing took a quick solo and Strings returned to the third verse and the bridge. He then reeled off a solo of his own before kicking it over to Walker. Failing would take one final banjo run before Billy brought the song home.

“Red Daisy,” a co-write between Walker and frequent collaborator fiddler Christian Ward, followed. Billy then cooled things down a bit with a gorgeous performance of Home’s “Love Like Me.” Next, Billy picked out the opening strains of “Away From The Mire,” which saw the band throwing the solos around and Billy also letting loose with an extended run ahead of the conclusion of his debut performance on Austin City Limits.

Watch Billy Strings and Sarah Jarosz perform on ACL below:

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Tour Dates for Sarah Jarosz

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