Billy Strings Fires Up European Tour In Amsterdam

Billy Strings was back overseas Monday night to embark on another tour of Europe. Strings and his bandmates started their 2023 European Tour with the first of two shows at Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Strings’ first time performing at Paradiso began with a first-time performance of John Hartford’s “Windows,” a deep cut from the late fiddler’s 1968 record, The Love Album. Fiddler Alex Hargreaves took the spotlight near the end of the song, leading Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing into The Dillards’ “There Is A Time.”

Among the other notable covers played in the first set was Widespread Panic’s “Pickin’ Up The Pieces,” marking just its fourth time appearing in one of Strings’ setlists. The set also featured a cover of The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Sin City,” which was performed one day after what would have been the song’s co-author Gram Parsons’ birthday.

Originals like “Red Daisy,” the instrumental “Pyramid Country” and “This Old World” filled in the set alongside traditional tunes “John Hardy” and “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town.” Strings’ staple “Meet Me At The Creek” closed out the opening set.

“Dust In A Baggie” brought the band back from set break and was the first of a 17-song set that mixed other staples with a few choice rarities. Less frequently played songs that landed in the second half included Doc & Merle Watson’s arrangements of “Red Rocking Chair” and “Down Yonder,” the Delmore Brothers’ “Blues Stay Away From Me,” the original “Cabin Song” and the recently debuted “Alabama Jubilee” making its second appearance.

The rarities were stacked against stalwarts “Love and Regret,” “Hellbender,” “Taking Water,” “Ice Bridges,” “In The Morning Light,” and “Highway Hypnosis,” and covers of “Shady Grove” and “Slow Train.” Strings delivered an acapella version of “Am I Born To Die?,” which set the set- closing pairing of “Home” and “Y’all Come.”

Fans in attendance at Monday’s tour opener at Paradiso included members of Goose and their crew. After a couple of days off, Goose’s own tour of Europe continues today with a performance at Melkweg in Amsterdam.

Strings also performs in Amsterdam today, Tuesday, November 7. A single-camera livestream from the Paradiso front of house (dubbed “AndyCam” after soundman Andy Lytle) is available to nugs.net subscribers, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set One: Windows [1] > There Is A Time, Red Daisy, Pyramid Country > John Hardy > Pickin’ Up The Pieces, This Old World, The Train That Carried My Girl From Town, Sin City, Meet Me At The Creek

Set Two: Dust In A Baggie, Red Rocking Chair (Doc and Merle version), Blues Stay Away From Me, Love and Regret, Hellbender, Cabin Song > Alabama Jubilee, Down Yonder, Taking Water > Ice Bridges, In The Morning Light, Highway Hypnosis, Shady Grove, Slow Train, And Am I Born To Die? [2], Home, Y’all Come

Notes:

• [1] FTP- John Hartford
• [2] Billy Strings solo acapella