Billy Strings Caps Record-Breaking Denver Run With Greensky Bluegrass Collaboration

Billy Strings was joined by guitarist Dave Bruzza and mandolinist Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass, a band he considers one of his biggest influences, for a three-song sequence in Denver on Sunday night. The surprise collaboration came during the final night of Strings’ three-night stand at Ball Arena.

Strings’ sold-out run in Denver was the first stop of his winter tour. On Friday, the guitarist set a record for his largest indoor crowd to date. Then, Billy broke his newly established record on Saturday. “This is absolutely, positively the biggest indoor crowd we’ve ever played for,” Strings told the audience as pointed out by Live For Live Music and added, “You guys kicked so much ass! Thank you guys!”

Unlike past Billy Strings arena shows, tickets for Ball Arena were sold in a 360° configuration. Fans were able to purchase seats behind the stage and in other locations with limited views yet that didn’t stop them from packing the room.

Despite the busy weekend, Strings found time to stop by Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street kitchen on Saturday morning to help the organization. The old adage “Never Miss A Sunday Show” then proved correct last night, as Strings and bandmates bassist Royal Masat, mandolin player Jarrod Walker, banjoist Billy Failing and fiddler Alex Hargreaves delivered a 24-song performance filled with highlights.

After opening with “Slow Train,” Strings led his mates through “Must Be Seven” and Failing was spotlighted on a cover of David Grisman’s “Ralph’s Banjo Special.” The five musicians then worked “While I’m Waiting Here” into “Train, Train” and paired traditional bluegrass tunes “Ernest T Grass” and “Little Maggie.” Originals “Hellbender” and “Love & Regret” followed along with a take on “Streamline Cannonball.” Billy then pulled “Stratosphere Blues / I Believe In You” from his 2024 album Highway Prayers before a well-jammed “Turmoil & Tinfoil” closed the first set complete with “Pipeline” and “Inspector Gadget Theme” teases.

Billy Strings focused the start of his second set on original material: “Taking Water,” “Ice Bridges,” “Gone A Long Time,” “Be Your Man” and “Highway Hypnosis.” Strings then introduced Paul Hoffman and Dave Bruzza. Greensky Bluegrass, who like Billy Strings were bred in Michigan, gave the guitarist one of his biggest breaks when they recruited him to open for them during an extensive 2018 tour. Strings also acknowledges GSBG were the band that showed him he could fit jamming and elements of rock into his bluegrass sound.

“Yeah, these fellas thought they were gonna come to the show and not have to work for it,” Strings quipped as Bruzza and Hoffman took the stage to massive applause. “Not gonna happen.”

The GSBG/BMFS collaboration began with the Hoffman-penned original “Reverend,” which has been part of Strings’ live repertoire for over five years. Paul Hoffman and Billy Strings traded vocal duties on the tune. The seven musicians then honored John Hartford with a cover of “Get No Better” before ending their time together with Greensky’s “Courage For The Road.” Strings had only played the latter once prior at one of his own shows on October 30, 2021.

Billy Strings followed Hoffman and Bruzza’s appearance by wrapping the closing stanza with Highway Prayers cut “The Beginning Of The End.” Strings treated fans to an encore of Highway Prayers’ “Richard Petty” and a cover of Jimmy Martin’s “Tennessee.” Both were performed in front a single mic with the former sang a capella.

Watch Billy Strings perform in Denver with Greensky’s Paul Hoffman and Dave Bruzza via fan-shot video below:

Setlist (via bmfsdb.com)

Set One: Slow Train, Must Be Seven, Ralph’s Banjo Special, While I’m Waiting Here > Train Train, Ernest T Grass > Little Maggie, Hellbender, Love & Regret, Streamline Cannonball, Stratsophere Blues / I Believe In You, Turmoil & Tinfoil

Set Two: In The Clear, Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Gone A Long Time, Be Your Man, Highway Hypnosis, Reverend*, Get No Better*, Courage For The Road*, The Beginning Of The End

Encore: Richard Petty, Tennessee

* – w/ Paul Hoffman and Dave Bruzza