Billy Strings Plays Rare Covers In Huntsville

Billy Strings concluded a two-night stand at Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, Alabama on Saturday. The guitarist reached in his bag to pull out a trio of rare covers throughout the concert.

After kicking off the show with “I Like Train Songs,” off Billy Strings’ 2026 album So Much For Goodbyes, the guitarist and his band rolled through “Randall Collins” for just the 5th time since its debut in 2020. On the shelf since June 19, 2025, Billy and company’s rendition of the Norman Blake song arrived 99 shows back.

Strings kept the rarities rolling with the traditional “Done Gone.” Billy unveiled the tune live for the first time in Glasgow, Scotland three years ago. The performance in Huntsville marked the song’s 6th appearance and first since February at a Billy Strings concert.

Elsewhere in the first frame, Strings offered the Highway Prayers companion songs “Stratosphere Blues” and “I Believe In You.” Billy played a Martin Grand J-28E double-neck (12-string/six-string) guitar while bassist Royal Masat manned a Nord Stage 3 keyboard. Banjo player Billy Failing took to an ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo for “Stratosphere Blues”/“I Believe In You.” The favorite “Meet Me At The Creek” wrapped the first set.

Set two began with a pairing of older original “Taking Water” and traditional “Reuben’s Train.” The quintet had another dust-off in store for the second set with the traditional “Walking Boss,” last played on June 13, 2025 for a 101-show gap.

To seal the show, Masat stepped to the mic to lead a cover of The Beatles' “I’ll Cry Instead” ahead of So Much For Goodbyes — a solo album Billy wrote in remembrance of his late mother — “Remember To Cry.”

Livestreams of Saturday’s show in Huntsville and Billy Strings’ fall tour, including this weekend’s Halloween shows, are available via nugs.

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set 1: I Like Train Songs, Randall Collins [1], Done Gone [2], Happy Hollow, While I’m Waiting Here, Ernest T. Grass, Ole Slew Foot, Stratosphere Blues / I Believe in You [3], Dust In A Baggie, Psycho, Meet Me At The Creek

Set 2: Taking Water, Reuben’s Train, Mill Town Flood, Long Forgotten Dream, The Cuckoo, Walking Boss [4], The Cuckoo, Light The Way, Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor, Doin’ Things Right, I’ll Cry Instead [5], Remember To Cry

Notes:

• 1. Last Time Played 2025-06-19 | 99 show gap
• 2. Last Time Played 2026-02-13 | 46 show gap
• 3. Billy Strings on a Martin Grand J-28E, Royal Masat on a Nord Stage 3 88-Key Keyboard & Billy Failing on Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Baritone Banjo
• 4. Last Time Played 2025-06-13 | 101 show gap
• 5. Royal Masat on lead vocals