Billy Strings Debuts Covers In Knoxville

Billy Strings continues to widen his band’s repertoire with the latest additions covers of songs by Flatt & Scruggs and Jimmy Martin. The two cover debuts came as part of the group’s Wednesday night concert at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville.

Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing focused on originals such as “Taking Water,” “Tipper,” “Thirst Mutilator” and “All Of Tomorrow” to get last night’s show underway. The quartet then followed their frequently played rendition of The Dillards’ “Ernest T. Grass” with the live debut of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs’ “Somehow Tonight.” Scruggs is credited as the author of “Somehow Tonight.” Billy and his band closed the set with the pairing of Bill Monroe’s “Roll On Buddy Roll On” and The Infamous Stringdusters’ “No More To Leave You Behind.” The latter was last played by Strings on January 11, 2018, the night it was debuted, as per Phantasy Tour.

Last night’s second set began with “Slow Train” before the four-piece worked the traditional “Red Rocking Chair” into New Grass Revival’s “This Heart Of Mine.” Billy and company then performed “Enough To Leave” from their recently released Home LP and “On The Line” from 2017’s Turmoil & Tin Foil. “On The Line” gave way to “Train 45” as usual and was followed by originals “A Love Like Me” and “Must Be Seven.” A take on Muleskinner’s “Blue Mule” led into “Doin’ Things Right” and then the group unveiled their version of Jimmy Martin’s “My Walkin’ Shoes.” Staple “Meet Me At The Creek” ended the frame and the band gathered around a single mic to close out the night with Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road.”

Watch a series of fan-shot videos captured by Music City Maven below:

No More To Leave You Behind

Earnest T. Grass/Somehow Tonight

My Walking Shoes

Seven Bridges Road

Setlist