Billy Strings Wraps Guest-Filled Nashville Run With ‘Mother Church’ Ryman Finale

Billy Strings returned to The Ryman Auditorium on Sunday to complete a three show run in Nashville that followed two nights at the nearby Bridgestone Arena. Each concert in Music City featured numerous special guests, with Strings leading a stripped-down third show while presenting a “Mother Church” themed setlist at the Mother Church.

Friday and Saturday’s shows at Bridgestone Arena saw dobro player Anders Beck of Greensky Bluegrass and former Del McCoury Band fiddler Jason Carter joining Strings and his bandmates. Night two also featured Tim O’Brien adding mandolin to a few songs as well.

Sunday’s Ryman finale saw banjoist Billy Failing, bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and fiddler Alex Hargreaves wearing matching old-timey attire. After opening the first set with “John Deere Tractor,” Strings addressed the Ryman crowd.

“So good to see you all, and so good to be back here at the beautiful Ryman,” Strings said. “We’re gonna strip it down a little bit tonight and play a little bluegrass for you.”

Like the opening song, the rest of the first set consisted of songs with lyrics and/or titles mentioning mothers, moms, mamas and motherhood. Strings debuted a cover of “Put My Little Shoes Away” and welcomed guitarist Ronnie Bowman for “Mother’s Not Dead.” Bowman returned at the end of the set for “No Mother Or Dad” and “Mama Don’t Allow,” which also featured Eddie Barbash on saxophone. Barbash was also tapped to add sax to “Psycho” and “Mama Tried.”

The opening “Mother” set saw banjo player come on for “The Old Home” and Strings’ debut of the traditional “Shuckin’ The Corn.” Carson and Bowman were also brought out for a debut take on Bill Monroe’s “Memories Of Mother And Dad.”

The first set guests were brought back at various points of the second “Church” themed set. Songs selected for the second half had lyrics and/or titles with a religious connotation.

Fiddler Darol Anger emerged near the end of set two and sat-in on “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord,” “Three Men On A Mountain,” “That Home Far Away” and “I’ll Fly Away.” Bowman, Barbash and Carson were also onstage during Anger’s guest spot.

Strings delivered a solo a capella version of “And Am I Born To Die?” to start the encore. Strings’ bandmates and the evening’s special guests returned to The Ryman stage with guitarist Robb Cappelletto joining the collaboration. “I Saw The Light” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” brought the guest-filled weekend at the historic venue to a celebratory close.

All three Billy Strings Nashville concerts are available via nugs.net livestream replays, along with the rest of the guitarist’s 2025 Winter Tour concerts. Click through the post below for a look at Sunday’s “Mother Church” setlist:

Official Audio (via nugs.net)