See Billy Strings Learn ‘My Florida Sunshine’ Backstage In St. Augustine
The Bill Monroe classic was played by the guitarist at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre in April.
By Scott Bernstein Jun 23, 2023 • 12:59 pm PDT
Guitarist Billy Strings loves playing geographically-appropriate covers and did so back on April 21 in St. Augustine, Florida, when he led his band through Bill Monroe’s “My Florida Sunshine.” Behind-the-scenes video of Strings and his bandmates learning the song backstage at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre was posted on Billy’s YouTube channel today and can be viewed below.
Billy Strings debuted his version of “My Florida Sunshine” during an appearance at the 2019 Suwannee Hulaween festival. Strings, his band and spacial guests fiddler Christian Ward and banjoist Cory Walker then performed the song in St. Augustine on April 30, 2022. A year passed before the guitarist returned to The Amp. Apparently, he wanted to go over the arrangement with bandmates fiddler Alex Hargreaves, banjoist Billy Failing, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and bassist Royal Masat.
Advertisement
In the backstage clip shot by Ryen McPhersen, Strings and his five-piece are shown vamping on the tune. They then sit down at a table and listen to a recording of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys performing “My Florida Sunshine.” Billy and company are surprised by Monroe’s arrangement and revamp their version based on what they heard.
View the rehearsal footage below followed by fan-shot video of the resulting “My Florida Sunshine”:
Loading tour dates
