Meet Me After The Greek: Billy Strings Joins Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project In Berkeley

Billy Strings was busy in Berkeley, California on Saturday night. The guitarist performed a concert at The Greek Theatre and then headed down to the nearby UC Theatre to sit in with Peter Rowan and the Sam Grisman Project.

Saturday’s after-show kicked off Rowan and the Sam Grisman Project’s joint tour celebrating the music of Old & In The Way, the all-star bluegrass band formed in the 1970s by Rowan, Grisman’s father David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, Vassar Clements and John Kahn.

Bassist Sam Grisman was joined in Berkeley on Saturday by drummer Chris J. English, banjo player Victor Furtado and mandolin player Dominick Leslie. Guests who performed throughout the evening included guitarists Max Flansburg and Sam Leslie who traded off using Garcia’s famed Alligator Fender Telecaster.

Another of Garcia’s guitars, his acoustic Martin D-28, also made an appearance during the show at the UC Theatre. Garcia’s one-time Black Mountain Boys bandmate, guitarist Eric Thompson played the instrument during his guest spot, which also included Thompson’s wife, fiddler Suzy Thompson, joining a performance of “Rosalee Mcfall.”

Strings emerged to join Rowan and the Sam Grisman Project, adding acoustic guitar to the mix of fellow pickers. Strings brought along his bandmate, fiddler Alex Hargreaves for the sit-in, which kicked off with Rowan’s arrangement of “Moonshiner.” The collaboration continued with a song Rowan wrote at the behest of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, “The Walls Of Time.”

A picking party unfolded during “Lonesome Fiddle Blues,” which was part of Old & In The Way’s repertoire. Strings shared a microphone with Rowan while helping to sing “Dark Hollow.” Rowan’s classic “Panama Red,” which was performed by Old & In The Way, brought an end to the celebratory concert.

Strings held a second concert at The Greek Theatre last night, Sunday, August 18. Folk music icon Joan Baez dropped by The Greek and hung out backstage with Strings and his bandmates (Baez retired from performing several years ago).

Watch audience-shot video footage of Strings’ sit-in and more from Saturday’s after-show below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHFRVj7a6a8