Billy Strings Joins David Grisman & Sam Grisman Project At Star-Studded ‘Dawg At 80!’ Concert

David Grisman's 80th birthday was celebrated last night with a concert at Seattle’s Moore Theatre. “Dawg At 80!” featured performances from an impressive array of bluegrass musicians including the Sam Grisman Project, David Grisman and members of his band along with surprise guests Billy Strings and Sam Bush, among others.

The first set was curated by Sam Grisman, the legendary mandolinist’s son. An iteration of the Sam Grisman Project featuring Sam Grisman on bass, Billy Strings on guitar, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Ronnie McCoury and Dominick Leslie on mandolin served as the house band for the frame.

Sam Grisman picked a slew of David Grisman classics such as “E.M.D.,” “16/16” and “Dawg’s Rag” to form the setlist for the first set. Guitarist Grant Gordy added to “Tipsy Gypsy” and cellist Nat Smith starred on “Bow Wow.” Mike Marshall and Darol Anger contributed to “Pneumonia” and “Waiting On Vassar.”

The latter also featured David Grisman who stuck around for “Tracy’s Tune,” “Del & Dawg” and “Hartford’s Real.” Nat Smith and Matt Eakle also added to “Tracy’s Tune” before Heaven McCoury emerged for “Del & Dawg” and Sam Bush appeared on the set-closing “Hartford’s Real.”

David Grisman chose the songs played in the second set last night. Dawg was joined by wife Tracy Grisman on guitar, son Sam Grisman on bass, Sam Bush on mandolin and banjoist Danny Barnes for “Rinzler’s Rag” and then Mike Marshall swapped in for Bush on “Artie The Rose.” Strings returned for the bulk of the remainder of the night.

Highlights from the closing stanza included debuts of “20/20” and “Planet Earth.” The former was written by Dawg during the pandemic and dedicated to all those lost. “Grateful Dawg” saw David Grisman accompanied by Strings, bassist Jim Kerwin and percussionist Joe Craven. Both Kerwin and Craven were members of the Garcia/Grisman Quintet.

The stage was loaded up with the “Dawgestra” for a pairing of “Dawg’s Waltz/Dawg’s Bull,” the aforementioned “Planet Earth” and the “Old & In The Way” finale.

Watch footage from “Dawg At 80!” captured by Max Berde below:

Setlist