Billy Strings, John Oates & Lukas Nelson Join Del McCoury Band At The Ryman

When the Del McCoury Band announced their Bluegrass Nights at The Ryman concert, thoughts quickly turned to which special guests would appear with the reigning patriarch of bluegrass on Thursday night in Nashville. The answer to that question was Billy Strings, John Oates and Lukas Nelson.

Three generations of bluegrass musicians were showcased at the historic venue. Oates was the first special guest to take the stage with the Del McCoury Band last night. Then, Lukas Nelson added to a tune before Billy Strings accompanied the ensemble on the songs that brought their main set to its conclusion.

John Oates, Billy Strings and Lukas Nelson trace their roots to Philadelphia, Michigan and Texas, respectively. Yet each musician has moved to Nashville. Oates made Music City his home starting in the late ’00s, while Strings settled in Nashville about a decade ago and Nelson arriving in Nashville last year. McCoury is no stranger to the city as he resides in a suburb.

The collaborations began with John Oates joining the Del McCoury Band featuring Del’s sons and grandson on a cover of the John Prine classic “Long Monday.” Next, Lukas Nelson — who performed with The Travelin’ McCourys at DelFest late last month in a set that will air on nugs.net on June 23 — fronted a take on “Man With The Blues.” Lukas’ father Willie Nelson penned “Man With The Blues” early in his career. Both “Long Monday” and “Man With The Blues” were purportedly Del McCoury Band debuts.

Billy Strings was back in Nashville off his fresh from collaborating with Greensky Bluegrass in Michigan last Sunday. Strings started his appearance last night by fronting the band on Bill Monroe’s “Can’t You Hear Me Calling.” Del McCoury provided the sweet, high and lonesome harmonies for which the 85-year-old musician is best known. Billy Strings and Del McCoury then dueted on “Hot Wired,” the song co-written by Shawn Camp and Mark D. Sanders featured on the 2018 album Del McCoury Still Sings Bluegrass.

Watch fan-captured footage of the collaborations at last night’s Del McCoury Band show below: