Meet Billy At The Mother Church: See Billy Strings Join Greensky Bluegrass On Wild 30-Minute Medley At Ryman Auditorium

Jamgrass act Greensky Bluegrass played a key role in the phenomenal rise of guitarist Billy Strings. Billy helped repay the favor over the course of GSBG’s two-night stand at iconic Nashville venue the Ryman Auditorium on Friday and Saturday. Strings joined the quintet for collaborations each night with the highlight an adventurous mashup on Greensky’s “Don’t Lie” and his own “Meet Me At The Creek” to end the final set of the run on Saturday night.

Both shows were guest filled affairs as GSBG shared the stage with Daniel Donato of opening act Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, famed fiddler and Greensky mentor Sam Bush as well as Billy Strings on Friday. Strings made a more prominent appearance on Saturday, when he sat in for the quintet’s entire second set sans the first song. Trey Anastasio Band trumpeter/vocalist Jennifer Hartswick and Strings’ bandmate, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, also joined Greensky on Saturday evening.

Strings and GSBG both have their musical roots in Michigan. Billy Strings grew up in a small town and toured Michigan constantly before finding national success and moving to Nashville. Greensky brought Strings and his band on the road to open multiple tours between 2015 and 2018. The guitarist mentioned several times in past interviews and on-stage how much he learned specifically from GSBG mandolinist/vocalist Paul Hoffman.

Greensky Bluegrass’ “Don’t Lie” and Billy Strings’ “Meet Me At The Creek” are live staples for each artist. The lenthy medley began afer Strings contributed to originals “Fixin’ To Ruin,” “The Radio Blues,” “Screams” and “Monuments.” GSGB previously went it alone to kick off Saturday’s second set with “Leap Year.” The quintet also went heavy on originals during an opening stanza that saw Hartswick guest on their first cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” since October 2, 2019 — a span of 304 shows. Additionally, Jennifer Hartswick added her trumpet and vocals to “New & Improved” off the band’s latest LP, 2022’s Stress Dreams

With Billy Strings on acoustic guitar, Greensky Bluegrass and their guest spent over 17 minutes jamming on “Don’t Lie.” Then, Jarrod Walker emerge to go toe-to-toe with Paul Hoffman on “Meet Me At The Creek.” Paul Hoffman worked quotes from P-Funk’s “Butt-A-Butt” into the mix before the ensemble returned to “Don’t Lie” and Walker vacated the stage. The “Meet Me At The Creek” chorus came next along with the third verse of “Don’t Lie” featuring a tease of Phish’s “Tweezer Reprise.” to close the medley and set.

Watch Greensky and Billy Strings’ “Don’t Lie”/”Meet Me At The Creek” mashup below captured by Max Berde:

View more GSBG and Strings collabs from Saturday thanks to Berde:

The quintet punctuated the two-night stand at The Ryman by covering Tom Petty’s “Time To Move On” for the first time. Watch the cover debut and stream full-show audio taped by Z-Man:

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: What You Need, Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Grow Together, Wish I Didn’t Know > Burn Them, Ain’t No Sunshine [1], New & Improved [1], Windshield, Run or Die

Set Two: Leap Year Fixin To Ruin [2], The Radio Blues [2], Screams [2], Monument [2], Don’t Lie [2] [3] > Meet Me At The Creek [2] [4] [5] > Don’t Lie [2] [4] > Meet Me At The Creek [2] [4] > Don’t Lie [2]

Encore: Time To Move On [6]

• [1] – w/ Jennifer Hartswick (trumpet, vocals)
• [2] – w/ Billy Strings (guitar)
• [3] – w/ What Is a Booty? tease
• [4] – w/ Billy Strings (vocals)
• [5] – w/ Jarrod Walker (mando)
• [6] – first time played