Greensky Bluegrass Welcomes Billy Strings At Camp Greensky

The inaugural Camp Greensky music festival began on Thursday at the Hoxeyville Festival Grounds in Wellston, Michigan. Billy Strings kicked off the action before host band Greensky Bluegrass took the stage for a pair of sets. GSBG was joined by Billy Strings and members of his ensemble for a two-song collaboration.

Greensky Bluegrass went with the fitting “Feels Like The First Time” to open. The five-piece hadn’t previously covered Foreigner’s 1977 smash. Next up was the classic “Tied Down” ahead of a sequence featuring “All Four,” “Demons” and “More Of Me.” Fruition’s Mimi Naja made a cameo during “Demons” to help provide the “Demon Dip.” From there, Greensky played old-school favorite “Radio Blues” and their beloved cover of “Dustbowl Overtures” by Joshua Davis.

The quintet then welcomed Billy Strings, banjo player Billy Failing and mandolinist Jarrod Walker for a rare “Groundhog.” Greensky, Strings and the two musicians from Billy’s band went on to end the first set with a cover of Bill Monroe’s “Wheel Hoss.”

Paul Hoffman led Greensky Bluegrass through Norton Buffalo’s “Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox” to begin the second set. The five-piece fit a reprise of “Feels Like The First Time” within “Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox.” Hoffman’s “Reverend” was up next before GSBG reached for the 2018 debut of “Salty Dog Blues.” The group continued on with “Lose My Way” off 2011’s Handguns and a cover of New Grass Revival’s “Can’t Stop Now.” Greensky then started “Fixin’ To Ruin” and weaved in and out of “Tarpology” multiple times to conclude the set. The night came to an end with Dave Bruzza’s “A Letter To Seymour” as the encore.

Camp Greensky continues today with two more sets from Greensky Bluegrass as well as performances from Fruition, The Wood Brothers, Trampled By Turtles and more.

Setlist (via Camp Greensky)

Set One: Feels Like the First Time, Tied Down, All Four > Demons (1) > More Of Me, Radio Blues, Dustbowl Overtures (2), Groundhog (3) > Wheel Hoss (3)

Set Two: Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox > Feels Like The First Time > Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox, Reverend, Salty Dog Blues, Lose My Way, Can’t Stop Now, Fixin To Ruin (4) > Tarpology > Fixin To Ruin > Tarpology > Fixin To Ruin (4)

Encore: A Letter To Seymour

• (1) – w/ Mimi Naja (Demon Dip)
• (2) – Top Gun theme tease
• (3) – w/ Billy Strings, Billy Failing, Jarod Walker
• (4) – w/ Guido Batista (woodblock)