Billy Strings went all out on Halloween in Baltimore on Thursday (10/31) at the CFG Bank Arena.
The talented guitarist and bluegrass continued his creative tradition of performing a fully costumed and themed Halloween show when he and several special guests delivered a spectacular tribute to the Coen Brothers' Oscar-nominated O Brother, Where Are Thou? (2000).
Strings and his prominent guests performed 11 tracks from the film's soundtrack, which in 2002 won the Grammy for Album of the Year.
Billy is a star on his own, but who he pulled together for this one night only show was an all-star cast.
Two of the actors from the film, Tim Blake Nelson who played Delmar O'Donnell in the movie and Chris Thomas King, a blues musician who played Tommy Johnson brought acting and musical talents to the stage.
Musicians included: Grammy winning musician and producer, T-Bone Burnett (who produced the soundtrack); Duane Trucks, drummer for Widespread Panic; Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman; Jerry Douglas, the renowned dobro player associated with Alison Krauss and Union Station; mandolinist Sierra Hull; cellist Nat Smith; singer-songwriters Rachael Davis and Lindsay Lou; guitarist Cris Jacobs; and fiddler Alex Hargreaves.
Since 2018, Strings has delighted audiences each Halloween by not only performing his popular brand of bluegrass which not only highlights his talented musicianship but also his strong voice, with some of the most outrageous themes.
2023 – "Van Andel Scramble": Held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this wrestling-themed event featured Billy and his bros dressed as iconic wrestling figures (Hulk Hogan, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, and Sting), with the stage resembling a wrestling ring.
2022 – "Away From The Shire": This was three-night run at ExploreAsheville.com Arena in Asheville, North Carolina, inspired by The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The band dressed as characters from the iconic novels and films with tunes to match the vibe.
2021 – "The Wizard of Oz": This was merely a two-night deal where the band dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz, incorporating songs and visuals from the 1939 film.
2019 – "A Clockwork Orange": Here the band sported the creepy dystopian theme of A Clockwork Orange, complete with costumes and thematic setlists.
2018 – "Bird Theme": The band embraced a bird motif, with costumes and setlists reflecting avian themes.
How is this not being broadcast by Netflix or NBC every Halloween night for those who want some wholesome entertainment, top notch musicians, (mostly) family-friendly productions, and true Americana jams?
Thursday's gig was streamed on Nugs for 24 hours and then was taken down, as is their way.
It all seems like a lot of effort for the 14,000 who were at the arena, but that's how Billy is. He gives it all, puts so much time and effort into the details and finger pickin' and then, just like dust in a baggie, it's gone.
Billy had seven live debuts at the epic show. He covered the traditional "Lonesome Road Blues" for the first time as well as the Harry Mclintock classic "Big Rock Candy Mountain," "You Are My Sunshine," and even a Steve Miller hit.
A song very few brave souls have attempted to cover, Johnny Cash's "When The Man Comes Around" was handled beautifully by T-Bone and the band.
The tune written by the Man in Black just two years before his death has only been covered a few times. No one has done the dark tune with Biblical references more than three performances. Perhaps it will become a bluegrass staple.
Billy is currently on tour with one more gig this month and several in December including New Years Eve in New Orleans. Get your tickets on his website while they're still available.
