Photo by Jesse Faatz

On Tuesday night, Billy Strings performed at the grand opening of Boston’s newest venue, Roadrunner. The bluegrass virtuoso opened the venue with a geographically fitting cover of Del McCoury and The Dixie Pals’ “Big Ball in Boston.” 

The first set continued with a segued pairing of “Running” into “Running the Route,” which came after a few words of excitement by Strings. Next, the band played Roy Acuff’s “Streamline Cannonball” before continuing with a track off the 2017’s Turmoil & Tinfoil.  

The 13-song first set continued with “Fire on My Tongue” into “Must Be Seven” before breaking into a cover of Bad Livers’ “Lumpy, Beanpole & Dirt.” The covers continued with Jerry Reed’s “The Likes of Me” into Johnny Horton’s “Ole Slew-Foot.” Next came The Stanley Brothers’ “I Only Exist,” before returning to originals with “Hollow Heart,” off 2019’s Home

A pairing of “Dust in a Baggie” segued into a cover of Phish’s “Back on the Train” to kick off the second set. “Love & Regret” off 2021’s Renewal came next. Strings and company then played a cover of Jimmy Martin’s “Sophronie” before returning to original material with “Fire Line.” 

The opening night continued with a cover of Jeff Austin’s “15 Steps,” followed by “On the Line” and a take on The Osborne Brothers’ “Rudy Are You Mad.” Next, Strings debuted the traditional tune, “Two Soldiers,” before ending the second set with another track off Renewal, “Hide & Seek.” 

For their encore, Strings and his band returned to the stage for a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Brokedown Palace,” followed by Reno and Smiley’s “I’m Gone, Long Gone.” 

Roadrunner is New England’s largest general admission indoor venue, with a capacity of 3,500; it is the latest endeavor by regional partner AEG Live. Learn more here and check out the venue’s upcoming live music lineup

Watch the sold-out Billy Strings concerts live streaming this March exclusively on nugs.net. 

See the complete setlist below.

Billy Strings 

Roadrunner – Boston, Mass. 

March 15, 2022 

Set I: Big Ball in Boston, Running > Running the Route, Streamline Cannonball, Pyramid Country > Fire on My Tongue > Must Be Seven, Lumpy, Beanpole & Dirt, The Likes of Me > Ole Slew-Foot, I Only Exist, Hollow Heart, Tipper 

Set II: Dust in a Baggie > Back on the Train, Love & Regret, Sophronie, Fire Line, 15 Steps, On the Line, Ruby Are You Mad, Two Soldiers, Hide & Seek 

Enc.: Brokedown Palace, I’m Gone, Long Gone