Photo via Billy Strings’ Instagram

Last night, during the second set of his performance at Pier Six Concert Pavilion in Baltimore, Md., Billy Strings formally asked Alex Hargraves to become an official member of his band. Hargraves who is renowned as one of the finest improvising violinists of the 21st century responded to Strings’ request with a resounding yes.

Strings and his band–comprised of Strings, Billy Failing, Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat and now Hargraves–started their show off with “Meet Me at the Creek.” They continued with songs from the Strings’ catalog with “Secrets” and a jam of “Taking Water” into “Thurst Mutilator.” Next came the resonating plucking and sweet crooning of “Love & Regret.”

Strings continued the first set with a handful of covers including The Stanley Brothers’ “Rank Stranger,” New Grass Revival’s ” Whisper My Name,” “Dig a Little Deeper in the Well” by The Oak Ridge Boys and “Today” by John Hartford. Strings and his band closed the first set with his hit song “Wargasm.”

Strings kicked off set two like a firework with “Know It All” into Johnny Horton’s “Ole Slew-Foot,” which was swiftly followed by “Life to Go” by Stonewall Jackson. Next came “Away From the Mire” before they moved into “Long Forgotten Dream.” After the song, the audience was stunned and roaring as Strings took to the mic to formally ask Hargreaves to officially become a member of the band.

new lineup broke the proverbial glass with a cover of “A Good Woman’s Love,” penned by their shared muse Bill Monroe before moving into “Turmoil & Tinfoil” highlighting Hargreaves’ skill on the fiddle, that so brightly shined during their run of shows at The Sylvee in Madison, Wis. back in March. Strings and company closed the night with one last cover, Jimmy Martin’s “Tennesee.”

Check out Strings’ post below.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Billy Strings (@billystrings)

Billy Strings
Pier Six Concert Pavilion – Baltimore, Md.
July 3, 2022

Set I: Meet Me at the Creek, Secrets, Taking Water > Thirst Mutilator, Love & Regret, Heartbeat of America, Rank Stranger (The Stanley Brothers cover), Whisper My Name, (New Grass Revival cover), Dig a Little Deeper in the Well (The Oak Ridge Boys cover) Today (John Hartford cover), Wargasm

Set II: Know It All > Ole Slew-Foot (Johnny Horton cover), Life to Go (Stonewall Jackson cover), Away From the Mire, Long Forgotten Dream (Alex formally asked to join band onstage), A Good Woman’s Love(Bill Monroe cover), Turmoil & Tinfoil, Tennessee (Jimmy Martin cover)