Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

Last night, across the pond, Billy Strings took the stage at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town in continuation of his European jaunt. During the stacked two-set performance, the bluegrass golden boy offered a handful of covers, including a debut of the traditional number, “Handsome Molly,” during the night’s second frame. Then, the musician capped the show with the locationally fitting take on Tom Paxton’s “Leaving London.” 

Strings’ midweek performance got underway with the traditional “Foggy Old London,” a welcomed opener for the musician’s one-night stand in The Big Smoke. Following the evening’s initial track, the band continued with a set of original tunes before a take on the traditional “John Henry,” followed by a pairing of “Fire Line” and “Running The Route.” The first frame saw the musicians pull in covers of Bill Anderson’s “In Case You Ever Change Your Mind” and the classic tune “Red Rocking Chair.” 

Next, the night’s first frame brought forth “Wargasm,” “Ice Bridges” and “In The Morning Light” before the artist and his band concluded part one with “Dust In A Baggie.” The second set fired up with a solo take on “Guitar Peace,” which ran over into a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Fearless,” a favored moment during the artist’s London-area performance. Next came “Know It All,” followed by a cover of The String Cheese Incident and Blaze Foley’s “ Cold, Cold World.” Then, Strings returned with the original “Gone A Long Time,” before running through Bill Monroe and The Bluegrass Boys’ “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin.” 

A pair of originals came before a high point of the evening, as Strings debuted a cover of the traditional “Handsome Molly.” The latter has been covered by Monroe, Doc Watson, The Stanley Brother and more, making Strings’ debut a welcomed edition to Strings’ bluegrass canon. To top off the night, the covers continued with Muleskinner’s “New Camptown Races,” David Grisman’s “Unwanted Love,” and a fitting end to the frame with a take on “Leaving London.” Finally, for the night’s encore, the ensemble landed on “I’m Gone, Long Gone,” a song initially penned by the musical duo Reno and Smiley. 

After last night’s gig, Strings will take the stage at the O2 Ritz Manchester in Manchester, U.K., for this evening’s sold-out performance. In continuation of his European tour, the artist will travel to Dublin, Ireland, on Dec. 9 before wrapping his run on Dec. 11 at Galvanizers Yard in Glasgow, Scotland. For more information, visit Strings’ official website.

Scroll down to view last night’s complete setlist.  

Billy Strings

O2 Forum Kentish Town – London 

Dec. 7, 2022

Set I: Foggy Old London, Slow Train, Watch It Fall, John Henry, Fire Line, Running The Route, Nothing’s Working, In Case You Ever Change Your Mind, Red Rocking Chair, Wargasm, Ice Bridges, In The Morning Light, Dust In A Baggie

Set II: Guitar Peace*, Fearless, Know It All, Black Clouds, Cold Cold World, Gone A Long Time, My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin’, Love & Regret, Hellbender, Handsome Molly^, New Camptown Races, Unwanted Love, Leaving London 

Enc.: I’m Gone, Long Gone

Notes: 

* Billy Strings solo

^ FTP- Traditional

Setlist via Billy Base