Photo Credit: Emily Butler

Earlier this week, Billy Strings kicked off his European tour. The artist, who has been making the rounds in Germany, stopped by Hamburg’s Große Freiheit 36 music venue last night, August 9. Strings and his band ran through a packed setlist during the show, including a bust out of the Ralph Stanley original, “Let Me Love You One More Time,” played for the first time since a 2020 gig in Nashville, Tenn. Then, during the encore, Strings landed on a pair of Beatles covers, which served as a nod to the venue’s famed roots, having hosted early shows featuring The Fab Four. 

Last night’s performance commenced with “Red Daisy” prior to a pairing of “Thirst Mutilator” with “Running.” As a follow-up, Strings delivered “California Sober,” his collaboration with pal Willie Nelson. In continuation of the first frame, the band picked up a cover of The Dillards’ “There Is A Time” and then returned to original material with the arrival of “This Old World” from 2021’s Renewal. Two traditionals were performed and came before a take on Stonewall Jackson’s “Life To Go.” A high point of the initial frame took shape as a bust out of Stanley’s “Let Me Love You One More Time,” ending a 292-show gap since it was last performed live by Strings. 

For the final songs of set one, the band went with “On The Line,” Mother Love Bone’s “Crown of Thorns” paired with “Leaders,” and eventually a “Wargarsam” close out. After a break from the stage, the second half of the night heated up with “Everything’s The Same,” which became Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys’ “Bluegrass Breakdown.” After a lone track off Renewal, the ensemble ran through five covers. One of which was Dave Evans’ “One Loaf of Bread,” which had not been played in over a year before last night’s run-through.  

The band sprinkled into other choice numbers to close out the show’s second half. With the arrival of the encore came a thoughtful nod toward The Beatles, who played shows at Große Freiheit 36 early on. During this time, Strings went with “Rocky Raccoon,” followed by a reimagined take on “And Your Bird Can Sing,” which laminated the venue’s storied 1960s connection to John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. 

After last night’s show, Strings and company will continue their European jaunt with a stand at the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg, Sweden. Tickets remain on sale. 

Scroll down to view last night’s setlist via Billybase.net. 

Billy Strings 

Große Freiheit 36 – Hamburg, Germany

August 9, 2023

Set I: Red Daisy, Thirst Mutilator > Running, California Sober, There Is A Time (The Dillards), This Old World, The Train That Carried My Girl From Town (traditional) > Black Mountain Rag (traditional), Life To Go (Stonewall Jackson), Let Me Love You One More Time 1, On The Line, Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone) > Leaders, Wargasam 

Set II: Everything’s The Same > Bluegrass Breakdown (Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys), Nothing’s Working, A Robin Built A Nest On Daddy’s Grave (Ralph Stanley), One Loaf of Bread (Dave Evans) 2, Ernest T. Grass (The Dillards) > Little Maggie (traditional), Doin’ Things Right, Home, Run Down (Jeff Austin) > Pretty Daughter (Danny Barnes), Away From The Mire

Enc.: Rocky Raccoon (The Beatles), And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles) 

Notes: 

1- Last Played 2020-07-19 | 292 show gap

2- Last Played 2022-08-04 | 113 show gap