Photo credit: Emily Butler

Last night, April 12, Billy Springs kicked off his long-awaited Spring Tour with the first of a two-night booking at Tampa, Fla.’s Yuengling Center. To set the tone for his second run of 2024, the bluegrass master shared a set that once again illustrated the artist’s great reverence for those who came before him, dishing out key standards from a pantheon of bluegrass’ historic innovators. Among those influences cited were Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, The Stanley Brothers and more, who balanced out a healthy serving of Strings’ originals.

Sauntering onstage, Strings and his band saluted opened with a tribute to the launchpad for his Spring Tour, saluting the Sunshine State with Monroe’s “My Florida Sunshine.” This classic from the genre’s originator set the stage for Stings original “Red Daisy,” followed by a toe-tapping medley of “While I’m Waiting Here,” “Pyramid Country,” Monroe’s “Big Mon” and “Secrets.” The with seven further tracks, including covers of The Stanley Brothers’ “Stone Walls and Steel Bars” and Doc & Merle Watson classic “My Love Come Rolling Down,” the latter of which was deftly segued into the 2021 fan-favorite “Hide and Seek” to conclude the first frame.

Strings and his ensemble returned to the stage with “West Dakota Rose,” written by regular collaborator Chris Henry, which led into The Stanley Brothers’ “Nobody’s Love is Like Mine.” The artist continued to prove himself a master practitioner and careful student of his field with treatments of Flatt & Scruggs’ “Down the Road,” delivered with lead vocals from banjoist Billy Failing, Red Allen and The Kentuckians’ “Hello, City Limits” and the beloved original “California Sober,” Strings’ iconic collaboration with Willie Nelson. After “Wargasm,” Strings assumed the spotlight for a solo stint, featuring a three-song medley and highlighted by an intimate and stirring “Catch and Release,” which recounts a fishing trip the artist took with Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman. 

After the outro, Strings was joined again by mandolinist Jarrod Walker for a single-mic duet of the traditional “Feast Here Tonight,” gradually inviting members back to the stage through “Richard Petty” before the whole ensemble was rejoined for “Home.” Finally, the band closed out the main portion of the series opener performance by running “Sally Goodin” into “Little Maggie,” then returned to the stage for an encore of the genre standard “Y’all Come.”

Strings will perform at Tampa, Fla.’s Yuengling Center again tonight before erupting onto the road for 13 further dates in his Spring Tour, including a May 11 headline performance at Big As Texas Festival in Conroe, Texas. For more tickets and more information on Strings’ full 2024 touring calendar, visit billystrings.com/tour.

Read on for Friday’s complete setlist.

Billy Strings
Yuengling Center – Tampa, Fla.
4/12/2024

Set I: My Florida Sunshine*, Red Daisy, While I’m Waiting Here > Pyramid Country, Big Mon*, Secrets, Watch It Fall, Stone Walls & Steel Bars+, New Camptown Races, Fire Line > Taking Water, My Love Come Rolling Down^ > Hide and Seek

Set II: West Dakota Rose%,  Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine+, Hellbender, Down The Road&, Hello, City Limits#, California Sober, Wargasm, Give The Fiddler A Dram!, Whistling Rufus^!, Ragtime Annie^!, Catch and Release!, Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log), Richard Petty, Home, Sally Goodin (Traditional) > Little Maggie+

Encore: Y’all Come

Notes:
* Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys cover
+ The Stanley Brothers cover
^ Doc Watson cover
% Chris Henry cover
& Flatt & Scruggs cover
# Red Allen and The Kentuckians cover
! Billy solo
Setlist via setlist.fm