Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

After riding high on last week’s widely regarded two-night sit-in with Phish, Billy Strings continued his collaborative streak on Saturday night, August 17, joining bluegrass legacy player and longtime friend Sam Grisman and the great Peter Rowan at UC Theatre in Berkeley, Calif., during Sam Grisman Project’s concert, which was billed as sold-out, late-night Billy Strings after-show. 

Prior to the team-up, Strings used parts of his stage time to sprinkle in Easter eggs, which suggested to the keen listener the potential for overlap. Mainly, during the second set, he covered the traditional “Been All Around This World,” a staple of Jerry Garcia and David Grisman’s archive and the title of their joint acoustic set. A couple of songs later, Strings debuted a cover of “Maiden’s Prayer,” which he dedicated to celebrated bluegrass fiddler Bobby Hicks, who Strings had played with alongside Sam and David Grisman. Notably, the cover doubled as a homage–Hicks passed away on August 16, 2024. See Strings’ IG post below.

Strings and company closed night one at The Greek after “Richard Petty,” leaving time for the frontman and Alex Hargreaves to move locations and prepare to add another layer to the night, steeped in spellbinding collaborations. But not before the Sam Grisman Project (Sam Grisman, Dominick Leslie, Sam Leslie, Victor Furtado, Max Flansburg, and Chris English) stepped forward and showed off its dynamic archive through classics ranging from Grateful Dead’s “Althea” to David Grisman’s instrumental favorite, “E.M.D.” 

With Rowan in tow, the amalgamated lineup hit on more classics before Strings and Hargreaves stepped out for the initial joint delivery: “Moonshiner.” Continuing with pulls off Rowan’s Walls of Time, the group performed the 1982 LP title track the Vassar Clements penned “Lonesome Fiddle Blues,” an ideal selection to showcase Hargreaves’ talents. The night continued with folk favorite “Dark Hollow” and conjured its conclusion following “Panama Red.” 

Following Saturday night’s memorable team-up, Rowan and Sam Grisman will participate in shared dates in Colorado and the Carolinas, welcoming Max Flansburg, Chris J. English and Bennett Sullivan on the road. At the same time, Colorado shows will feature Centennial State native Dominick Leslie on mandolin and Shad Cobb on fiddle. John Mailander (fiddle) and Matt Flinner (mandolin) will join the ensemble for the three Carolina dates. Scroll down to view the band’s itinerary.

Visit the band’s official website to purchase tickets to Sam Grisman Project’s forthcoming concerts. Scroll down to view the upcoming Colorado and Carolina tour dates.

Upcoming Tour Dates- Rowan/Grisman

August 22 – Chautauqua Auditorium – Boulder, Colo.

August 23 – Gothic Theatre – Denver 

August 24 – Vilar Performing Arts Center – Beaver Creek, Colo.

August 25 – Mishawaka Amphitheatre – Bellvue, Colo.

August 29 – The Refinery – Charleston, S.C. (w/ Peter Rowan & YMSB)

August 30 – Kenan Auditorium – Wilmington, N.C.

September 1 – Earl Scruggs Music Festival – Mill Spring, N.C.

Billy Strings 

Greek Theatre – Berkeley, Calif.

August 17, 2024 

Set I: Wild Bill Jones 1, Secrets > The Fire On My Tongue, A Robin Built A Nest On Daddy’s, Grave 2, On The Line > Train 45, Be Your Man > Running, Today, Doin’ Things Right 3, Long Forgotten Dream

Set II: Ol’ Rickard 4 5 > Reuben’s Train 4, Muskrat 6, Seven Weeks in County 7, This Old World > I’ve Been All Around This World 8, Everything’s The Same, My Alice, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Maiden’s Prayer 9 10 11, Your Love Is Like a Flower 12 13, Dust In A Baggie

Enc.: Richard Petty 14

Notes via billybase.net:

  1. Billy Strings started solo and the band joined about one minute in
  2. Played for Jarrod bec. “it’s one of his favorites”
  3. “Frankenstein” (The Edgar Winter Group) tease
  4. Billy Strings solo on clawhammer banjo
  5. Last Time Played 2023-10-06 | 61 shows
  6. Billy Strings solo on guitar
  7. Billy mentioned being excited for the upcoming album, Highway Prayers, some of which was recorded in CA
  8. Last Time Played 2023-09-23 | 68 shows
  9. FTP – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
  10. Billy dedicated this to the “late, great Bobby Hicks” with whom Billy had the joy of listening to while playing with David Grisman
  11. Also, recorded and released by Bobby Hicks–Texas Crapshooter (1970). Hicks passed away Aug. 16, 2024 at age 91 and is universally considered a legend in Bluegrass
  12. Billy shared how Bobby Hicks was a member of the revered Bluegrass Album Band who beautifully covered this Flatt & Scruggs original
  13. Last Time Played 2023-04-20 | 112 shows
  14. Band minus Alex around single mic at front of stage

Sam Grisman Project 

UC Theatre – Berkeley, Calif.

August 17, 2024 

Set: Dawg Funk, Right to Know, Althea, Red Rocking Chair > Superstition > EMD [Enter Peter Rowan:], Midnight Moonlight, Lonesome LA Cowboy, Rosalee McFall 1, Land of the Navajo 1, Leela, Mississippi Moon, Moonshiner 2, The Walls of Time 2, Lonesome Fiddle Blues 2, Dark Hollow 2, Panama Red 2

Notes:

  1. With Eric and Suzy Thompson
  2. With Billy Strings and Alex Hargreaves