Billy Strings, May 12, 2022, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO Photos, Setlist, & Review

Billy Strings and his band returned to Red Rocks Amphitheatre last night for their headlining debut at the famed venue in Morrison, CO. The quartet opened for Greensky Bluegrass in 2019, then played a livestream to an empty venue in 2021. The energy was high, and the venue was nearly full well over an hour before show time. By the time the band took the stage, the amphitheatre was packed to the gills, with fans spilling into stairwells from top to bottom. When Strings emerged, joint in hand, the place erupted just as it did when the band walked on stage for their debut back in 2019.

With Strings toking on a joint, the band got right to work, opening with an energized take on fan favorite “Away From The Mire.” Strings, banjoist Billy Failing, mandolin player Jarod Walker, and bassist Royal Masat focused mainly on material from Turmoil & Tinfoil and Home in the first set, with multiple seques, including a ten minute “Living Like an Animal” into “New Country Blues.” An uninterrupted four-song string of “While I’m Waiting Here”, Jerry Reed’s “The Likes of Me”, and an extended “Pyramid Country” that let into “Secrets” turned this into a powerhouse of a first set. The band closed out the set with “Leaders” and “Wargasm.”

The second set leaned into Renewal and newer material further, opening with “The Fire On My Tongue” into “Bronzeback”, followed by Billy Failing’s “Fire Line” into “Running the Route.” The highlight of the night for me came mid-set, when Strings and company dropped into Widespread Panic’s “All Time Low” that transitioned seamlessly into John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aereo Plane.” I had the pleasure of hearing the band play “All Time Low” during their Red Rocks soundcheck back in 2019, so getting to see them play it live last night was a special experience for me.

The remainder of the set and encore was heavy on tributes to bluegrass legends, with a soulful take on Doc Watson original “Summertime” late in the second set, before closing things out with “Turmoil & Tinfoil.” Strings emerged for the encore with a solo, vocals only take on Doc Watson original “And Am I Born To Die” followed by Bill Monroe’s “Y’all Come” along with the band to end the night. The first night of this Colorado run had everything you’d expect from Billy Strings – adventurous jams, bluegrass tributes, and shredding guitar solos – setting the stage for what will certainly be another memorable night of music at the greatest venue on earth.