Billy Strings Nods to John Hartford’s Birthday with Trio of Covers on Night Two in New Orleans

Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

Last night, Saturday, Dec. 30, Billy Strings returned to the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. Night Two started with the band’s typical mix of originals and bluegrass-tinged covers. The latter half of the night featured the band’s namesake nodding to the late John Hartford on what would have been the musician’s birthday; in doing so, they performed a trio of tunes that originated from the troubadour. 

The concert’s first half heated up with songs that initially appeared on studio sets, such as Renewal and Home, followed by a pair of covers borrowed from Ralph Stanley and George Gershwin. In continuation, Strings and company returned to their 2021 set before picking up a cover of Greensky Bluegrass’ “Reverend,” eventually running back into material off their fourth and fifth studio LP to send them into a set break. 

Upon the band’s return to the stage, they cut into “Wargasm,” adding a cover of “Hello, City Limits” prior to “Fire Line,” which preluded the start of the band’s Hartford celebration. To start off the honorable moment, the band kicked into “Steam Powered Aereo Plane,” led by Billy Failing. Strings’ started “Happy Birthday,” making the audience aware of the date before the addition of more Hartford originals: “Joseph’s Dream (Get No Better),” which served as a bust out, last played on Oct. 15, 2021, and “All Fall Down,” featuring a tease of Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.”

They continued by pairing Turmoil & Tinfoil’s “Doin’ Things Right” with The Beatles’ “I’ll Cry Instead.” The latter featured Royal Masat on lead vocals. The complete band added “Dust In A Baggie” before Strings’ solo acapella delivery of “And Am I Born To Die?” All players returned to the stage for the night’s encore, adding one final Home cut to the night, this time “Away From The Mire.” 

Tickets for night three of Strings’ New Year’s celebration in The Big Easy remain on sale and can be purchased here. For those unable to attend in person, livestream options are available via nugs.net. 

Scroll down to view Billy Strings’ setlist via billybase.net. 

Billy Strings 

UNO Lakefront Arena – New Orleans

Dec. 30, 2023

Set I: Hide and Seek, Must Be Seven, Ralph’s Banjo Special, Summertime, Heartbeat Of America, In The Morning Light, Reverend, Running, Escanaba, Secrets

Set II: Wargasm, Hello, City Limits, Fire Line, Steam Powered Aereo Plane@#, Joseph’s Dream (Get No Better)$, All Fall Down%, Doin’ Things Right > I’ll Cry Instead^, Dust In A Baggie, And Am I Born To Die&

Enc.: Away From the Mire 

Notes:

@ Billy Strings started singing “Happy Birthday” to John Hartford, born Dec. 30, 1937.

# Billy Failing on lead vocals

$ Last Played on Oct. 15, 2021 | 246 show gap

% N.I.B. tease (Black Sabbath)

^ Royal Masat on lead vocals

& Billy Strings solo acapella

Setlist via billybase.net.