Billy Strings leaves the opening night of his sold-out Renewal Festival to welcome his first-born child [Photos]

After the release of his new studio album Highway Prayersand announcement of a winter tour on Friday morning, Billy Strings left his band shortly before they were scheduled to take the stage on the first night of his sold-out concert renewal Festival to welcome the arrival of another highly anticipated creation – his first child with his wife Confederate Apostol.

Strings chatted with fans during a question-and-answer session earlier in the day, but just before his headlining set was set to begin, his manager arrived Bill Orner And Scotty Stoughton from Bonfire Entertainment announced that he would be flying home to be with Ally and their upcoming baby, leaving fans with a mix of excitement for Billy and confusion as they wondered what they would witness.

Related: Billy Strings announces winter 2025 tour as new album Highway Prayers hits the streets [Watch/Listen]

The loyal band of strings – consisting of Billy fails (Banjo), Royal Masat (Bass), Jarrod Walker (mandolin) and Alex Hargreaves (Violin) – entered the stage together with the cellist Nat Smith and began with the appropriate selection of “I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When,” with Failing and Walked providing lead vocals. As the performance progressed, each band member took on vocal duties, and toward the middle of the set, the band welcomed guitarist Larry Keel, who performed on “Sally Goodin,” “Steam Powered Aereo Plane,” “Mr. Charlie” and “Mountain Dew” to close the set.

For set two, Nat Smith joined the band again and added John Stickleywho played Billy's guitar, joined the cast. The set included the debuts of John Hartfordis “Back in the Goodle Days” and Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys“I’m blue, I’m lonely.” To close the frame, mandolinist Drury Anderson and guitarist Luke Black from Mountain grass unit joined in a loud “Turmoil & Tinfoil”.

Click below to view a gallery of photos courtesy of the photographer Peter Wallace.

The renewal ends tonight, Saturday September 28th. Congratulations to Billy and Ally!

Setlist [via BillyBase]: Billy Strings | Renewal Festival | Buena Vista, CO | 09/27/24

Sentence 1: I'll be back, but I don't know when [1, 2, 3]The Old Mountaineer, The Main Street [4]I'll cry instead [5]Libby Phillips Rag, I'm worried [6]Show me the door [7]Sally Goodin [8]Steam powered aeroplane [4, 8]Mr. Charlie [5, 8, 9]Mountain dew [3, 8]

Set 2: EMD (Eat My Dust) [10]Ole Slew Foot [11]Back to the Goodle Days [6, 12]West Dakota Rose, I'm blue, I'm lonely [4, 13]My little Georgia Rose [8, 14]Midnight moonlight [8, 14, 15]Blue sky [5]Old hometown [11]Manzanita [16]Riot & aluminum foil [17, 18]

Show notes:

1. Before the show began, Billy's manager and Bonfire Entertainment announced that Billy would be flying home to be with Ally and his upcoming baby. Lineup of Set 1 (without Billy) – band plus Nat Smith (cello)
2. Last played on August 10, 2022 | 189 shows
3. Billy Failing and Jarrod Walker lead vocals
4. Billy Failing lead vocals
5. Royal Masat lead vocals
6. Alex Hargreaves lead vocals
7. Jarrod Walker leads vocals
8. with Larry Keel (guitar)
9. Last played on June 11, 2021 | 276 shows
10. Lineup of Set 2 (without Billy) – Band, Nat Smith (cello) and John Stickley (guitar)
11. Jon Stickley lead vocals
12. FTP – John Hartford
13. FTP – Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys
14. Larry Keel lead vocals
15. Last played on March 28, 2021 | 343 shows
16. Last played on October 7th, 2023 | 64 shows
17. with Drury Anderson (mandolin) and Luke Black (guitar) from Mountain Grass Unit
18. Drury Anderson lead vocals