Photo: Stevo Rood

On Thursday, June 19, Billy Strings pulled into the Eaton Country Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Mich., for an appearance at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival. During the single set delivery, the bandleader referred to his joint collection, Me/And/Dad, by evoking select content from the 2022 installment and bringing out one of his oldest collaborators, Dad, Terry Barber, for a four-song sit-in. 

Before Barber joined his son onstage, Strings and the band, Billy Failing, Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat, and Alex Hargreaves, established the concert’s footing on traditional “Sally Goodin” merged with Ralph Stanley’s “Ridin’ That Midnight Train.” The members’ initial moves gave deep reverence to bluegrass greats and established markers of respect to the songs and artists that paved the path for the style’s progression and renewed status of appreciation among the younger generation.

As the frame progressed, the quintet referenced Bill Monroe’s “Close By,” and Strings’ own “Hellbender,” before landing on Spark’s associated “John Deere Tractor,” which provided the first reference to the Me/And/Dad tracking list. Rather than keep up with the material from the aforementioned kin-fueled set, Strings pulled from Renewal, enacting “Red Daisy,” which pressed into “Train 45” and “Blues Stay Away From Me.” 

Strings kept up nods to the greats with Willie Nelson’s “Blackjack County Chains.” The group delivered the Stanley-associated, “I’ll Remember You, Love, In My Prayers” for the first time since December 2024, before pushing into the Mac Wiseman-influenced “Shackles & Chains.” “Randall Collins” bumped into “Done Gone,” before covers continued with“Hello, City Limits.” 

Baber took the stage for the arrival of The Stanley Brothers’ “Don’t Step Over an Old Love,” which featured the guest on lead vocals and guitar. He kept up his role, referencing his joint album with his son on Lester Flatt and Monroe’s “Little Cabin Home On The Hill” and the traditional “Little Blossom.” The ensemble fixed their synergetic energy to the Monroe Brothers’ “What Would You Give (In Exchange For Your Soul)?,” which represented the final song of Barber’s stage time, leaving just the band to perform “Dust in a Baggie.”

For their encore, fellow bluegrass artist and festival participant, Junior Sisk, took the lead on guitar and vocals during a rendition of The Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys’ “Love Me Darlin’, Just Tonight” and Arlie Duff’s “Y’all Come.” 

Strings and his dad, Terry Barber, released Me/And/Dad in 2022. They collaborated on the live stage as recently as May 2024, teaming up for live performances of facets from their joint album and beloved material from the bluegrass songbook. The Strings’ family resides in Michigan, making the festival team-up all the more obtainable. 

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A post shared by Billy Strings (@billystrings)

Billy Strings 

Eaton County Fairgrounds – Charlotte, Mich. 

June 19, 2025

Set: Sally Goodin> Ridin’ That Midnight Train, Close By, Hellbender, John Deere Tractor, Red Daisy> Train 45 > Blues Stay Away From Me, Blackjack County Chains, I’ll Remember You, Love, In My Prayers, Shackles & Chains, Randall Collins > Done Gone, Hello, City Limits, Don’t Step Over an Old Love1,2 ,Little Cabin Home On The Hill3, 4, Little Blossom1, What Would You Give (In Exchange For Your Soul)?3, Dust In A Baggie

Enc.: Love Me Darlin’, Just Tonight5,6, Y’all Come7

Notes via billybase.net: 

1. w/ Terry Barber on guitar and lead vocals
2. Last Time Played 2024-10-04 | 57 show gap
3. w/ Terry Barber on guitar and vocals
4. Last Time Played 2024-05-24 | 76 show gap
5. w/ Junior Sisk on guitar and lead vocals
6. Last Time Played 2024-08-03 | 65 show gap
7. w/ Junior Sisk on guitar and vocals