“Leaning on a Travelin’ Song”: Billy Strings Continues European Tour, Details Releases for Third Man Records’ Vault Series
Photo: A Rood
On Wednesday evening, Billy Strings began his second night at the TivoliVrendenburg venue in Utrecht, Netherlands, with “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song.” The concert opener and Highway Prayers’ original evoked a sense of the band’s own journey and current European feat while abroad and away from home. The evening’s content continued with a cover of “John Deere Tractor,” a feature of the frontman’s duo collection with his dad, Terry Barber, Me/ And/ Dad, which ultimately carved a pathway for the five-piece, who ricocheted between covers and originals, demonstrating their comfort level while positioning their songs beside the greats.
Taking the third slot on the night’s setlist was “Heartbeat of America,” signaling the passage of time, and a piece that was positioned next to the Renewal sister track, “In The Morning Light.” “Liby Phillips Rag” and “Living Like an Animal” kept the trend going, before it was broken through the arrival of Emmitt-Nershi Band’s “New Country Blues.” For keen listeners, the cover functioned like a nod to the Leftover Salmon bandmates and newly announced special guests during the band’s Halloween concert in Baltimore.
The Stanley Brothers’ “Harbor of Love” came before a pairing, “Thirst Mutilator” into “Running.” On the other side of the coupled tunes, they delivered “Seven Weeks in County” and Bill Monroe’s “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling.” Set two started with just Strings performing the instrumental “Guitar Peace,” which merged into “Fearless,” coinciding with the band’s return. Like the first set, the band continued to pull select originals and borrowed numbers, including the Jimmy Martin-released “Sunny Side of the Mountain” for the first time since April 17, 2024, ending a 115-show gap.
Later on, they provided a similar treatment during John Hartford’s “With a Vamp in the Middle,” returning to the tune for the first time in 50 performances. For the evening’s encore, the band gathered around a single mic, paying homage to the roots of the genre on “Freedom” and Monroe’s “Uncle Pen.”
Next, Strings will perform at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday, October 10. Tickets remain on sale at www.billystrings.com.
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Following last night’s performance, Strings took to social media this morning to share that he is the subject of the latest Third Man Records’ Vault series. Billy Strings Live in Rosemont was recorded live on May 25, 2024, at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., and pressed on vinyl. Also included is Strings’ first-ever 2016 EP, which was originally self-released. Shipping begins in December. Sign up before October 31 on thirdmanrecords.com.
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Scroll down to view last night’s setlist, and see Strings’ Third Man Records post.
Billy Strings
TivoliVrendenburg – Utrecht, Netherlands
October 8, 2025
Set I: Leaning on a Travelin’ Song, John Deere Tractor, Heartbeat Of America, In The Morning Light, Libby Phillips Rag, Living Like An Animal, New Country Blues, Harbor of Love, Thirst Mutilator, Running, Seven Weeks in County, My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling
Set II: Guitar Peace1 Fearless, California Sober, Sunny Side Of The Mountain2, Love Like Me, Ashland Breakdown, All Of Tomorrow, End Of The Rainbow, 10,000 Miles From A Friend, With A Vamp In The Middle3 Cabin Song, Wargasm
Enc.: Freedom4, Uncle Pen4
Notes:
- Billy Strings solo
- Last Time Played 2024-04-17 | 115 show gap
- Last Time Played 2025-04-11 | 50 show gap
- Full band around single mic
