Billy Strings appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, November 20. Taking on the role of musical guest, the bandleader, Billy Failing, Royal Masat, Alex Hargreaves, Jarrod Walker, and special guest Jason Carter supported their fourth studio album, Highway Prayers, by highlighting a feature of the set, “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song.” 

The televised performance showcased the bluegrass ensemble’s esteem for the tradition, with multiple voices giving rise to lines that beckon to the genre’s classic traveling trope. In the clip, the group’s harmonic entry propels a sense of unison and old-timey flair before twin fiddles shuffle the number back to the conductor’s command. 

From arena stages to New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, the group brings a playfulness to their delivery, tossing pieces of the song from one musician to the next and demonstrating the best of their independent skills. Following the fiddles, Strings gives Walker a silent cue to drive home the number’s mandolin breakdown, before pitching the instrumental interlude to Failing on banjo. 

The song moves with memoir-like references, evoking unsung nods to Strings’ own road-dog status and projecting his high-caliber movement across the guitar, with respect for those who came before him and journeyed down the dusty trails of bluegrass history to carve out this moment in time. 

Last night’s performance on Colbert arrives before the band’s next leg of live shows, which pick up over two nights, Dec. 5 and 6, at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. The ensemble will follow up by performing at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., on Dec. 10, before the final dates before the New Year take the five-piece through the Lone Star State. 

Tickets remain on sale for select performances. For more information, follow this link.

Looking ahead to February, both Carter and Strings have been nominated for a Best Bluegrass Album Grammy. Strings’ Highway Prayers is up for the award, as is Carter & Cleveland, Jason Carter’s collaboration with fellow fiddle player Michael Cleveland.

Watch the band play “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song” below. 

Strings appears on Relix’s latest cover. Order and learn more.