BILLY STRINGS
A Photo Retrospective
Insight & Photos: David Simchock
Venue: Various
There isn't another artist blowing up the bluegrass scene (if not redefining it) as William "Billy Strings" Apostol.
I was lucky enough to meet and photograph Billy prior to he and his band filling up arenas around the country. Heck, I had the pleasure to see him perform at tiny local festivals, and as an opening act, long before he inspired the newly-coined term, "Arenagrass"
My first time crossing paths with him was back in 2017 when he was relatively unknown, but my friends over at iamAVL knew enough to book him a slot on their popular Echo Sessions live-streaming program (at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC). Check out the Echo Sessions show HERE) The following evening he opened for, and sat in with, the Infamous Stringdusters at the Orange Peel (which also included a sit-in by Jon Stickley of the Jon Stickley Trio).
From there, I caught the young picker at the French Broad River Festival (North Carolina), Pisgah Brewing Company (the first iteration of "King & Strings" -- a collaboration with Marcus King), Suwannee Spring Reunion (Florida), the Salvage Station in Asheville (opening for the Sam Bush Band), another King & Strings set at Rooster Walk Festival (Virginia), Halloween 2019 at the Orange Peel in Asheville (A Clockwork Orange theme), and finally an arena show opening for Umphrey's McGee in Asheville on Valentine's Day back in 2020.
It's hard to believe that it's now been four years, almost to the day, since I've experienced a Billy Strings show! But, he's on his way to Asheville this coming weekend (February 16, 17 & 18, 2024) for a string of three sold-out shows at Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville (aka ExploreAsheville.com Arena), and if the universe aligns for me, you may see me in the photo pit at the arena this coming weekend!
Below are some of the highlights of the shows that I mentioned above. It's been fascinating watching Billy mature into the world-class artist that he has become. And, at such a young age, who knows what he's going to evolve into or, even, evolve the entire bluegrass genre of music into.
Photos © Copyright David Simchock (Do not copy or publish without permission.)
Looking to catch a Billy Strings gig?
Get your tickets while they are still available (if they are still available).
