Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton, and Royal Masat Conclude Woodward Theatre Run with Tribute to Bluegrass Legends
On Saturday, September 6, Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton, and Royal Masat concluded their two-night run at the Woodward Theatre with a heartfelt tribute to the pioneers of bluegrass. Performing in the intimate 450-seat venue at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Ky., the trio delivered a two-set performance rich with traditional covers and material from Strings and Sutton’s collaborative album, Live at The Legion.
The concert began with “Way Downtown,” a traditional song also featured on Strings’ album Me/And/Dad. The homage to genre legends continued with renditions of Doc Watson-associated tunes “Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor” and “Nashville Blues.” The first set also featured the tour debut of “Bill Cheatham,” performed for the first time in 120 shows. A cover of Bill Monroe’s “Big Sandy River” followed, marking its first appearance in 117 performances. Sutton took lead vocals on several tracks, including “Solid Gone,” Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You,” and the traditional “Darling Corey.”
The second set opened with an intimate duo performance, as Sutton switched to mandolin to join Strings on guitar. Together, they performed the traditional “What Does The Deep Sea Say?” and “Watson Blues,” further celebrating the legacies of Monroe and Watson.
Bassist Royal Masat then rejoined the stage for the remainder of the set, which included a notable bust-out of the Turmoil & Tinfoil original “Salty Sheep.” The track, co-written by Sutton, had not been played in 144 shows. The evening’s carefully selected setlist consistently honored the deep roots of bluegrass and the artists who shaped it.
After this two-night engagement in Kentucky, the trio will continue their tour with sold-out shows on September 11 and 12 at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in Boone, N.C.
