The opening salvo of the Michigan bluegrass guitarist’s inaugural festival at the Ionia County Fairgrounds was a spectacle unlike anything this small town and Billy fans had ever seen. Recap, photos.
The Main Attraction: Billy Strings played two impressive sets on the Main Stage Friday. (Photo/Anna Sink)
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Billy Strings has done it again.
There seems to be no limit to the heights that this Ionia County-bred bluegrass guitarist can achieve, or to the size of the impressive events that he can organize, or to the boundless love he has for his home state and the diverse musicians he’s befriended on his journey to the top of the bluegrass universe.
All of it came together in one oversized, sun-splashed, circus-themed spectacle on Friday at the Ionia County Fairgrounds on the first day of Billy String’s two-day Ionia Freak Fairm — an event that unleashed titans of bluegrass while also hailing some mighty masters of metal.
At the center of the extravaganza was Billy Strings, who seemed to be everywhere — sitting in with Full Cord during the festival’s opening set, diving into the mosh pit in The Pyramid Scheme’s Pinball and Metal Tent, and uncorking two lengthy headlining sets of his own, starting with all 16 songs — in order — from his new studio album, “So Much for Goodbyes,” that officially got released on Friday (and had folks lining up for hours to purchase at the merch tent).
Sun-Drenched Throngs: The massive turnout on a hot day at the fairgrounds. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
More than 28,000 fans from all corners of the country and the world have flocked to Ionia this weekend, attracted by the humble-yet-charismatic bluegrass guitarist who has defied the odds in turning this rootsy genre into a spectacle that sells out arenas and festivals.
“Oh, man. I’ve got to tell you this is incredible for me,” Billy told the throng stretching out as far as the eye could see. “I’ve been trying to do this for a number of years and I think we finally pulled it off.”
He added with some emotion that he saw the lunar eclipse after midnight Thursday when the new record was finally available and thought of his mom, for which the album is dedicated.
“It all just feels right,” he said. “This is unbelievable.”
Unbelievable, indeed, because his Ionia Freak Fair clearly is a milestone event such as Ionia has never witnessed, with the festival crowd growing precipitously as the day wore on to fill nearly every nook and cranny of the fairgrounds and its grandstand.
A BIG ECONOMIC BOOST FOR IONIA
Ionia Mayor John Milewski said the economic impact from the event already has been “significant. We are already seeing the influx of visitors — attendees, stage hands, food vendors and many of the other supporting personnel — in the community. The hotels/motels were booked months ago, and the City of Ionia has made a pivot with temporarily changing some of our parking ordinances. The use of temporary campgrounds in the county has truly exploded.”
Beyond that, Billy Strings’ ability to enchant listeners of every age, background and taste has no bounds. There’s literally no bluegrass like Billy bluegrass, not only because of its genre-bending and genre-mixing approach, but because it unites fans of all of those diverse styles.
Metal Mania: For the Fallen Dreams in the metal tent. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
“Thanks to Billy for giving all this love to the bluegrass community,” guitarist Vince Herman declared during the set by Colorado’s Leftover Salmon.
That community seemed to love it all right back, with the circus-themed event inspiring some fans to make bold and apropos fashion statements despite the day’s heat and humidity, dressing as clowns, ringmasters, jesters and more. To amplify that motif, the Freak Fair boasted sideshows, a Ferris Wheel and carnival games.
“I love all the details, the signs for everything,” said Brent Boswell of Kalamazoo. “It has like a theme. It’s really great. All of the people that are here for bluegrass is really amazing. It’s really special to be a part of this.”
Of course, it wasn’t just bluegrass. The Pyramid Scheme Pinball & Metal Tent featured sets by Lansing metalcore bands Heartsick and For the Fallen Dreams, as well as Massachusetts hardcore punk outfit Bane, inspiring mosh pit flailing and circle pits that even drew Billy into the fray at one point.
TRANSCENDENT MUSIC AND MORE
A couple from Missouri traveled to Michigan for the first time to attend the Freak Fair, arriving early for the festival after spending time in Traverse City. They were seeing Billy Strings play for the 21st and 22nd time this weekend, raving about the loving community of fans who follow the superstar guitarist.
“It’s the new people we meet and the people we bump into who we met at other shows,” the husband told me. “The scene is very encouraging of self-expression.”
Another pair of fans from Dayton, Ohio, said they’ve become devoted followers because Billy Strings is “the most genuine person” whose guitar-playing is “transcendent.”
Transcendent musicianship in varied forms was on display throughout Friday’s Freak Fair, starting with West Michigan’s own Full Cord (a set delayed slightly until sound issues were resolved), who not only revved up fans with their own virtuosic bluegrass prowess, but brought Billy on stage for some lightning-fast picking while also highlighting Rockford teen guitarist Peter Cavanaugh, who showed off his own picking proficiency and on-stage charm.
The Evening Scene: An estimated 28,000-plus on hand. (Photo/John Sinkevics)
Michigan-bred and Nashville-based Lindsay Lou followed with a bevy of harmony-laden songs unfurled by her Honeymoon Trio. She later brought yellow-suited festival emcee and former bandmate Mark Lavengood to the stage to add Dobro magic to her set. (Lavengood later joined Billy for his set.)
But Lindsay Lou certainly wasn’t done after her trio performance. Not only did Leftover Salmon invite her to the stage to perform a crowd-pleasing version of “Nine to Five” in tribute to the late Dolly Parton — demonstrating impressive vocals that Dolly herself would have applauded — but Billy called on her stellar singing to provide a spine-chilling grace to “Mill Town Flood” from his new album, which the guitarist performed track by track in the first set.
Indeed, Billy’s rare ability lyrically and musically to authentically create gospel-tinged bluegrass songs that sound like they could have been written in Kentucky in the 1940s and follow that up with psychedelic and rock-fueled effects on songs such as “Burn the Other End” and “Lucid Daydream” is unparalleled. (View the full set list here.)
The full moon even made a poignant, stunning appearance above the main stage as Billy neared the end of his opening set, inspiring cellphone photos and comments from fans 1,000 feet away from the bluegrass star.
As Billy pointed out, it all just felt right.
The festival continues at 4 p.m. today (Saturday) with sets by Billy, Greensky Bluegrass, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and Sierra Hull on the Main Stage, and Cryptopsy, Flesh & Blood Robot and See You Next Tuesday in the metal tent.
City traffic and the free parking at the fairgrounds ran smoothly on Friday. One thing to note: If you aren’t bringing chairs or strollers, head to the far west general admission entrance to avoid long lines.
PHOTO GALLERY: Ionia Freak Fair (Day 1)
Photos by Anna Sink, John Sinkevics
VIDEO: Ionia Freak Fair (Day 1)
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