The picture-perfect night for the return of a Michigan favorite boasted an appearance by the superstar bluegrass guitarist from Ionia County who kept the enthusiastic sold-out crowd on its feet.
Bluegrass Hoedown: Billy Strings jamming on stage with Greensky Bluegrass guitarist Dave Bruzza. (Photo/Steve Baran)
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It was a Mitten State musical matchup made in heaven Sunday evening with bluegrass phenom Billy Strings making a sustained, surprise guest appearance with beloved, headlining Michigan band Greensky Bluegrass at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.
The Michigan pride was strong as the sold-out crowd soaked up perfect weather, beautiful skies and roughly 150 minutes of skillful, acrobatic bluegrass picking, plucking and strumming.
Rumors started earlier in the day that Michigan native Billy Strings (aka William Apostol) — on a brief tour break — was heard by fans from the parking lot warming up during the venue’s soundcheck, sparking excited speculation that he might make a guest appearance for Greensky’s much-anticipated return to the Meijer Gardens stage.
And sure enough, the Grammy Award-winning artist joined the five-piece home-state heroes for six songs of their 18-or-so-song set on the amphitheater stage — which happens to be just 45 miles west of Muir, Apostol’s hometown.
Igniting the Crowd: Greensky Bluegrass with its special guest. (Photo/Steve Baran)
Certainly, the band — which formed in 2000 in Kalamazoo and has built a devoted fan base well beyond its home state — is perfectly capable of holding a rapt attention’s crowd for many hours, but a party is always more fun when a popular, unexpected guest stops by for a spell to energize an audience.
Making his entrance, fittingly, during Greensky’s “I’d Probably Kill You” — a song from 2011’s “Handguns” in which they frequently change the lyrics to include a reference to Billy Strings — the rising star enjoyed a warm welcome as fans rushed to the stage for a closer look. He stuck around for much of the band’s second set, which included a one-on-one instrumental with guitarist Dave Bruzza, plus show closer “No Expectations.”
It was a full-circle moment in many ways: Greensky Bluegrass helped mentor a young Billy Strings and brought him on stage with them many years before he became an international sensation.
It’s also the second time this year that Apostol has electrified West Michigan fans by making guest appearances at his pals’ performances: In March, he revisited his heavy metal guitar roots by joining hardcore band Flesh and Blood Robot at a jam-packed Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids.
But Billy Strings wasn’t the only special Michigander guest to join Bruzza, Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Paul Hoffman (mandolin). Mandolinist Brian Oberlin of award-winning West Michigan band Full Cord, among other projects, also shared the spotlight with Greensky, much to the delight of the all-ages crowd of dancing fans.
The frequently-on-the-road Greensky also highlighted songs from their 2024 EP “The Iceland Sessions.” And while the band may have traveled far afield to record that particular project, they proudly reminded attendees: “Greensky Bluegrass is and always will be a band from f***ing Michigan!”
Up Next at Meijer Gardens: Tower of Power performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets start at $62 and are available online here. Come back to Local Spins later this week for an interview with Tower of Power.
PHOTO GALLERY: Greensky Bluegrass and Billy Strings at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Steve Baran and Anna Sink
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