The Loving Billy Strings Ecosystem
BONUS COVERAGE OF ‘BILLY STRINGS WEEKEND’
“I really love representing Michigan all around the country,” Billy Strings declared Friday from the stage during the first of two sold-out homecoming concerts at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena.
And Michigan — specifically, the Grand Rapids and Ionia area — loved their hometown hero right back.
As part of Local Spins’ coverage of the bluegrass guitarist’s homestand, writer Brayden Flodin dug into the adoration of vendors who follow Billy Strings and band around the country.
THE CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM OF BILLY STRINGS VENDORS
A vibrant community filled with infectious positivity, creativity and a sense of family is what makes Billy Strings and his community so special.
Just ask any of the vendors at pre-party events such as those that have preceded the guitarist’s concerts this weekend at Van Andel Arena, with the Courtyard Marriott’s “Pickin’ in the Courtyard” featuring a wide array of colorful shirts, intricately designed hats, stickers and different passion projects forged within the Billy-loving community.
Everyone who plays a part in these events seems grateful to have an artist to rally around and a tight-knit community to support each other’s creative endeavors.
“Family is the word. We meet people along the way and we become family, it’s the vending scene, it’s seeing the little kids in the community get bigger and it’s just real nice family community,” said Jillian Quinlan, one of the event hosts who also co-owns H33ling The Herd nonprofit which aims to reduce harm and negativity in the music community.
The group formed in November 2022 after “an overdose at a show in New York,” she said. “I’m a nurse, so I’m thinking what can I do to help?” Since then, lives have been saved from potential overdoses through H33ling the Herd’s efforts to hand out Narcan and Fentanyl test strips at different shows across the country.
Brendan Silvernail, fiddler for Ionia’s Silver Exchange, performing at the pre-parties, called the welcoming community’s response to the band’s music “just an amazing feeling. It put smiles on our faces, but it also puts smiles on other people’s faces and to see people enjoy it and to watch them dance, it really means a lot to see all that.”
Two Michigan filmmakers who created a horror short film called “Fear Michigan” that was co-created and sponsored by Billy Strings caled it “a creative ecosystem. We’ve been welcomed with open arms here, and there’s just such a creative and artful mix of people coming together. It really does feel like a family.”
“Pickin’ in the Courtyard” at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids continues from from noon to 6 p.m. today (May 31), with goods from 27 vendors, live music from Silver Exchange, open-mics and open jams.
Founders Brewing Co., just a few blocks from the arena, hosts another “Unofficial Billy Strings Pre-Picking in the Garden” with King Possum at 4:30 p.m. today (May 31). Details here.
Photos by Derek Ketchum
