REMASTERED: Billy Strings | From The Big Bang to Bluegrass

About this episode

In this episode of Americana Podcast: The 51st State, Robert Earl Keen sits down with Billy Strings to talk about learning to play, the craft of songwriting, and the evolving world of Americana music. Born William Apostol and raised in rural Michigan, Billy Strings grew up surrounded by bluegrass. By the time he was a teenager, his blistering flatpicking had already earned him a reputation as a prodigy among pickers and players. Years of relentless practice and countless small gigs eventually carried him from Midwestern bars and festivals to some of the biggest stages in roots music. For years, bluegrass lived mostly in whispers. You might hear it referenced in liner notes, spot it in a citation, or see it pop up in the occasional New Yorker cartoon. But something has changed. The conversation has gotten louder, and the reality is harder to ignore. Bluegrass music is considered cool now. It should not come as much of a surprise. Bluegrass has always carried a rich and vibrant history stretching back to the early twentieth century. It is a genre that holds tight to regional identity, creative freedom, and remarkable musicianship. At the same time, it has always fostered a de