Billy Strings Makes His Tiny Desk Concert Debut: ‘Even Just Standing Here Feels Like a Special Thing’
Billy Strings made a memorable debut at NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series on December 10, marking a significant milestone in his musical journey. The performance was not just a showcase of his talent but also a realization of a long-held dream for the bluegrass virtuoso. In a heartfelt moment during the set, Strings reflected on his journey, revealing that he had submitted an audition for the Tiny Desk series years ago. “It only took like, I don’t know, 12 more years or something,” he quipped, highlighting the perseverance that has characterized his career.
Accompanied by his talented band, which includes Jarrod Walker on mandolin, Royal Masat on bass, Billy Failing on banjo, and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, Strings delivered an engaging four-song set. The performance kicked off with “Red Daisy,” a track from his acclaimed 2021 album *Renewal*, and continued with “My Alice,” “Malfunction Junction,” and “Gild the Lily,” all from his highly anticipated 2024 album, *Highway Prayers*. Strings expressed his admiration for the Tiny Desk series, saying, “We’ve all watched so many of these and we’ve always wanted to do this,” and emphasized the special atmosphere of the NPR office, where countless legendary performances have taken place.
Billy Strings has solidified his position at the forefront of the bluegrass genre, leading Billboard’s 2025 Year-End Bluegrass Artists chart and achieving remarkable success with three projects in the top 15 of the Year-End Bluegrass Albums chart. His latest album, *Highway Prayers*, tops the list, while his previous works, *Home* and *Renewal*, also receive recognition at No. 10 and No. 15, respectively. This Tiny Desk concert not only showcased Strings’ musical prowess but also served as a testament to his dedication and the love he has for his craft. Fans can watch the full performance online, a treat for both new listeners and long-time followers of this rising star in bluegrass music.
Billy Strings
made his NPR Tiny Desk debut performance on Wednesday (Dec. 10), but for the multi-talented musician, the performance marked the realizing of a long-held dream.
At one point during his set, Strings noted how the set marked a full-circle moment for him. “We kind of, like, grew up on this,” Strings said between songs as he and his band played in the iconic and intimate NPR office space. “I remember back in the day, too, submitting my audition to be on here … It only took like, I don’t know, 12 more years or something.”
Strings was joined by Jarrod Walker on mandolin, Royal Masat on bass, Billy Failing on banjo and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle. He and his bandmates launched their four-song performance with “Red Daisy” from Strings’ 2021 album,
Renewal
, and also played “My Alice,” “Malfunction Junction” and “Gild the Lily,” all from his 2024 album,
Highway Prayers
.
“We’ve all watched so many of these and we’ve always wanted to do this,” Strings told the audience. “I’ve seen so many amazing performances that have happened right here. I kind of believe that love and spirit kind of soaks into this environment, so even just standing here feels like a special thing.”
Strings
leads
Billboard
‘s 2025 Year-End Bluegrass Artists chart, and he placed three projects in the top 15 on
Billboar
d’s 2025 Year-End Bluegrass Albums chart. HIs album
Highway Prayers
leads the list, while his
Home
project is at No. 10 and
Renewal
is at No. 15.
Watch Strings’ full Tiny Desk Concert below:
