Bluegrass star extraordinaire Billy Strings returned to Albany as something of a conquering hero, selling out the MVP Arena for his midweek show.

Review by Pete Mason / Photos by Zak Radick for NYS Music

(l-r) Billy Strings, Royal Masat, and Billy Failing at the MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y. (November 12, 2025) – photo by Zak Radick for NYS Music

Then, from the lip of the stage, Strings sat down with acoustic guitar in hand for a pair of very old numbers – “Matty Groves” and “Country Blues” – the former dating back to 17th century England (and popularized in America by Doc Watson), and the latter nearly a century old itself, written by “Dock” Boggs. This is one of the best parts of Billy Strings shows – a deep catalog of traditional songs that are all but forgotten to time, resurrected either solo or with the full band, connecting audiences to music of years past.

– Pete Mason for NYS Music