From W. H.Y.Y. in Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger.

Well, folks, I want to tell you about a traveling man. His home was down in Tennessee.

Today we continue our series highlighting some of our favorite interviews of the year,

with singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Billy Strings.

Strings is one of the rare bluegrass musicians who can fill arenas with tens of thousands of

fans. He's been working to get to where he is for a long time. By the time I could play guitar,

you know, five, six years old, I was learning those tunes. I might have been able to play some

of them before I knew how to tie my shoes or something.

You know, it was like I was learning how to speak and talk and walk,

and I was learning all these Doc Watson tunes at the same time, and it was just like a religion.

Also, we hear an excerpt of Terry's interview with classical cellist and pop star Lave.

That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekends.

This is Fresh Air Weekend.

I'm Sam Brigger.

If you ever find yourself at an arena concert where tens of

thousands of fans of all ages are stomping about to the Bill Monroe tune Roanoke or the classic

bluegrass song Old Slewfoot, chances are you're at a Billy String show. A singer, songwriter,

and guitarist, Billy Strings is one of the younger generation of musicians,

carrying the torch for traditional acoustic bluegrass, even while his music incorporates

excursions into exploratory improvisational jams and the occasional heavy metal guitar riff.

And he's been celebrated by both audiences and the music industry.

He's won two Grammys and Highway Prayers, released in 2024, is the first Bluegrass album

...