I first heard of Billy Strings because he started showing up in YouTube recommended videos next to lots of other performers I follow – sometimes actually duetting with them, other times just at the same festivals or similar stages.

Seems like the classic word-of-mouth artist, making it by spending his time on the festival circuit, playing out, and building a fan base.

This 2xLP on Rounder is his third solo studio album (he also did two in partnership with Don Julin), and was produced by Jonathan Wilson, with Gary Paczosa as Engineer.

No, his birth name wasn’t Billy Strings – he’s credited as a songwriter as William Apostol.