Billy Strings to Donate ALL proceeds to his hometown Ionia

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Billy threw a "Freak Fair" music festival in his childhood stomping grounds, Ionia county, drawing over 55,000 show-goers last weekend. The festival featured a sideshow, Ferris wheel, carnival games, bluegrass superstars, and home-baked Michigan metal bands. He later revealed that in addition to merch proceeds going to the county public schools, he's paying to replace the town's music theater roof and donating ALL of the festival profits left over to the county he grew up in. 

 

 

stay classy billy

Grade A Class Act for sure.  What a fun show to watch and what a great gift to the community.   Cool guest sit ins and it was good to see Billy do the entire new album song for song during the first set of the first night.   But I assume that many of the "55,000 show-goers" were repeat attendees. 

And Billy got his death metal fix: 

Billy in the Metal Tent.png

NPR did an interview with him about the new album right before the fest and when they called, Billy was in the middle of practicing the song he did with Cryptopsy.

https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5876175/bluegrass-guitarist-billy-s...

"55,000 show goers" meaning in ticket sales...I'm sure most of them went both nights lol

 

Coolest of the cool Fonzie of our time.. what's not to love?

IF I only knew the words....what a great Hero

PS Billy's team announced yesterday that they'll donate 100% of proceeds for all Ionia Freak Fair merch from now until Sept 7th too, so if you missed grabbing a hoodie or a t-shirt now's the time to pick em up.

billystringsstore.com