The first-ever Ionia Freak Fair took place on Friday and Saturday at the Ionia Fairgrounds in Ionia, MI. The epic weekend curated by Billy Strings who grew up in the area. In addition to Strings and his band, the roster of performers included Greensky Bluegrass, Sierra Hull, Leftover Salmon, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Lindsay Lou and Full Cord.
The Freak Fair featured multiple sit-ins across the board. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from Strings’ headlining performances each evening. Friday’s guests included: Leftover Salmon and Lindsay Lou over two sets, which included a tribute to Dolly Parton on “The Last Thing on My Mind.” On Saturday, Sierra Hull, Michael Cleveland, Terry Barber and Greensky Bluegrass all appeared during a performance that culminated with a 30 minute sequence that began with a first-ever take on Greensky original “Don’t Lie” which segued into Strings’ “Meet Me at the Creek,” then back into “Don’t Lie.”
We’ve collected a variety of clips below and shared a taste of Strings’ appearance with Cryptopsy, all of which appear above the setlists.
Billy Strings, Ionia Freak Fair August 28
Set I: I’m One Of Those, Burn The Other End, Carry Us Home(1), Lay Me Down, Lucid Daydream, Mill Town Flood(2), Live To Tell(2,3), Bluewater Breakdown, Light The Way, I Like Train Songs, 10,000 Miles From A Friend, Still I Crash(4),I Wish I Wanted To(3),Remember To Cry, Wrestling An Angel(2), Debra’s Waltz
Set II: Dust In A Baggie, Summertime, Away From The Mire, Long Forgotten Dream, John Deere Tractor, Seven Weeks in County(5), Rank Stranger(6), The Last Thing On My Mind(6,7,8), Gild the Lily(9), Down In The Hollow(9), Must Be Seven > Psycho, Hide and Seek
1 Billy Strings & Jarrod Walker duo w/Jarrod on guitar
2 with Lindsay Lou on shared vocals
3 with Alwyn Robertson on drums, and Mark Lavengood on dobro
4 Billy Strings solo
5 "The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly" (Ennio Morricone) tease
6 with Lindsay Lou on vocals, Mark Lavengood on dobro
7 Tribute to Dolly Parton who passed away on August 25th, 2026
8 Last Time Played 2020-02-27 | 524 show gap
9 with Leftover Salmon, Vince Herman on guitar, Drew Emmitt on mandolin, Andy Thorn on banjo, Alwyn Robertson on drums, Jay Sterling on dobro, and Kyle Tuttle on banjo
Billy Strings, Ionia Freak Fair August 29
Set I: Slow Train, Doin’ My Time, My Alice, Highway Hypnosis, Love and Regret, On The Line > Train 45 > Ruby, Broken Doe, Malfunction Junction > Ole Slew Foot, Turmoil & Tinfoil
Set II: The Fire On My Tongue > Little Maggie, Escanaba, The Train That Carried My Girl From Town > Black Mountain Rag, With Body & Soul(1,2), Maiden’s Prayer(1), Baltimore Johnny(3), Life To Go(4,5), Someday You’ll Call My Name(4,5), Little Cabin Home On The Hill(4,6), Night Fishing, Red Daisy, In The Morning Light(7,8), Don’t Lie(7,8,9,10) > Meet Me At The Creek(7,10) > Don’t Lie(7,8,10)
1 with Michael Cleveland on fiddle
2 Last Time Played 2025-12-05 | 41 show gap
3 with Sierra Hull on mandolin, Michael Cleveland on fiddle
4 with Terry Barber on guitar, Sierra Hull on mandolin, Michael Cleveland on fiddle, Mark Lavengood on dobro
5 Terry Barber on lead vocals
6 Last Time Played 2025-06-19 | 84 show gap
7 with Greensky Bluegrass
8 Paul Hoffman on vocals
9 First time played (Greensky Bluegrass)
10 Mike Devol on bass, no Royal Masat
Setlists via Billybase.net
