Critically Acclaimed Bluegrass Duo to Perform on Morgan Square

Billy Strings and Don Julin, a critically acclaimed Michigan- based bluegrass duo, will play a free outdoor concert on Morgan Square in the heart of downtown Spartanburg on April 15, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The duo’s bio reads in part: “Incendiary American roots duo Billy Strings & Don Julin tap into the vein of the earliest bluegrass music on their new album Fiddle Tune X, back when bluegrass was a rough-and-tumble art form pouring out of the Appalachian mountains, made with great virtuosity and huge attitude. With just two instruments (guitar and mandolin) and one voice, this duo has been tearing up stages across America and generating huge buzz based on their intense live shows.”

James Carlson, a writer for No Depression.com, says of Strings and Julin, “Billy Strings & Don Julin are a musical force to be reckoned with,” while the Third Coast Music Network says, “If most bluegrass is Kentucky Gentleman, Strings & Julin are White Lightening.”

The free concert is being made possible by a group of local downtown business leaders and fans of the duo who are committed to the continued success of downtown Spartanburg. The City of Spartanburg will provide logistical support for the event. Beer and wine will be available for sale. Along with the regularly scheduled Music on Main on Thursday and Jazz on the Square on Friday, the Billy Strings and Don Julin show will provide a third opportunity for free outdoor music on Morgan Square that week. In addition, the Hub City Hog Fest, a downtown BBQ and music festival, will run Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, bringing nine musical acts downtown, headlined by the Grammy-nominated SteelDrivers on Saturday night.

“This is another example of the great downtown team we have in Spartanburg,” said Special Events and Festivals Manager Mandy Merck. “Billy Strings and Don Julin are increasingly becoming a major draw, and for people to be able to see musicians of their caliber free of charge is a terrific opportunity. We’re grateful for the local downtown stakeholders that made this happen, and we look forward to more such opportunities in the future as we continue to build a dynamic, exciting downtown.”