Billy Strings – Home (CD)

The album that announced Billy Strings as more than just a bluegrass prodigy—Home established him as a songwriter and bandleader creating progressive bluegrass that honors tradition while pushing it forward. Produced by Glenn Brown and recorded primarily in Nashville, the album earned Billy his first Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and introduced him to audiences beyond the festival circuit. This CD captures the pristine audio quality that reveals every nuance of Billy's impossible flatpicking and the ensemble's tight interplay. Opening track Taking Water establishes Billy's approach: traditional instrumentation arranged with progressive rock ambition, tempos shifting from breakneck to spacious, lyrics speaking to contemporary concerns while maintaining bluegrass storytelling traditions. Hollow Heart, Watch It Fall, Love and Regret, and the title track all became setlist staples, showcasing his flatpicking technique and ability to write songs that work both as vehicles for improvisation and as standalone compositions. The band's interplay demonstrates telepathic communication developed through constant touring. Home established Billy's voice as distinct within bluegrass—not just another young picker playing fast, but an artist with vision about where the music could go. Relix recognized this immediately, championing his rise from regional phenomenon to arena headliner as the torchbearer for the next generation of acoustic American music. CD. Released September 2019 via Rounder Records. Grammy winner Best Bluegrass Album. Produced by Glenn Brown.