Article Contributed by Sacks and Company
Published on February 13, 2026
Billy Strings confirms first-ever “Ionia Freak Fair” at Ionia County Fairgrounds August 28 and 29
3x Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Billy Strings will return to Michigan this summer with his first-ever “Ionia Freak Fair” on Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29. Hosted by Mark Lavengood, the two-day event will feature performances from Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, Sierra Hull, Leftover Salmon, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Lindsay Lou and Full Cord in addition to a Pyramid Scheme Pinball & Metal Tent.
Tickets for the “Ionia Freak Fair” are on sale now, with limited RV parking passes available as an add-on when purchased with the event ticket on Ticketmaster. Full details can be found at www.ioniafreakfair.com.
The event adds to another landmark year for Strings, whose most recent full-length album, Highway Prayers, won Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this month—his second consecutive win in the category. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Mac Miller, Aimee Mann) and released via Reprise Records, the album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales Chart—the first bluegrass album in 22 years to do so—and continues to receive widespread acclaim, with GQ calling Strings “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades” and Pitchfork praising, “the bluegrass wunderkind expands his palette, exploring new textures and emotional registers while staying true to his beloved genre.” Listen to Highway Prayers HERE.
Following Highway Prayers, Strings released an exclusive Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP featuring reworked songs from the record as well as a surprise collaborative album, Live at the Legion, with Bryan Sutton (stream/purchase here). Recorded live on April 7, 2024 at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82, the album showcases the acclaimed duo performing 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs, including new renditions of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” Doc Watson’s “Way Downtown” and more. In support of the new music, Strings performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on The Howard Stern Show, where he performed “Escanaba” and spoke with the host.
An electric live performer, Strings is in the midst of an extensive headline tour including upcoming stops at Boston’s Agganis Arena, Portland’s Cross Insurance Arena (two nights), Ionia’s County Fairgrounds (two nights), Asheville’s ExploreAsheville.com Arena (four nights) and Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena (two nights), followed by an exclusive performance at the Ryman Auditorium. See below for complete tour itinerary.
Since his 2017 debut, Strings has been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th, 67th and 63rd Grammy Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2023 and 2022 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2025, 2023, 2022 and 2021 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards among several other accolades. He has also performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, PBS’ Austin City Limits and Bluegrass Underground as well as countless sold-out shows worldwide.
BOLD on-sale now
February 13 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 14 — Asheville, NC — ExploreAsheville.com Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 20 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 21 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena (SOLD OUT)
February 22 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT)
February 28 — Nashville, TN — Opry House
April 2 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
April 3 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
April 4 — St. Augustine, FL — St. Augustine Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
April 8 — Tampa, FL — Benchmark International Arena
April 10 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena
April 11 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena
April 14 — Greensboro, NC — First Horizon Coliseum
April 17 — Charlottesville, VA — John Paul Jones Arena
April 18 — Charlottesville, VA — John Paul Jones Arena
April 22 — Charleston, WV — Charleston Coliseum (SOLD OUT)
April 24 — Fishers, IN — Fishers Event Center (SOLD OUT)
April 25 — Fishers, IN — Fishers Event Center (SOLD OUT)
April 26 — Fishers, IN — Fishers Event Center (SOLD OUT)
July 14 — Roanoke, VA — Berglund Center (SOLD OUT)
July 17 — Portsmouth, VA — Portsmouth Pavilion
July 18 — Portsmouth, VA — Portsmouth Pavilion (SOLD OUT)
July 21 — Boston, MA — Agganis Arena (SOLD OUT)
July 22 — Boston, MA — Agganis Arena
July 24 — Portland, ME — Cross Insurance Arena (SOLD OUT)
July 25 — Portland, ME — Cross Insurance Arena (SOLD OUT)
July 28 — Hartford, CT — PeoplesBank Arena
July 31 — Bethel, NY — Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
August 1 — Bethel, NY — Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (SOLD OUT)
August 28 — Ionia, MI — Ionia Freak Fair
August 29 — Ionia, MI — Ionia Freak Fair
