The singer sidesteps his fledgling country career during headlining sets, but enlists his bluegrass pals for “Rockstar” and “Stay” at the festival
Post Malone took a short break from his burgeoning country music career to perform a hit-filled headlining set at Bonnaroo. But the singer incorporated some roots-music vibes into his performance by bringing in Billy Strings to play on a couple Beerbongs & Bentleys singles.
Midway through the set, Malone — an admitted Strings superfan — lit up in a blistering rendition of “Rockstar.” Amid bursts of flame, the silhouette of Strings, acoustic guitar in hand, appeared on stage, and the fast-fingered player added bluegrass textures to the hard rock song. Strings then hung up for a stripped down acoustic take on “Stay.”
Even before Posty Went Country, Malone and Strings have shared the stage together, appearing at the latter's concert in Santa Ana, California, in April 2022 to cover Johnny Cash's “Cocaine Blues.” The duo found themselves backstage later that year when Malone's tour brought him to Nashville.
Malone and Strings' friendship dates back to at least 2020, when the bluegrass musician hung out and jammed in Malone's Utah band during the pandemic. “He's a really fucking nice guy. Like Del McCoury nice,” Strings said Rolling rock by Malone in 2022. “You gain respect for someone who knows every word to 'Jambalaya (On the Bayou). It's like, “Damn, this mom knows more Hank than I do.”
“Gee, what a good night,” Malone said Rolling rock of the jamaria. “It was at my house, I had a few beers and got out the guitars. He was recording in a town not too far from where I live. When I found out, I told him to go.”
Prior to Malone's set, there were rumors that he would be joined on stage at the festival by Morgan Wallen's band “I Had Some Help” at Bonnaroo, which is just down the highway from Wallen's home base in Nashville. However, Wallen did not appear when Malone finally performed a solo of their Number One collaboration during the encore.
Report by Joseph Hudak
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/post-malone-billy-strings-bonnaroo-1235040657/
