Billy Strings Announces Metal Lineup For His Ionia Freak Fair

Billy Strings is a virtuoso bluegrass musician and a giant star in the jammy Americana world. He's also a big fucking metalhead. Last year, Strings shredded a solo on a medley of re-recorded 1994 songs from tech-death legends Cryptopsy. Now, Strings is preparing for his own Ionia Freak Fair festival in his hometown of Ionia, Michigan, and he's booked himself an entire metal stage.

Ionia Freak Fest goes down Aug. 28-29 at Ionia Fairgrounds. Billy Strings will headline both nights, and the main-stage lineups also include peers like Greesky Bluegrass and Leftover Salmon. It's what you'd expect, pretty much. But there's also the Metal & Pinball Tent with its own stage, and he wasn't fucking around when he booked it. Cryptopsy will headline that stage one night, with reunited Boston hardcore greats Bane playing the other one. For The Fallen Dreams, Flesh & Blood Robot, Heartsick, and See You Next Tuesday will also play.

On Instagram, Billy Strings writes, "These are bands that I have loved for years and some of them are dear friends of mine that I used to play shows with 20 years ago."