By Alesha Damerville

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – Controlled chaos wafts across the crowd musical form when Billy Strings plucks his guitar. Steamboat Springs wraps up summer with the musical stylings of one of the biggest names in bluegrass.

The third annual End of Summer Jam at Howelsen Hill makes its appearance during Labor Day weekend and marks the unofficial transition of seasons in the Yampa Valley. However, let’s pause before freaking out about all things fall – like the changing leaves and pumpkin spice everything – because this show is THE reason to celebrate summer one last time. 

Strings sings what he knows, and writes music based on personal experience. “I write for myself, and for the other people who have gone through similar things. I have lived in small towns and lost people to things like drugs, prison, suicide or even just cut ties with family members because of an argument,” he says. Strings recently lost two friends to the heroin epidemic.

“Home reminds me of my childhood and the past. Not necessarily all the good things,” Strings says. “When people think of home, they think of a happy, warm place, but in reality, home for a lot of people is disaster. Domestic issues, poverty and substance abuse – home can be a pretty brutal thing.” 

“Things like that are so painful, and they stick with people. Every single person on this planet has probably went through something similar, and a lot of times it ties back to home and childhood. Many of the songs are inspired by that thought process. Maybe for some of the people who hear this album, it will hit home,” he says.

Strings is currently finishing writing and putting the final touches on his new album. “I’d like to write a song every day if I could,” he says. His full schedule has forced his songwriting process to evolve into taking notes when he’s out and about and incorporating it later.

Billy Strings’ new album, “Home,” set for release on September 27, falls within a month of the free concert. It’s safe to say concert-goers may be lucky enough to preview a few tracks off the new album during this free event. Start the party off right with Steamboat local favorites’ Buffalo Commons at 4:30 p.m. 

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