Country and Bluegrass Musician Billy Strings to Perform at UW Feb. 28

Billy Strings, a growing country and bluegrass musician, will perform with opening act The Wooks Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. in The Gardens, located in the lower level of the University of Wyoming Union. The event is free and open to the public.

“Whether sharing stages with acoustic music royalty, crisscrossing the nation playing as a solo artist or performing high-energy, jaw-dropping sets at festivals, the reaction to Billy Strings tends to come in two varieties: ‘Who is this guy?’ and ‘That kid can play!’” says Erika Baker, Campus Activities Center (CAC) marketing intern.

Strings, also known as William Apostol, comes from a musical background, having learned music from his father, who learned it from his father.

“By 24, his sound was so authentic and traditional that it could not be mistaken as a bandwagon jumper,” Baker says.

As a growing artist, he has already earned many awards, including the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2016 Momentum Award for Instrumentalist of the Year -- for guitar, banjo and mandolin -- and was voted No. 1 in The Bluegrass Situation’s Top 16 of 2016. Strings has performed with popular bluegrass artists such as Del McCoury, David Grisman and Larry Keel.

In keeping the traditional sound of bluegrass and mountain music, The Wooks translate the sights and sounds of the people and environment around them into songs. The Kentucky-based band, which formed in 2014, consists of Aaron Bibelhauser, banjo; CJ Cain, lead guitar; Arthur Hancock, guitar; and Roddy Puckett, bass.

“Inspired by legends and trailblazers, and with respect for their heritage and innovative originality, The Wooks are the natural evolution of a sound that has always been there,” Baker says.

The band’s honors include winning the 2016 RockyGrass Band Competition and placing in the finals of the 2017 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition. Its first record, “Little Circles,” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart.

For more information about Billy Strings, visit www.crossovertouring.com/artists/77. To learn more about The Wooks, go to www.wookoutamerica.com.

7220 Entertainment’s Club Events Committee is responsible for organizing the event. For more information on 7220 Entertainment’s five committees, as well as a listing of meeting times, visit www.uwyo.edu/union/cac/7220-entertainment/how-to-join.html .

For more information about future 7220 Entertainment events, visit www.uwyo.edu/connect, download the complimentary mobile app Corq, like the Wyoming Union on Facebook, or follow the CAC on Twitter and Instagram @UWYOCAC.

Individuals needing assistance to attend events should call the CAC at (307) 766-6340.