Billy Strings and his band have officially made their long-awaited debut on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, delivering a performance that blends bluegrass roots with a stripped-back, intimate vibe.

The four-song set opened with “Red Daisy” from his 2021 album Renewal, followed by selections from 2024’s acclaimed album Highway Prayers — “My Alice,” “Malfunction Junction,” and “Gild the Lily.”

Performing with fiddler Alex Hargreaves, banjoist Billy Failing, bassist Royal Masat and mandolinist/vocalist Jarrod Walker, Strings opted for a minimal-mic setup — a decision he framed as a deliberate nod to the “way these instruments are meant to sound.”

At one point during the session, Strings paused to reflect on the moment, saying that while he’s played countless venues, this one felt different — imbued with the soul of past performances. “Just standing here feels like a special thing,” he said.

The Tiny Desk performance arrives after more than a decade of anticipation: Strings revealed that he first submitted an audition tape to the series 12 years ago, and after all this time, finally stepped into the legendary NPR Music office to record.