Every so often, someone comes around in the country music world and completely flips it on its head. Billy Strings has done that in the last handful of years, beginning in 2017 with his debut solo album, Turmoil & Tinfoil.
Flashforward a handful of years, Strings has become the face of the modern day bluegrass movement, and has garnered a significant following in the jam band world as well. And it would make sense if you’ve ever seen him play… the dude can absolutely shred.
And then, you have Zach Top.
The Washington native burst onto the country music scene this year with the release of his debut album Cold Beer & Country Music, and to say that he’s brought a breath of fresh air to genre is an understatement. Artists like Luke Combs and Cody Johnson, among others, having been leading a resurgence of traditional country in the mainstream, but Zach is straight out of the ’90s. Reminiscent of acts like Daryle Singletary or Tracy Lawrence, if you hear Zach on your car radio, you’d think they were playing some throwback jams… it’s that good. And not only does Zach sound like a voice from the past, the dude can PICK too.
Now, if these two were just some talented young country stars, that would be one thing, but people love it. Billy is a multi-Grammy winner, selling out massive venues, garnering respect from music fans and artists alike, across all genres. And Zach is exploding right now too… two guys with different sounds carrying the torch for traditional country music… in different forms.
And… they just teamed up for a trio of duets for Zach’s Apple Music Sessions.
Featuring two cuts from Zach’s 2024 album, and a classic Ricky Skaggs cover. Written by Ray Pennington and Roy E. Marcum, “Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown” was first recorded by The Stanley Brothers in 1963, but then Ricky Skaggs released it in November of 1983 as the first single and title track from the album. It went on to top the charts for Skaggs’ 6th career Number One country hit.
“We had a lot of fun, traded back and forth some playing and whatnot. It’s so fun to watch him play. And I feel like he’s known so much for a player that it gets passed over sometimes how freaking good of a singer he is too.
It was so fun to get to sing with him and him kind enough to come in on a couple of my songs and sing a second verse, sing a little harmony, do that kind of thing. It was a blast.”
Says Top of the new collaboration:
Check it out:
Zach Top Tour Dates
November 1—North Little Rock, AR—Simmons Bank Arena*
November 2—Evansville, IN—Ford Center*
November 3—Charleston, WV—Charleston Coliseum*
November 7—Oklahoma City, OK—Paycom Center*
November 8—Omaha, NE—CHI Health Center*
November 9—Sioux Falls, SD—Denny Sanford Premier Center*
November 15—Monroe, LA—Monroe Civic Center*
November 16—Monroe, LA—Monroe Civic Center*
November 30—Scottsdale, AZ—Westworld of Scottsdale
December 3—Tampa, FL—Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino#
December 5—Kent, WA—accesso ShoWare Center
December 8—Las Vegas, NV—Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
December 13—Las Vegas, NV—Brooklyn Bowl
December 30—San Diego, CA—Wild Horses
January 16—Omaha, NE—Steelhouse+ (SOLD OUT)
January 18—Fayetteville, AR—JJ’s Live+ (SOLD OUT)
January 23—Denver, CO—Grizzly Rose+ (SOLD OUT)
January 24—Denver, CO—Grizzly Rose+ (SOLD OUT)
January 29—Columbus, OH—The Bluestone+(SOLD OUT)
January 30—Columbus, OH—The Bluestone+ (SOLD OUT)
January 31—Royal Oak, MI—Royal Oak Music Theatre+ (SOLD OUT)
February 1—Cincinnati, OH—Andrew J Brady Music Center+ (SOLD OUT)
February 6—Des Moines, IA—Val Air Ballroom+ (SOLD OUT)
February 7—Tulsa, OK—Cain’s Ballroom+ (SOLD OUT)
February 8—Tulsa, OK—Cain’s Ballroom+(SOLD OUT)
February 13—Jackson, MS—Mississippi Coliseum
February 14—Durant, OK—Choctaw Grand Theater+ (SOLD OUT)
February 15—Fort Worth, TX—Dickies Arena#
February 16—San Antonio, TX—Frost Bank Center – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
February 26—Chattanooga, TN—The Signal+(SOLD OUT)
February 27—Chattanooga, TN—The Signal+ (SOLD OUT)
February 28—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium^ (SOLD OUT)
March 1—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium+ (SOLD OUT)
March 5—Jacksonville, FL—FIVE+(SOLD OUT)
March 6—Jacksonville, FL—FIVE+ (SOLD OUT)
March 7—Orlando, FL—Kia Center#
March 8—Atlanta, GA—Buckhead Theatre+ (SOLD OUT)
March 21-23—Willowbank, Australia—CMC Rocks
April 26—Tampa, FL—Amalie Arena#
May 17—Milwaukee, WI—Fiserv Forum#
June 11—North Lawrence, OH—The Country Fest 2025
*with Lainey Wilson
+with special guest Cole Goodwin
#with Alan Jackson
^with special guest Jake Worthington