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Billy Strings postpones upcoming shows after JPJ injury

Billy Strings postpones upcoming shows after JPJ injury

Billy Strings has postponed four upcoming shows after breaking his leg. Photo: Associated Press


CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist Billy Strings confirmed he suffered a fractured left leg in a backstage skateboard accident Saturday night at John Paul Jones Arena, and announced the postponement of four upcoming shows.

Strings posted a series of selfies in a UVA Medical Center bed after surgery Sunday along with X-ray, and lauded the efforts of hospital staff.

“I walked off stage right before the encore I was all zazzed up from a really fun show,” Strings posted. “I grabbed my board and tried to do a trick I’ve done a million times (back 180) and landed awkwardly and broke my leg. I heard it snap over the screaming crowd.”

He had shows scheduled for Charleston, W.Va. Wednesday night and three shows in Fishers, Ind. this coming weekend that he has postponed until August.

After this weekend, the tour already went on a break until July 2.

He called the UVA staff “absolute angels.”

He said he considered “Dave Grohling” the upcoming shows, a reference to the Foo Fighters front man who broke his leg on stage back in 2015 and still finished the show, and said Grohl even offered a throne to use.

But consultation  with his wife, friends, band members, and doctors, and the belief he couldn’t “give you guys the show you deserve” coming right out of the surgery, they decided to reschedule the spring shows.

“I feel like such an idiot. But what are ya gonna do , ya know?” he posted.

Strings broke the leg during the skateboard ride and trick as he approached the stage for an encore after playing two-and-a-half hours of Saturday night’s show.

Lights were down as a sold out crowd screamed and awaiting the band’s return to stage after about ten minutes, only to have the lights abruptly brought up and the show was over.

Some jeered, and many left wondering why it took so long for the house lights to be brought up.

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