Trey Anastasio visited Grand Rapids, MI, for an acoustic show on Wednesday night, where he was joined by special guests Billy Strings and Jovi, the girl who stole Phish fans’ hearts when she sat in with Trey on “Bug” four years ago at the same venue.
Rain clouds threatened the evening at the Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater, but held off just long enough to allow for a full performance by Trey and his pianist partner, Jeff Tanski. Before the show began, rumors circulated of Billy sightings, and sure enough, the guitarist hobbled out on crutches midway through the show. Last night’s sit-in came a little over two weeks after Strings joined Primus onstage outside Detroit, all while he continues rehabbing the leg he broke skateboarding in April.
Strings joined Trey for several Phish songs, including “Back on the Train,” “Water in the Sky,” “Possum,” “Wolfman’s Brother,” “First Tube,” and “What’s Going Through Your Mind,” which Phish debuted with Billy when he sat in with the full band in August 2024. The two also touched on Strings’ catalog with “Gild the Lily” and “Love the Regret,” as well as Hot Rize‘s “Nellie Kane,” a bluegrass song covered by both artists.
As if the Billy Strings sit-in wasn’t enough, Anastasio also called up Jovi to once again join him on “Bug.” Back in 2022, the then-7-year-old Jovi caught Trey’s attention with a sign asking, “Can I sing Bug with u?” Anastasio graciously obliged, and the collaboration became one of the most heartwarming storylines of the summer. At Wednesday’s reunion, it appeared Jovi brought along the same sign from 2022, adding “Bug Reprise” to the back.
Check out videos from Trey Anastasio’s collaborations with Billy Strings and Jovi in Grand Rapids last night, along with photos courtesy of Steve Baran. Anastasio’s acoustic tour concludes this weekend with stops in Toronto, Buffalo, and two nights at Port Chester, NY’s The Capitol Theatre. Find tickets on Ticketmaster and his website. [Editor’s note: Live For Live Music may earn a commission from tickets purchased via the links on this page.]
Trey Anastasio, Billy Strings, Jovi — “Bug” — 6/17/26
[Video: Ryan Boldrey]
Trey Anastasio, Billy Strings — “Back On The Train” — 6/17/26
[Video: Ryan Boldrey]
Setlist: Phish | Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater | Grand Rapids, MI | 6/17/26
Set: Taste [1], Waste[1], Stash[1], Lost in the Pack [2], Bathtub Gin[2] > Sample in a Jar[2], Chalk Dust Torture[2], Esther[1], Rift[1], Divided Sky[1], Joy[1], Simeon[1], Petrichor[1], Back on the Train [3], Gild the Lily [4], Water in the Sky [5], Nellie Kane (Hot Rize) [4], Possum[3], Love and Regret[3], Wolfman’s Brother [6], What’s Going Through Your Mind[6]
Encore: Bug [7], First Tube[5]
[1] Trey acoustic and Jeff Tanski on piano.
[2] Trey solo acoustic.
[3] Trey and Billy Strings on acoustics and vocals.
[4] Trey debut; Trey and Billy Strings on acoustics and vocals.
[5] Trey and Billy Strings on acoustics, Jeff Tanski on piano.
[6] Trey and Billy Strings on acoustics and vocals, Jeff Tanski on piano.
[7] Trey and Billy Strings on acoustics, Jeff Tanski on piano, Jovi Crusen on vocals.
This show featured the Trey debuts of Gild the Lily and Nellie Kane. Lost in the Pack through Chalk Dust Torture were performed by Trey solo acoustic. Taste through Stash and Esther through Petrichor featured Trey on acoustic guitar and Jeff Tanski on piano. Billy Strings sat in on acoustic guitar for Back on the Train through the end of the show and sang vocals on Back on the Train, Gild the Lily, and Nellie Kane through What’s Going Through Your Mind. Jeff Tanski was also on piano for Water in the Sky and Wolfman’s Brother through First Tube. Jovi Crusen provided additional vocals for Bug (she had been brought on stage to sing Bug with Trey during his previous show at The Frederick Meijer Gardens Amphitheater on June 20, 2022).