For those uninitiated in the bluegrass universe of Billy Strings, his stratospheric success in a genre once relegated to a cubbyhole of Appalachian music and back-porch pickin’ seems incongruous, especially considering the pervasiveness of pop music, mainstream country and rap.

But take one step into that world in an arena filled with rabid fans of all ages and something transcendent happens as this virtuoso guitarist from a tiny Ionia County town masterfully melds the traditional and the non-traditional with equal measures of on-stage passion.

Toss in the fact that last weekend’s two sold-out concerts at Grand Rapids’ 12,000-capacity Van Andel Arena served as homecoming celebrations for the Michigan native and things were primed for an unprecedented spectacle that had many devotees dancing non-stop throughout.

Ever since tickets went on sale for these “hometown” shows months ago, anticipation had grown for the late May run taking place just 49 miles from the place where Billy grew up and first put fingers to frets. 

It’s something he referred to often from the stage, acknowledging the West Michigan communities “that have shown me support ever since I was a little kid. I just want to let you know that I really love representing Michigan all around the country.

“We play lots of gigs and we don’t get to come here enough and we get to missing you guys. Thank you all so much for choosing to spend your evening with us and to come out to hear some music; that really means the world to us.”

After proclaiming it was “good to be back home” to see friends from the area, he also reminisced during his weekend shows about his favorite Ionia County fishing spot and gave shoutouts to the small Grand Rapids venues he played “back in the day” while shopping for records from the city’s Vertigo Music store.

For avid fans, the love he expressed was mutual, as evidenced by the Billy Strings hoopla that took place throughout the week — a street party in Ionia, and vendor marketplaces and pre-show performances in Grand Rapids. It just added to the fervor that feeds on the Billy mystique while building a welcoming community of like-minded souls who tail him across the country.

The back-to-back, two-and-half hour performances also made clear that Billy Strings is in a class of his own, from Friday’s first song, “The Fire on My Tongue,” to psychedelically tinged gems such as “Away From the Mire” and solo stints on Doc Watson classics, to the last notes on Saturday night during the appropriately titled homecoming finale, The Dillards’ “The Old Home Place.”

Joined as always by top-shelf bandmates banjoist Billy Failing, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and fiddler Alex Hargreaves, and enhanced by remarkable lighting, the hoedowns unleashed electrified, chest-rattling, progressive bluegrass that has turned Billy Strings into an international superstar.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” one fan attending his first Billy Strings show conceded. “It’s like a new genre of music.”

The weekend also clearly rolled out as an emotion-drenched milestone for the Michigan hero. 

“I’m proud to be here and I’m proud to be on stage with these fellers,” Billy Strings declared as the first night concluded.

He then sat quietly at the corner of the stage with his head in his hands following the encore – and after his bandmates had departed – just soaking in the cheers of 12,000 fans while realizing just how far a humble kid from Muir had come.

— Find more Michigan music news and concert listings at LocalSpins.com. Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.