Post Malone delivers at Bonnaroo Friday, brings out special guest Billy Strings. Here are the top moments

With charisma, Post Malone strutted onto What Stage at 11 p.m. with a red Solo cup in hand and a smile on his face. Bonnaroo's 2024 Friday night headliner was ready to deliver.

The evening began with a dramatic overture from a string trio comprised of a violist, violinist and cellist. After a sweeping orchestral arrangement, Post Malone sauntered out, saying "cheers" to the crowd.

Wearing a custom "Mavs" jersey with the number 88 and Malone across the back, the face-tattooed, bearded singer told the crowd he was grateful to be at 'Roo.

The hip-hop and pop artist thanked the Bonnaroo fans for coming, complimented the crowd's signs and totems, and chugged his beer.

Malone's tight 20-song set included plenty of moody strings, ample fireworks and gusts of fireballs, and a surprise appearance from guitarist Billy Strings. Malone's gritty, flickering voice shone.

Here are our top moments.

Post Malone and Billy Strings play moving acoustic rendition of 'Stay'

Halfway through the set, Post Malone welcomed guitar virtuoso Billy Strings to the stage.

"Make some noise for our special guest tonight, Billy mother***ing strings," he shouted. In response, Billy Strings said, "I just wanna say one thing," and shouted, "Yeee!" Malone said he couldn't have said it better himself.

Though the intro to the song was interrupted by a call for the medic in the crowd, Malone and Strings waited patiently for the fan to get help.

Afterwards, the duo performed a slow, acoustic version of Malone's 2018 song "Stay." Billy Strings layered acoustic finger-picking and sonic guitar flutters underneath Malone's raspy voice.

The two worked off one another with ease, breathing a new life into one of Malone's most vulnerable songs.

Afterwards, Malone told the crowd that he thinks Billy Strings is the best guitar player on planet Earth. Having the opportunity to perform with Strings was a big moment for him, he said.

Post Malone's theatrical string trio wows

Post Malone's string trio remained on the stage for the entirety of the show, backing Malone as he sang his hits.

The trio's sweeping orchestral arrangements added a depth to Malone's songs, layering on top of his band's guitar, percussion, keys and bass. The musicians leaned into one another, playing passionately in an almost choreographed way.

The overture was a surprising and energetic start to the show, which came to another musical peak with song "Jonestown (Interlude)." Malone sang into a distorted mic, strings played feverishly and electric guitar soared.

The interlude, already ominous in itself, felt like a snippet from "The Phantom of the Opera," complete with key changes and all.

Over and over, Malone sang, "It happens every time / It sounds like suicide / I'm hesitant, but I guess I'll drink the Kool-Aid once again."

Other musical highlights included "Take What You Want," which followed the interlude, with thrashing melodies, punk-rock vocals and fire bursts.

Songs "Rockstar" and "Congratulations" were also crowd-pleasers that included huge firework displays and a full crowd singing every lyric.

'You are loved': Malone gets vulnerable with crowd

Before finishing his set, Malone got candid with the audience.

He started a speech about how the world has seemed a little love-depleted lately. "It seems like there's not enough love in this motherf***er," he said. The speech was quickly cut off by the crowd screaming for a medic again, grabbing Malone's attention.

Once he noticed the crowd looking out for one another, he said, "That’s f***ing love right there.”

"You are not alone, you are loved more than you can ever...know...never be scared to reach out and say, 'Are you alright? Do you need a hug?' It takes two seconds out of your day to be kind to someone," he said.

Malone told the audience he's been performing for about ten years and that his fans' support means the world to him. He encouraged crowd members to be authentically and unapologetically themselves, adding that you can be whoever you want to be. The power is in being yourself, he said.

"There's no one on this planet who is cooler that who the f*** you are," he said.

Then, he closed out with "Congratulations" and his encore of "Sunflower," his number one hit of the summer "I Had Some Help" and "Chemical."

Post Malone's Bonnaroo 2024 Set List

Better Now

Wow

Zack and Codeine

Psycho

Goodbyes

I Like You (A Happier Song)

Jonestown (Interlude)

Take What You Want

Over Now

rockstar

Stay (with Billy Strings)

I Fall Apart

Wrapped Around Your Finger

Circles

Too Young

White Iverson

Congratulations

Encore: Sunflower, I Had Some Help, Chemical

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Post Malone surprises Bonnaroo with Billy Strings; see the set list