Sierra Hull, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Hawktail - the youngsters are going to reignite the bluegrass flame. I'm 65 years old, and I really feared that the genre would die with my generation. I'd go to festivals at the age of 50 and I'd be the youngest person there. No more, thanks to these kids. They're blowing the genre wide open, standing on the shoulders of Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Bela, Sam Bush, Grisman, and saying, "Hey - what's way out yonder?" The Seldom Scene (Marylanders, all) will be in my heart forever, but it's people like Sierra who are giving me hope for the future of bluegrass. Damn fine thing, that is.
No equivalent to Bluegrass here in Australia but I just love the "get togetherness " of it , it feels like community , often an absolute showcase of talent but you get the feeling that they are "there to have a jam " love it( if you are going to show off , do it it on a Mandolin.
Saw Sierra and the band in Fall River the other day. Just incredible playing yet also a warm performance. Yes, bluegrass, but blues, jazz, even a touch of rock and classical. They can play anything, any old time they want. If anyone proves "If you can play bluegrass you can play anything" it is Sierra Hull.
I'm 60 , my 1st concert was Bill Monroe at a fair. My musical journey has taken me to all types of music and I've been blessed to see most of the greats. Covid cheated me out of Buddy Guy but I did see pinetop Perkins at 99 years of age. Now I must dive into Sierra Hull ! P.S. I love the Levon t shirt.
Miss Hull's voice is a magnificent musical instrument in itself - precise, internally rich, agile and captivating - a magnificent folk vocal. Sexual. It's impossible not to fall in love.
Found the video a few weeks ago and it's so so good! My six year old daughter has been experimenting with a toy uke and singing. I showed her this video and she loved it!
In 1985 we attended Opry Land. I was not a big Bluegrass fan but, the Bluegrass stage is the only one we went back to for a second show. Why? The Bluegrass musicians were the best entertainers. You could just feel it. They loved what they were doing and it came across to the audience.
They were one of the most popular acts at Opryland. We miss it greatly in Nashville. Diamond Rio got their start playing there regularly as did singer/actress Cynthia Rhodes (Dirty Dancing among other films).
Some of the greatest weekends of my life were when I was a young kid in the early 90s going to bluegrass festivals in wester Maryland, PA, and West Virginia, camping, listening to music 16 hrs a day, playing with all the other kids in the woods and fields, eating nothing but pit beef sandwiches and smores! Awesome fucking times!
Sierra and Billy Strings are the new generation of Bluegrass heros! Carry that flame kiddos! Legends in the making and damn glad I can call myself a witness of this
Appreciate the introductions to so many types of music. Really loved the one you did on Lisa Hannigan, as well...Undertow. Grew up wit my Pop's records and kick ass stereo in the 70's. I appreciate music!
Sierra is the real deal through and through, an amazingly versatile musician, singer, and songwriter. She also gives online lessons through ArtistWorks. I've been taking mandolin lessons on there and she is extremely genuine and insightful and personal with everyone that sends videos to her through that platform.
Love your channel! I’m about to go to a local art gallery for a music circle with friends for a four hour jam open to the public. Making and sharing music with people is what I live for…. and you help inspire that appreciation Mike!
And her husband Justin Moses plays just about everything with strings - he could make a cheese slicer sound good. Look up their clips on here playing together.
Killer video. Sierra is great and, as always, love your genuine enthusiasm for many types of music. On the bluegrass/flatpicking guitar path myself now, but at a very novice level. Thanks for doing what you do.
The way you credited bluegrass with saving your life flipped a switch for me. The exact same thing happened with me and impacted my playing in a way nothing else ever has
God she is just perfection. All the steps of her musical evolution are amazing, she really is a “musician’s musician”. So glad shes getting more properly recognized
I just want to recognize how powerful it is; the way you bring together the technical knowledge, the skill, the context, and then communicate it with emotion, enthusiasm, and joy! Masterful! I'm here for it, and doing what I can to spread the word. Cheers my brother!
She does the Grateful Dead's "Black Muddy River" and does it great justice! It is on RU-vid "Relix Live" and I think she has been including it in her show setlist mostly... I saw it as an encore I think on 3-23-23 on RU-vid... Lots of beautiful female bluegrass talent around right now... Checkout AJ Lee & Blue Summit..... She has great stuff too and a great band! 58 years old myself and was starting to worry there would be no more new music coming about anymore with substance... Shhhhewww... Thank God for these gals!!
Sierra and her band are SO good! And I really love the ‘physical’ mixing, musicians mixing themselves in one mic by physically moving around. It gives such a feeling of depth.
Thanks Michael for your passion and knowledge. Music is central to our lives and it’s a wonderful thing to hear you share the love while you explore it’s syntax. Understanding the nature of what’s around us deepens our connection and respect for what we have.
Truly a nice video Michael. There are so many great things to say about Sierra and her bandmates I'm surprised you could limit it to 13 minutes. Personally I like where bluegrass is right now and I wouldn't be surprised if this time period in the future is considered the golden age. Next generation players like Sierra are playing with the likes of Bela, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Edgar Myer, Del McCourey, and to many to mention, the list would go on and on, but I'm sure they feel good knowing these players will take bluegrass into the future. If I can, I'd like to plug one of our local bands called "Debutants". They're exploring new territory in bluegrass on acoustic instruments and we're real proud of them and have a great time at their live shows here in town. All the best to you Michael!
I'm glad someone else feels the way I feel about Ms. Hull! Seriously the best thing musically to happen to me in the last 10 years no lie. You need to get a live webcast interview with her sometime SOON! let's make this happen!
Speaking of which, the NGDB will be hosting a 50th anniversary celebration of this enormous contribution to American music - December at the CMA HOF in Nashville.
Best thing that has happened to me was being introduced to Bluegrass about 6 years ago. Never have connected with music like I have bluegrass. Its simply amazing.
Many thanks for the intro to Sierra Hull! She’s outstanding-sounds like a young Dolly Parton. Love your point about bluegrass getting to the core of what a song’s about. Hope you had a great time seeing her live. I gotta get back to your lessons on GG. There’s a bluegrass primer and GD rhythm course beckoning 😄
Dude Sierra's voice is just outstanding and so good to listen to! The band collectively sounds awesome and knows how to work together to give an amazing sound. Like you said, the harmonies are simple, but man do they sound good with the voices blending together really good at the right times. Especially at the end with they go acapella for a few seconds, and they nail it spot on! Outstanding musicianship that I wish we could see and hear more of! ✌️
Saw them play this as a live stream during Del Fest. So damn good. You’re right about Baltimore, Michael, we do come out for Bluegrass! Charm City Bluegrass is great. Hope the show today was awesome- played today in Essex, couldn’t get out to Oregon Ridge. Enjoy, brother! 🎸🐶
Mann im genuinely excited for you to go to that festival, I can clearly feel that fire you have for this music through this video, it really does do something to your soul, simply but masterful. Wish I can experience a festival like this someday :) (not from the US hehe)
I love this one, Michael, as I have known Sierra since she was about 11 years old and performing on the Youth Stage back when the IBMA World of Bluegrass Convention was still in Louisville. Now, all of these years later, I've interviewed her multiple times over the years since for everyone from the Grammy folks to Bluegrass Unlimited and more. Her evolution as a player and singer has been amazing, and recent interviews I have done with Bela Fleck and Peter Rowan has them touting her virtuosity as well. Another cool live video out now is Sierra playing with funk master guitarist Cory Wong. What a hoot that is. Also good to hear you mention Doc Watson as after spending most of my life in Cincinnati, I'm coming up on 10 years living here in the Mountains outside of Boone and Deep Gap, NC, where Doc's statue bench sits on King Street. Because I also write for the paper in Boone, I get to ask every musician I interview who performs in town about their thoughts on Doc and he is appreciated far and wide. Next year, 2023, is Doc Watson's 100th birthday year so it will be big, but more important, inciteful as I gather up all the quotes about him I've gotten over the years. By the way, the Derek Trucks breakdown was also fantastic. He is simply amazing. The second of four interviews I have done with Derek about 14 years ago, I decided to ask other ace musicians to give me questions for him just to mix it up, and Jerry Douglas told me to as Derek if he ever had or has out-of-body experiences while in the zone playing guitar onstage, and his answer was YES! His elaboration on that subject was fascinating. I love that you have this bluegrass side to you, I've learned a lot from your channel as a player myself, keep up the great work! cheers! Derek H
I was incredibly blessed to see her play a bluegrass set with Sturgill Simpson at the Opry a few years ago. John Prine was also there. What a special moment of bluegrass music.
Michael's acoustic guitar sounds great too. By the headstock it is obviously a PRS. I didn't know they made acoustic instruments. Maybe he should do a Bill Monroe segment. "Wheel Hoss", "Southern Flavor", "Bluegrass in the Backwoods", Jerusalem Ridge, Old Dangerfield, etc..
Big fan of Sierra and Billy and Molly. The torch is being passed and passed into capable hands. When Tony Rice ascended, the drapes were closed for a week. Bluegrass is the top of the pile. Love it.
Listen to early early bill monroe - when they had more swing and ragtime in the beat. He had old black blues influence at the farm as a kid in KY that he never forgot.
Love sierra hull! Can you do more with sierra ferrel please. I just saw her for the first time at Floyd fest! Also I would recommend going to Floydfest! Very good video!
yes, Doc, shout out. Just saw Del few weeks ago too. Standard Bluegrass stage singin around the center mic. epic pro opry style. These guys here nailed it. yeah real deal skillz. MY man with his Levon shirt on too. have a grateful day at the festie.
wow, look guys. real Michael, and BOT Mike. Can you tell which one looks fishy? Subscribe to Guitar Gate kidz. That's how you find real Michael. And then you win Shredder skillz
Hi Michael greetings from the uk love watching your videos you open up so many more listening opertunitys to me , Have you watched any Robert Plant and Saving Grace , they haven't recorded anything yet but play small intimate venues and there are a few videos around , I think you will enjoy .
