Sierra

Artist - Sierra Ferrell 10

What more can be said about the wondrous 

An evocative enigma, Ferrell has found near-world support and adoration through her endlessly imaginative and chameleonic style of songwriting, piecing together all manner of genres and rhymes to forge her own path of creating wonderfully accessible music.

, blended together years of thought and invention into a cohesive and expressive record, solidifying Ferrell's place as one of Holler's absolute favourites.

So, it was with great excitement that Holler welcomed Sierra Ferrell into our recording space at Railbird Festival 2023 in Lexington, KY to record her first, of hopefully many, Holler Live Sessions. Performing solo and unplugged, Ferrell treats us to two instant classics and, thrillingly, an unreleased new ditty.

What's immediately entrancing about Ferrell live is her voice - honeyed, playful and enduring, the warmth of her tone still bubbling even straight after playing an hour long set on the Elkhorn stage. The tenderness of 'Silver Dollar' crackles with longing for a sense of contentment, it's message striking even in it's melodic glee.

"I'm going to play you a brand new song" Sierra begins as she introduces her final song. "This one's not out yet and probably not even finished, so you might hear it in a different arrangement in the future". 

A sparse, lulling waltz, 'Making My Way' trembles under the self-doubt of its love; Ferrell's candid, steadfast delivery belying the anxiety of the journey her protagonist is taking. Even in it's undecorated arrangement, the song feels tender and powerful, the splendour in simplicity ringing in your ears as Ferrell strums for a final time.

Each new turn Ferrell has taken us down so far has been a fulfilling one; wherever the wind blows her next, we're ready to set sail.

Holler Presents Sierra Ferrell for the Holler Railbird Sessions, performing her songs 'Bells of Every Chapel', 'Silver Dollar' and 'Singing You Into My Arms'.

Holler Railbird Sessions: Sierra Ferrell

Each new turn Ferrell has taken us down so far has been a fulfilling one; wherever the wind blows her next, we're ready to set sail. 

Holler Railbird Sessions: Sierra Ferrell Videos | Holler

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

Artist - Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Railbird Festival 2023 1

Over the last decade, Bluegrass has seen it's popularity rise to lengths not seen since the days of Flatt & Scruggs, or even Bill Monroe. Molly Tuttle, alongside her pals Billy Strings and Sierra Hull, can be thanked for that. They have inspired a new wave of like-minded, freewheeling individuals to pick up a banjo or fiddle and write the good write, in the spirit of creative collaboration.

Joining Holler for a special live session at Railbird Festival 2023 on a hot Kentucky Sunday, Tuttle, joined by her band Golden Highway - Shelby Means on the upright bass, Dominick Leslie on the mandolin, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes on the fiddle and the Pit Viper-sporting Kyle Tuttle on the banjo - huddle around the microphone to let rip on three buoyant bluegrass bops that will transport you to a sunny field in Kentucky well before the toke you just had's even had chance to kick in.

Performing three songs from their 2023 album, 

, Tuttle and the band dive straight in with a politicised plea for legalisation. 

"Most of us here live in Nashville - Shelby's our one South Carolinian in the band - so this is an appeal to the state of Tennessee" Tuttle explains before they shoot into 'Down Home Dispensary'. Immediately kicking into a bluegrass jingle for a campaign trail, the band bunch and jump around the microphone, throwing in harmonies left right and centre that would have any legislator pay attention.

What's most evident, particularly within the close confines of the session, is the unspoken synergy Tuttle has found with her like-minded friends in the band. "We're going to do one now that, actually, Shelby and I started writing together" Tuttle notions before kicking into another 

 highlight, 'Next Rodeo'. As much as Tuttle leads the group, their union as five supremely talented musicians opens up all manner of opportunity for collaboration, something they have made the most of in the sheer calibre of their loose and liberating performance.

Closing on the gift of 'Where The Wild Things Are', the group encapsulate the sheer joy and spirit they can produce into this one ditty. "I wrote this one while thinking about a wild festival scene, kind of like where we're at now. You go out into the campground and there's nothing but people getting dirty in the dust and lines of Porta Potties." Tuttle observes. "This was also kind of inspired by Kyle and his Pit Viper glasses" she jokes, as Kyle looks over his shades and stares down the eyes of the camera lense. 

It shows that, if there's anything that encompasses what Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway are about most, it's togetherness. You'll find it hard to find another band that are having as much fun doing what they do as a group than these five, and it's a pleasure to witness.

This is Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway for the Holler Railbird Sessions, performing their songs 'Down Home Dispensary', 'Next Rodeo' and 'Wild Things'.

Holler Presents Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway for the Holler Railbird Sessions, performing their songs 'Down Home Dispensary', 'Next Rodeo' and 'Wild Things'.

Holler Railbird Sessions: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

You'll find it hard to find another group that are having as much fun doing what they do than these five, and it's a pleasure to witness.

Holler Railbird Sessions: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Videos | Holler

Charles Wesley

Artist - Charles Wesley Godwin Holler Railbird Sessions 1

Charles Wesley Godwin is unquestionably a favourite of ours here at Holler.

The West Virginia-native has quickly cemented himself as a exceptional songwriter, with two stellar full-length albums in 2019s 

He's also a first rate performer, the energy he brews during his live shows  with his band The Allegheny High consistently enrapturing festival crowds and his own fans at headline shows, and while in support of his buddy and collaborator, Zach Bryan.

Joining us in the sweltering Kentucky heat at Railbird Festival 2023 in Lexington, Godwin not only gives us a blast of one of his fan favourites, but a taste of new music to come.

First and foremost, Godwin is a really versatile songwriter. He'll have you toe tapping as he does to the up-tempo gust of 'Hardwood Floors', while shedding a tear to the stripped-down sentimentality of 'Dance In Rain'. It's all before he has us reckoning with ourselves on 'The Flood'.

Even without the vigour that The Allegheny High produces live, Godwin keeps your attention with his deep, observant eyes and hearty bellow. He oozes talent, and is a set to become a beloved staple of the genre for many years to come.

Performing his songs 'Dance In Rain', 'Hardwood Floors' and 'The Flood', this is Charles Wesley Godwin for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler Presents Charles Wesley Godwin for the Holler Railbird Sessions, performing his songs 'Dance In Rain', 'Hardwood Floors' and 'The Flood'.

Holler Railbird Sessions: Charles Wesley Godwin

Holler Railbird Sessions: Charles Wesley Godwin Videos | Holler

Artist - Dalton Dover Holler Live Session 1

"I love it, let's go" Dalton Dover calmly gestures as he tunes up his guitar, all in preparation for his Holler Live Session at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, England.

Dover has quickly become of country's most promising new acts, based on the strength of a stretch of heart-pounding singles that he's released, starting with 2021's 'You Got A Small Town'

Not only a killer vocalist and a free-flowing guitarist, Dover delivers fist-pounding anthems that range every emotion - from the elation of finding comfort from somewhere or someone to the heart-wrenching struggle and self-doubt in your decisions in love, life and everything in between.

"I'm about to sing y'all my first ever song that went to country radio, and this song right here is called 'Giving Up on That'". 

A 2010s country-influenced heavy hitter, the song loses none of the emotional weight that burns through it's reverb-heavy studio recording here in the pub. If anything, it glows even brighter from Dover's raw and powerful vocal delivery.

Crossing the never-ending tightrope between being a sinner and a saint, the flaws and aspirations that Dover expresses through his music are as evocative as those expressed by the Luke Combs' and Jelly Roll's of the world, a sincere and unposed songwriter etching his very being into three chords and the truth.

"A lot of people have been saying that this is part two of [Joe Diffie's song] 'Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox', but I'm gonna let y'all judge it for yourself", Dover suggests before delving into his second song, the unreleased 'Bury Me In This Bar'. 

As he suggests about the whiskey in the song, such an opinion isn't too far away - it's a hedonistic, tall-boy sinker, with one heck of a big chorus. Even just on the acoustic, Dover rips into its smokey, southern rhythm, treading through a swampy beat as he bellows from his throat.

It shows the different sides to Dover's songwriting and character - at once a deeply-candid and contemplative person, while also a unfettered, rip-roaring artist not yet even at the peak of his powers.

Performing his songs 'Giving Up On That' and 'Bury Me In This Bar', this is Dalton Dover for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler Presents Dalton Dover for the Holler Live Sessions, performing his songs 'Giving Up On That' and 'Bury Me In This Bar'.

Holler Live Sessions: Dalton Dover

The session shows the different sides to Dover's songwriting and character - at once a deeply-candid and contemplative person, while also a unfettered, rip-roaring artist not yet even at the peak of his powers.

Holler Live Sessions: Dalton Dover Videos | Holler

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Live sessions and music videos from the world of country, Americana and roots from Holler.

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Holler Railbird Sessions: Sierra Ferrell

Holler Railbird Sessions: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Holler Railbird Sessions: Charles Wesley Godwin

Holler Live Sessions: Dalton Dover