Artist - The Head And The Heart 1

The Head and The Heart don't just feel like a band. 

They feel like an essence, a united being. The physical pull of their performances, alongside the emotional understanding that bleeds from their lyricism, has led them to more and more listeners and long-standing devotees who take so much from what they do. 

Whether in their full band, or as a duo here with us in the session, they have the bewitching ability to make you feel like the only person in the room - a private conversation between friends that you come away from having had the weight taken off your shoulders.

As the sun begins to set on the final day of revelry at Railbird Festival 2023, John Russell and Matty Gervais join Holler to close out the festival, delivering a show-stealing turn that shows us why we keep returning again and again to their songs of spirit and benevolence.

"I'd just moved out from Seattle to Virginia, and I was hanging out with these work friends that I'd known for two-and-a-half weeks. We all went to this bar in Freemont - and this was pre-iPhone - and when they left they didn't even know they'd left me, because I barely knew them. I walked home and it took me nearly 9 hours through these valleys of all these different neighbourhoods of Seattle to get to where I lived, and so I wrote a little song along the way".

Even in the hush of the space, you hear the rivers and hum of the wildlife through their voices, the push and pull of their harmonies swimming through the protagonist's journey as they capture moments of serenity in being outside.

"This is one of our earliest songs off of our first record, which is self-titled. This was one of first songs to get picked up for radio play which was a wild feeling at the very beginning of the band's career. This is one that, anywhere in our set, you can throw this one in and it uplifts everyone on stage and in the audience; it's a clears the air sort of feeling".

'Lost In My Mind', despite it's insular title, is certainly a balm for sore hearts and fractured souls. With John and Matty's synergy, it's a melodic lift that gets you back on your feet and asks you to take that first step in finding yourself again. 

"I keep moving and coming back to the state of Virginia, over the course of two decades" John explains before introducing their final track. "Every time I come back I'm in a completely different part of my life, so it's an interesting feeling when a city stays the same and gradually changes, but you come back and there's people that you used to know you really well that aren't even there anymore. You go to your familiar haunts and they feel like they belong to someone else now. So, it's this concept of what is home".

'Virginia (Wind in the Night)', in it's simple, evocative nature, shows not only the groups harmonic richness but their lyrical brilliance. 

The Head and The Heart are an expressive and powerful group; their songs, in whatever setting, offering great solace to regroup and regrow.

Performing their songs 'Down in the Valley', 'Lost In My Mind' and 'Virginia (Wind in the Night)', this is The Head and the Heart for the Holler Railbird Sessions.

Holler Presents The Head And The Heart, performing the 'Down In The Valley', 'Lost In My Mind' and 'Virginia (Wind In The Night) for the Holler Railbird Sessions at Railbird Festival 2023 in Lexington, Kentucky.


Holler Railbird Sessions: The Head and The Heart

As the sun begins to set on the final day of revelry at Railbird Festival 2023, John Russell and Matty Gervais join Holler to close out the festival, delivering a show-stealing turn.

Holler Railbird Sessions: The Head and The Heart Videos | Holler

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

Artist - Madeline Edwards Holler Live Sessions 2

Holler presents Madeline Edwards performing 'The Wolves' for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood in London.

Since the release of her debut album, 2022's 

, we've been big fans of Madeline Edwards here at Holler. It's of little surprise, really, as her self-described "dreamy western" repertoire offers a bit of something for everyone; traversing polished country, soul, west coast jazz and a little bit of fuzzy rock to top it all off. 

So we were more than glad to welcome her to The Betsey Trotwood pub in London for her Holler Live Session, eager to be part of such an intimate audience for a more stripped-back set. 

Gliding into her songs with an effortless confidence, it's clear that Edwards knows her shit. Kicking off with 'The Wolves', her rich, gospel-influenced vocals challenged others to underestimate her. "I dare you to try to take me down / Say that I can't, I won't, or I shouldn't / Then watch me rise above it", she sang, the occasional growl bringing a touch of edge to proceedings. 

The same defiance continues into the lighthearted yet anthem-ready 'Mama, Dolly, Jesus'. "You ain't mama, Dolly or Jesus / They're the only voices in my head that I tend to agree with / So pick your bones and throw your stones / I ain't inclined to please ya", she delivers with a knowing smile. And who can disagree?

Edwards' set closes on title track 'Crashlanded'. The song offers up a more reflective and vulnerable side to her character, as she tackles feelings of not belonging and current troubles of fake politicians, lack of faith and pointless fame. 

Despite its change in tone, her vigour was all the same. And, even without her full band and plugged-in setup, Madeline Edwards delivered her bold songwriting with the flair of a true performer. Safe to say her time in London was 

Performing her songs 'The Wolves', 'Mama, Dolly, Jesus' and 'Crashlanded', this is Madeline Edwards for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler Presents Madeline Edwards for the Holler Live Sessions, performing her songs 'The Wolves', 'Mama, Dolly, Jesus' and 'Crashlanded'.

Holler Live Sessions: Madeline Edwards

Defiant, edgy and soulful, this is Madeline Edwards for the Holler Live Sessions in London. 

Holler Live Sessions: Madeline Edwards Videos | Holler

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

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

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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: The Head and The Heart

Holler Live Sessions: Madeline Edwards

Holler Railbird Sessions: Sierra Ferrell

Holler Railbird Sessions: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway