Sierra Hull: Tiny Desk Concert

Kara Frame | August 1, 2025 On a cold and snowy night this past winter, Sierra Hull and her band brought bluegrass to Washington, D.C. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, barefoot fans danced as if at a summer music festival. Ever since she first picked up the instrument at a young age, the mandolin virtuoso has captivated audiences; it’s no surprise that she still owns the stage two decades later. At the Tiny Desk months later, her set features four songs from A Tip Toe High Wire, her latest album. “Boom” and “Lord, That’s a Long Way” showcase her incredibly fast, finger-picking abilities. Before performing the third song, Hull tells the audience, “My granny lived such a crazy life in her 80 years that we got to have her. I didn’t get to play this song for her before she passed, but I did tell her I was writing a song for her called ‘Spitfire.’ ” Hull’s granny experienced the Great Depression in rural Tennessee, was widowed twice and buried a son — she lived a life of hardship, but remained resilient and rebellious in the face of it all. Hull digs deep in her songwriting, admitting that sometimes she doesn't know what a song's about until it's done. That's the undercurrent of "Muddy Water," which encourages its listener to show yourself as you truly are; Hull now knows that she needs to hear that wisdom as much as us. SET LIST “Boom” “Lord, That’s a Long Way” “Spitfire” “Muddy Water” MUSICIANS Sierra Hull: vocals, mandolin, guitar Shaun Richardson: guitar, background vocals Avery Merritt: fiddle, guitar, background vocals Erik Coveney: bass Mark Raudabaugh: drums
Sierra Hull: Tiny Desk Concert