Sierra Hull
photo by contributed by publicist
When Sierra Hull first held a mandolin as an eight-year-old, there was an immediate natural connection. Little did she know at that young age that it would someday provide a pathway for her life.
Raised in the small community of Byrdstown, Tn. an hour north of Crossville nestled near the Kentucky state line, Hull quickly mastered the instrument. She became a musical prodigy, her intrinsic skills springing forth despite her age in a fashion that served as a link to her family’s bluegrass heritage.
Today the two-time Grammy nominated artist and songwriter is considered a pioneer for acoustic music throughout her impressive career that already spans two-decades despite being only 33. Hull is a six-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s award of Mandolin Player of the Year, the first woman to earn this distinction. The singer, songwriter and mandolin virtuoso is charting new territory within traditional bluegrass, exploring new limits with her unique style while preserving the genre’s historical legacy.
Appearing with Mason Via on Tuesday in Chattanooga, Hull brings her innovative sound that is deeply rooted in bluegrass to the Barrelhouse Ballroom at 1501 Long Street at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 and can be purchased at the following link: Sierra Hull tickets.
Hull’s appearance comes on the heels of the release of her fourth studio album, Tip Toe High Wire, marking a new chapter of independence for the artist. Following her departure from longtime label Rounder Records with whom she signed at age 13, this marks her first album in five years. Fully embracing creative freedom, Hull takes complete control of the studio and focuses on songwriting.
“Coming off a long-term record deal, I wanted to make some music without too many outside voices,” Hull explains. “When you look at how much I’ve toured and how busy my world has been, it was important for me to just get settled - to make sure the time I released it felt like the right moment.”
The album reflects Hull’s journey of self-discovery and her drive to grow as an artist. “There’s always a new mountain to climb, in terms of becoming more proficient as a player, singer, or writer,” she says. “And that’s where life experience in the world and the way things surround you come into the music and the storytelling.”
Tip Toe High Wire is a balancing act - one foot rooted in tradition and the other pushing creative boundaries. It transitions seamlessly from bold, dynamic tracks like “Boom” and “Let’s Go” to soft, acoustic pieces like “Haven Hill” and “Spitfire,” and whirlwind instrumentals such as “E Tune” and “Lord, That’s A Long Way.”
Over the course of her career, Hull has graced iconic stages such as Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry while collaborating along the way with genre-defining trailblazers such as Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bobby McFerrin, Brandi Carlile, Cory Wong, Slash, and Billy Strings.
She will also be performing a series of 11 concerts in the Outlaw Music Festival Tour May 13-24 in the first leg of its 2025 series with Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan and Billy Strings.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com