Sierra Hull: Tiny Desk Concert

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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

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Kara Frame
Director: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Video Editor: Maia Stern
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel
Audio Engineer: David Greenburg
Production Assistant: Dhanika Pineda
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

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Sponsors: NPR, Moises

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