Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway performed to a sold-out Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 27th, 2022.

These musicians have spent the better part of last month traversing the country, performing almost from sea to shining sea of the United States - from the Rockies at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, to Boston, Massacchutesstes, where they visited their old stomping grounds at the Berklee College of Music. Their journey embraces Tuttle's words found in "Big Backyard", a modern-day homage to Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".

Molly Tuttle, who may be regarded as one of the best flat pickers and hammer claw guitar performers of her generation, came to The Birchmere with a new album, Crooked Tree, and a new band, Golden Highway. This bluegrass band has an effervescently and exuberantly joyful sound, and over the past year, they have showcased their talents to packed venues. The band, including Tuttle, is composed of five musicians: Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), Dominick Leslie (mandolin), Shelby Means (bass), and Kyle Tuttle (banjo). The group met during Tuttle's days in the greater Boston area. Each of the musicians are exceptional talented in their own right, but as a group, they are greater than the sum of its parts. They are fueled by a passion for their music, performing together, and the spectacular jamgrass interactions during their performances. It is worth noting that although Bronwyn Keith-Hynes now resides in Nashville, Tennessee, she originally hails from Charlottesville, Virginia. It fills our DMV hearts with joy to see her return once again to her home region.

This performance was not Molly Tuttle's first appearance at The Birchmere. She recalled how the Birchmere was one of the first places she performed when venues first started opening up again as the pandemic waned and how special it was for her to perform in May 2021. Adding to Tuttle's affection and connection to The Birchmere, she recalled later in the evening how she grew up listening to The Seldom Scene from Bethesda, Maryland, and how she grew up listening to one of their recordings from The Birchmere.

Supporting the show, DownRiver Collective, the opening act, performed a mix of original songs and covers, including a rousing version of "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. They shared stories of lockdown memories when they recorded and released a Molly Tuttle song and were so grateful to now be opening for her.

Tuttle and her newly formed bluegrass collective put on a masterclass performance of bluegrass and jamgrass magic on stage. Tuttle greeted the audience when she first took to the stage by telling the audience how happy she was to be back at The Birchmere with her new band and her new album. The group spent the evening segueing through a diverse setlist that included songs from Crooked Tree, as well as beautifully delivered versions of "Wait a Minute" by The Seldom Scene, and exuberantly interpreted versions of "She's A Rainbow" by The Rolling Stones and "Olympia, WA" by Rancid.

The evening's performance illustrated why Tuttle & Golden Highway have been so well received at each performance. Tuttle's golden voice and stellar flatpicking echoed through the halls of the Birchmere, as Bronwyn Keith-Hynes's fiddle shone brightly, Kyle Tuttle's banjo and Cheshire cat grin radiated on stage, Dominick Leslie's mandolin solos captivated, and Shelby Means's bass kept the group steadily moving forward. Tuttle's studio albums are beautifully crafted recordings, but her live performances are where she and her band truly come to life, and they masterfully interact with one another and delight the audience in the process. Keith-Hynes was the chief instigator of musical duels and improvisations with her fellow band members throughout the evening. Not to be outdone, Shelby Means would bring the audience and her bass to their knees by playing her mighty instrument all the way down to the floor.

The evening had its more serious and relatable moments. Tuttle talked about going home and things not being the same before she sang "San Francisco Blues". Many of us can relate to her lyrics and the old adage of you can't go home again. Things are never the same as they used to be - all of your childhood friends long since moved away, and not being able to afford to live in your beloved hometown. Our favorite Wyoming cowgirl, Shelby Means, spoke from the heart about singing a "cowgirl equality song, cause we could all use some equity right now." This statement, a not too subtle reference to the Supreme Courts' recent ruling on Roe v. Wade was greeted by huge applause before she sang a spirited "Side Saddle".