Mandolinist

Sierra Hull is a seven-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, two-time Grammy nominee, and one of the most dynamic voices in bluegrass and Americana. Hull has shared stages with legends like Alison Krauss, Eric Clapton, Sturgill Simpson, Slash, and Robert Randolph, blending technical mastery with heartfelt storytelling. In 2025, Hull became the first female artist honored with a Gibson signature mandolin and was also awarded the Tennessee Governor’s Distinguished Arts Award. This is her third SMF appearance as a bandleader, the first being in 2014.

Sierra Hull & John Craigie

Lucas Theatre For the Arts

The Milk Carton Kids are an American indie folk duo from Eagle Rock, California, United States, consisting of singer-guitarists Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. They began making music together in early 2011 and have recorded and released six albums. Their first two albums were released free of charge online.

Sierra Hull is a seven-time IBMA Mandolin Player of the Year, two-time Grammy nominee, and
one of the most dynamic voices in bluegrass and Americana. Her latest album, A Tip Toe High
Wire, marks a bold new chapter – her first independent release – spotlighting her songwriting
and instrumental prowess. Featuring guest appearances by Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, and Aoife
O’Donovan, the album balances tradition with innovation.

The Milk Carton Kids & Sierra Hull

The Englert Theatre

Sierra Hull is widely regarded to be a master of her instrument. A two-time Grammy Nominated artist and songwriter, recognized for both her most recent projects, “25 Trips” (2020) and “Weighted Mind” (2016), she is also the 4x recipient of IBMA’s Mandolin Player of the Year, the first woman to ever receive this distinction. A pioneer for acoustic music throughout her already impressive multi-decade career, she has graced the country’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry, and the White House. Her virtuosic abilities have garnered respect from genre-defining trailblazers, friends, and collaborators such as Alison Krauss, Sturgill Simpson, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, and Brandi Carlile. Originally hailing from Byrdstown, Tennessee, her unique sound is rooted in bluegrass, and she is widely considered one of acoustic music’s most inventive artists.

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Sierra Hull

The Theater Center

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and brilliantly talented multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull returns with her band for an evening of virtuosity, honesty, and heart.  The first woman to be named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Mandolin Player of the Year, an award she has recaptured four subsequent times since 2016, Hull continues to excel in the bluegrass genre. She returns after her most recent Series appearance as part of Béla Fleck’s all-star My Bluegrass Heart band in 2021.

Harvard University

Over the last four decades, Béla Fleck has made a point of boldly going where no banjo player has gone before, a musical journey that has earned him 15 Grammys in nine different fields, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical and World Music. But his roots are in bluegrass, and that’s where he returns with his first bluegrass project in 24 years, My Bluegrass Heart.

Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart

Groton Hill Music Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening of bluegrass music with the Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart Band at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This highly anticipated event took place on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 8:00 pm, showcasing the unparalleled talents of Béla Fleck and his ensemble of exceptional musicians.

Béla Fleck, a 15-time Grammy winner, is renowned for his virtuosic banjo playing and innovative approach to bluegrass music. "My Bluegrass Heart" marks Fleck's triumphant return to the genre, serving as the third chapter in a decades-spanning trilogy that began with 1988’s "Drive" and continued with "The Bluegrass Sessions" released eleven years later. This project is not just a nod to Fleck's roots but a homecoming in sound, celebrating the rich traditions of bluegrass music while pushing its boundaries.

The concert featured an impressive lineup of musicians, including Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton. Each artist brought their unique talents to the stage, contributing to a night of extraordinary music that resonated with fans of all ages.

Michael Cleveland, a standout performer of the night, is a two-time Grammy nominee and one-time Grammy winner for Best Bluegrass Album in 2020. He has also been named the IBMA Fiddler of the Year ten times and was inducted into the Fiddler Hall of Fame in 2018.

The event was a sold-out success, with ticket prices ranging from $50 for limited upper balcony seats to $75 for premium seating. Mahaiwe Members and youth attendees enjoyed special discounts, making the concert accessible to a wide audience.

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, MA, was the perfect venue for this memorable night of music. Its intimate setting and excellent acoustics provided the ideal backdrop for Fleck's bluegrass heart to shine.

This concert was not just a performance but a celebration of bluegrass music's enduring appeal and its ability to bring people together. Béla Fleck and the My Bluegrass Heart Band delivered an evening of music that will be remembered for years to come.

Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart Band

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

The band of virtuosi known as Punch Brothers has spent more than a decade changing the face of acoustic music, stretching the limitations of their instruments and influencing a generation of young musicians. Some of those musicians will appear with Béla Fleck as part of his set based on his 2022 Grammy-winning album My Bluegrass Heart. Over the past four decades Fleck has expanded the banjo field, earning 15 Grammys in nine different categories. But his roots are in bluegrass, and his first bluegrass tour in 24 years features some of the best of the new generation of players.

Mandolinist

Sierra Hull

Events

Past events

Apr 1, 2026

Sierra Hull & John Craigie · Savannah Music Festival

Feb 12, 2026

The Milk Carton Kids & Sierra Hull · The Englert Theatre

About

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