Ferrell's raw Appalachian story telling captivated the audience during the 23-song set, which featured covers of Neil Young's "Love is a Rose" and a sit in from supporting act Nikki Lane on Jo Dee Messina's "Lesson in Leavin'," which the two artists released as a single in July. The show was packed, which was no surprise: Ferrell has been a breakout star, taking home four Grammy awards this year for her 2024 album, Trail of Flowers.
Ferrell, who was born in West Virginia in 1988, self-released her first two albums, 2018's Pretty Magic Spell and 2019's Washington by the Sea, and sold them through busking. She later signed a three-record deal with independent label Rounder Records, which released her 2021 album, Long Time Coming. Having already established a fanbase through touring and playing such festivals as Telluride Bluegrass, Ferrell's third album expanded her audience even further, featuring collaborations with such heavy-hitters as Billy Strings and Sara Jarosz and garnering critical acclaim. Her career took off from there, with Ferrell contributing to the Black Keys 2022 album, Dropout Boogie, and collaborating with Zach Bryan on his self-titled fourth album. This year, she joined Post Malone for the song "Never Love You Again."
She said that Trail of Flowers was meant to make listeners "feel nostalgic for the past, but excited about the future of music." And the world took note: At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Trail of Flowers was awarded Best Americana Album, with "American Dreaming" winning Best Americana Performance and Best American Roots Song, and "Lighthouse" winning Best American Roots Performance.
Ferrell had been at Red Rocks before as an opener, with Shakey Graves in 2022 and Greensky Bluegrass in 2023.
See photos from her debut headliner show below:
Sierra Ferrell has played Red Rocks as the opener for Shakey Graves in 2022 and Greensky Bluegrass in 2023.
Ross Jones
Sierra Ferrell spent time in her early twenties train hopping and traveling the country busking.
Ross Jones
Sierra Ferrell has collaborated with many artists including Billy Strings, Shakey Graves, Post Malone, Zach Bryan and others.
Ross Jones
Sierra Ferrell's early nomadic lifestyle imparted a soulful Appalachian twang to her story telling that captivates listeners.
Ross Jones
Ferrell released her first two albums, "Pretty Magic Spell" and "Washington by the Sea," independently.
Ross Jones
She introduced this young man as her new guitar player and asked him if he'd like to rejoin his mother backstage, to which he declined.
Ross Jones
Nikki Lane is from Greenville, SC and spent time as a fashion designer in LA and New York.
Ross Jones
