Molly Tuttle & The Infamous Stringdusters Keep The Collaborations Coming In Portland

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and The Infamous Stringdusters brought their TuttleDust Tour to Portland, Oregon last night for the first of two shows at Revolution Hall. The night ended in collaborative fashion with The Infamous Stringdusters joined on the final four songs by Molly Tuttle and her Golden Highway bandmates mandolinist Dominick Leslie and banjo player Kyle Tuttle.

Molly Tuttle, Dominic Leslie, Kyle Tuttle, fiddler Bronwyn Keith-Hynes and bass player Shelby Means kicked off the run in Portland. The hour-long set featured numbers from the band’s two Grammy-winning albums, City Of Gold (2023) and Crooked Tree (2023). “I’ve just been a fan of those guys since I’ve been a kid,” Molly said of the opportunity to tour with The Infamous Stringdusters.

The guest appearances started during Tuttle’s set when The Infamous Stringdusters fiddler Jeremy Garrett lent a hand on the Bill Monroe instrumental classic “Wheel Hoss.” Other covers played by Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway were the traditional “Shady Grove,” The Rolling Stones classic “She’s A Rainbow” and a Means-sung “Sleepy Eyed John (Johnny Horton).” Molly went solo for Crooked Tree standout “Grass Valley.”

The Infamous Stringdusters — Garrett, banjoist Chris Pandolfi, guitarist Andy Falco, bassist Travis Book and dobro player Andy Hall — headlined the action at Revolution Hall. Plenty of covers were in store from the quintet including takes on Grandpa Jones’ “Eight More Miles To Louisville,” a jam on Jerry Garcia’s “Reuben & Cerise” out of “Planets,” The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” Flatt & Scruggs’ “Blue Ridge Cabin Home” and Bill Monroe’s “My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’.”

Molly Tuttle, Kyle Tuttle and Dominick Leslie took the stage just over an hour into the Stringdusters’ set. Up first for the assembled musicians was the geographically-fitting “Portland Water,” a song written and originally released by Michael Hurley. Molly handled lead vocals and altered the lyrics to thank fans for coming and telling them they’d meet back the next night. A major “Clusterplunk” followed as The ‘Dusters, Molly, Kyle and Dominick tore through an instrumental “Home Of The Red Fox.” A tasty jam developed and each musician had a chance to solo besides Travis Book.

The Infamous Stringdusters played their beloved original “Peace Of Mind” with the guests to close the set. All eight musicians returned for Molly Tuttle to lead the ensemble through a “Big Backyard” encore. The Infamous Stringdusters filled the role held down by Old Crow Medicine Show on the Crooked Tree cut.

Watch pro-shot video of last night’s show below with Molly, Kyle and Dominick emerging to join The Infamous Stringdusters around the three-hour mark:

The TuttleDust Tour is back at Portland’s Revolution Hall tonight. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway and The Infamous Stringdusters wrap the run on Friday in Three Forks, Montana.

Setlists

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

Set: Northern White Clouds, Over The Line, She’s A Rainbow, She’ll Change, Next Rodeo, Down Home Dispensary, Shady Grove, Sally In The Garden, Alice In The Bluegrass, White Rabbit, Sleepy Eyed John, Grass Valley, Wheel Hoss*, Getaway Girl, Dooley’s Farm, Crooked Tree, San Joaquin

* – with Jeremy Garrett on fiddle

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The Infamous Stringdusters

Set: Eight More Miles To Louisville, Planets > Reuben & Cerise, Long Time Going, Just Like Heaven, Fire, Rise Sun > All The Same, Blue Ridge Cabin Home > Rise Sun, I Didn’t Know, My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling, Truth & Love, Portland Water*, Home Of The Red Fox*, Peace Of Mind*

Encore: Big Backyard*

* – with Molly Tuttle on guitar and vocals, Kyle Tuttle on banjo and Dominick Leslie on mandolin