Fresh on the heels of their Grammy win for 2022’s Crooked Tree, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway announced a new album, City Of Gold, due out on July 21 via Nonesuch Records. The guitarist and her band also shared the lead single and opening track “El Dorado.”
Tuttle maintained the formula for her Best Bluegrass Album win at the 65th annual Grammy Awards by teaming back up with Crooked Tree co-producer Jerry Douglas (who also plays dobro on City Of Gold) and co-writer Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show.
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway — fiddler Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, mandolinist Dominick Leslie, bassist Shelby Means and banjo player Kyle Tuttle — captured the new record at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios. City Of Gold also sees a guest spot from Dave Matthews on the song “Yosemite.”
The song titles “El Dorado” and “Yosemite” give a clue to the extended metaphor Tuttle utilizes on City Of Gold. Molly explained:
“When I was a kid, we took a field trip to Coloma, CA to learn about the gold rush. I’ll never forget the dusty hills and the grizzled old miner who showed us the nugget around his neck. Just like gold fever, music has always captivated me, captured my heart, and driven me to great lengths to explore its depths. On my new album I dug deep as a songwriter (with Ketch Secor) and co-producer (with Jerry Douglas) and surfaced with a record that celebrates the music of my heart, my life, the land where I grew up, and the stories I heard along the way. I made this record with my band Golden Highway after playing over 100 shows across the country last year. On the road and in the studio, we are inspired by artists such as John Hartford, Gillian Welch and Peter Rowan to name a few, whose records are like family albums to us. Just like them, on this album we chart some new territory along some old familiar ground. The songs span from breakdowns to ballads, fairytales and fiddle tunes, from Yosemite up to the Gold Country and out beyond the mountains. That visit to Coloma, site of California’s first gold strike is where I first heard about El Dorado, the city of gold. Playing music can take you to a place that is just as precious. I hope you like this record!”
Watch the in-studio video for “El Dorado” below:
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway are headed out on the road in 2023. Tuttle’s extensive itinerary gets underway in May and stretches into October including festival spots at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Bonnaroo, Railbird Music Festival, DelFest and more. Headlining dates include stops at Oklahoma City’s Beer City Music Hall, Virginia Beach’s Elevation 27, Cleveland’s Blossom Music Center and St. Louis’ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Molly and her band will also support Shane Smith & The Saints, Dierks Bentley, Charley Crockett and Marcus King on select dates.
Find full routing and ticket info below:
