The “concerto” format is always an ambitious swing for the bluegrass genre, following in the footsteps of artists like Béla Fleck and Chris Thile, but the dovetailing of bluegrass and classical arrangement isn’t one foreign to Sierra, with parts of this work and more of that tonal symbiosis being present in her touring shows for a couple years at this point.

The recording features her core touring ensemble: Avery Merritt (fiddle), Erik Coveney (bass), Mark Raudabaugh (drums), and Shaun Richardson (guitar/vocals) and in a social media post she writes “Transparently I also thought, “what even is a Bluegrass Concerto??!” I decided I wanted it to be a combination of thorough composed ideas and arranged parts, while also leaving some room for the improvisational magic any good Bluegrass instrumental might have.”

Alongside the release, she will put out a series of videos capturing “new and fresh” takes on the arrangement/improv hybrid piece after the band returned to FreshGrass for the first time since the premiere and recorded a live in-studio version at the festival’s Studio 9 in Fall of 2025. Sierra stating “I think it’s interesting to hear how The Movements have evolved since those earliest days spent playing them.”

Pre-save the record on streaming or keep an eye on her website to order when it releases on the 10th.

And with this release, we hope to unearth a session of one of the Movements shot with Sierra and the band a few summers back…

Last September David shared a beautiful new tune from he and Tabitha. Of that tune I wrote “This new tune has echoes and faint whisps of early Nickelcreek, with its ethereal and flowing nature. The song, the instrumental, just float in an airy and gorgeous light. The harmonies underpining an creating a wonderful landscape that ebbs and flows. The arrangement really pulling you in and dancing around your head…And while, it is true that its a heck of a mandolin solo, its Tabitha Benedict’s vocal that steals the show for me. She just has one of those voices that is at the same seemingly effortless, but wildly impressive. While listening, you are engulfed in just how delicate but strong it can be in tandem. A true gift.”

The duo has a truly special musical bond that shines in their music and lucky for all of us, we don’t have to wait long for some more work to come from them. Their new album “Made to Wonder” releases on January 23rd.

“Am I made to wonder why everything slips away…?” This is the central question of transatlantic folk band The Foreign Landers’ sophomore full-length album, returning again and again to the tension between longing and hope. Carried by complex harmonies, acoustic interplay, and a sound rooted in tradition, this new music from the award winning duo grows out of shared life and faith, shaped by the belief that wonder points to Someone greater than ourselves.

You can pre-order the new record here and stay tuned for more on the new record and the band over the course of this month.