Biography

First woman in 27 year history of IBMA Awards to be nominated and win Guitar Player of the Year

On her debut solo EP RISE, Molly reveals the scope of her diverse influences. Produced by Kai Welch (Abigail Washburn, Bobby Bare, Jr., the Greencards), the seven-song collection builds a bridge from bluegrass to Americana as Molly breaks free without breaking ties, singing and exploring what her six-string acoustic guitar can do. Tastemakers are noticing—she is literally the poster child for what Spotify considers “Indie Bluegrass” as the dominant streaming platform chose to feature her on their popular playlist of the same name, but they also added her tracks “Save This Heart” and “Lightning in a Jar” to two influential Americana playlists: Acoustic Love which has over 1 million listeners and Afternoon Acoustic which has an impressive 2 million listeners.

RISE further introduces Molly to a roots music audience who’s already enthusiastically embraced and elevated her. In 2016, she clinched first place in Merlefest’s prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Competition and made appearances on programs such as A Prairie Home Companion which have expanded her audience, along with almost nonstop touring. Press response has been glowing—from The Bluegrass Situation, No Depression, American Songwriter and others. Most recently, she’s grinning somewhat
slyly on Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s April 2017 cover.

Molly is currently working on a full length follow up album set to be released on Compass Records in 2018.

“Her songs, singing and solos, much like her demeanor, tend to have an inward-looking elegance to them; they’re the outward expressions of a searching mind and a longtime dedication to cultivating her craft.” —Jewly Hight, NPR

“[Molly Tuttle] sings with the gentle authority of Gillian Welch, yet plays astoundingly fleet flat-picking guitar like Chet Atkins on superdrive.” —Paul Zollo, American Songwriter Magazine

“On her solo debut, an EP titled Rise, her playing is rhythmically complex, technically precise, and remarkably fleet, as though there are two sets of hands running up and down the frets, yet the guitar remains secondary to her evocative songwriting.” —The Bluegrass Situation

“Among the most brilliant guitarists in this new generation is Molly Tuttle, who seems as effortlessly conversant when flatpicking as when playing in the clawhammer style, and who is equally gifted as a singer-songwriter.” —Premier Guitar