Photos and Review by Jolene Rheault
Taking the stage in the warm Carolina glow at 6:15 p.m., two-time Grammy winner Molly Tuttle launched into a set that immediately cemented her status as the absolute standout musician of the entire evening. Her signature blend of lightning-fast acoustic runs and boundary-pushing songwriting had the Charlotte crowd locked in from her very first note, anchored by an infectious smile and radiant stage personality that instantly won over the entire audience.
Striking a perfect balance between original material and cleverly re-imagined classics, Tuttle put her own distinct stamp on hits like The Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow” and Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.” Since the show fell on September 25th—officially celebrated as Dolly Parton Day—she paid fitting tribute to the country icon with a vibrant cover of “9 to 5.”
Her genuine charm created an intimate, inviting atmosphere, highlighted by a moving, vulnerable moment when she spoke openly about alopecia awareness. The definitive high point of her performance—and the clear peak of the night—came during the set-ending “Dooley’s Farm,” when she brought Daniel Donato out to trade ferocious guitar solos in a breathless, crowd-thrilling exchange.
Following Tuttle’s set, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country swept in under a backdrop of mesmerizing psychedelic visuals, taking listeners on a deep dive into their fusion of classic honky-tonk twang and expansive jam-rock.
Kicking things off with “Along The Trail” and “Hi-Country,” Donato along with his tight-knit crew—Nathan “Sugarlegg” Aronowitz, Will “Mustang” McGee, and Will “Bronco” Clark—kept the floor moving through complex, extended improvisations, including a towering 18-minute run through “Passing Storm” and a nearly 20-minute excursion on “Fortunate Sparrow.”
McGee swapping over to upright bass gave several tracks a grounded, traditional grit that paired brilliantly with Donato’s fluid, neon-lit fretwork. To cap off the night, Tuttle returned to the mic for a joint lead-vocal performance on “Riding That Midnight Train,” sealing a stellar double-header defined by incredible musicianship and joint energy.
