There’s a bright and shining beam of light blasting through the dark corners of this wide-open country, and her name is Sierra Ferrell. At the age of thirty-six, Ms. Ferrell has emerged as an undeniable superstar. It was her 2021 release, Long Time Coming, that lit the fuse, but 2024’s Trail of Flowers rocketed her into a whole new stratosphere. That record earned her four Grammy Awards and a massive wave of new fans. Her Tiny Desk Concert performance last year was another feather in a cap now in full plume. With a stacked tour schedule and huge gigs like Lollapalooza and a sold-out Red Rocks show on the horizon, her time to reach the masses has clearly arrived. And yet, despite her rapid rise, she still carved out time for a Monday night stop in the sleepy, industrial town of Davenport, Iowa.

The Capitol Theater, originally opened in the 1920s as one of the grand old movie palaces of the era, has been beautifully restored to its former Art Deco glory. The 2,500-seat venue set the stage for a special night of music, beginning with Tulsa’s native daughter Kaitlin Butts. Her take on country music is that of a storyteller—raw, bold, and unfiltered. At times crass and blunt, Kaitlin is always honest. Her songs lift women up, and her point of view is refreshingly modern. Her set felt like the perfect puzzle piece for the evening, kicking things off with a raucous version of “Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice,” about a roadside bar and a drink that just might save the world.

“What Else Can She Do” told the tale of a small-town girl chasing big-city dreams that don’t quite pan out. Her songs live in that fragile space between excitement and sadness, the extraordinary and the mundane—seen through the lens of the American woman. “White River” was her haunting take on the murder ballad, while “You Ain’t Gotta Die (to Be Dead to Me)” was an undeniable banger.

Perhaps the most poignant moment came as Kaitlin recounted the experience of hearing a familiar song hit differently—brought on by a moment of emotional vulnerability at karaoke. That led into a beautiful cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.” She closed her set with a stellar take on the traditional “In The Pines.” Kaitlin Butts is a bold new voice carving her own lane in country music. As the lines between genres continue to blur, it’s clear that storytelling and songwriting are what matter most. Kaitlin gets that—and she’s creating something special.

After a flurry of stage activity during the set break, the room transformed into a whimsical garden complete with oversized mushrooms and breathing foliage. Sierra Ferrell is a mystical presence, and her stage setup was a perfect reflection of the enchanting world she creates through music.

She opened with “I Can Drive You Crazy,” her playful take on modern love, then charmed the crowd with “I’ll Come Off the Mountain”—a sweet track off the new album that could give you a cavity. “Jeremiah” flowed seamlessly into “West Virginia Waltz” in an early highlight, but honestly, the entire set was masterful. Her rendition of Arthur Smith’s “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County” was a loving homage to her roots. A surprise cover of Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend” hit like a lightning bolt.

She kept the new songs coming with “Money Train,” a tale of star-crossed love, followed by a stunning solo performance of “Rosemary.” Her band joined her around a single ribbon mic for “The Garden,” written for The Hunger Gamesprequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and stayed in formation for a powerful cover of The Osborne Brothers’ “Lonesome Feeling.” The rhythm section—bassist Geoff Saunders and drummer Matty Meyer—held everything down with precision and groove.

“Lighthouse” into “The Sea” made for a fitting combo, keeping with the watery motif, and the gypsy jazz flair of “Far Away Across the Sea” kept things rolling. She treated fans to a show-stopping version of Jon Anderson’s “Years.”

The night wrapped with a powerful trio of tracks from Trail of Flowers. “American Dreaming” is fast becoming an anthem for a new generation. “Dollar Bill Bar” is a cheeky ode to the dude-heavy dive scene, and just as Sierra tore into “Fox Hunt,” the house lights flashed and a siren sounded. Someone had pulled the fire alarm, and the crowd was ushered out into the alley.

But Sierra wasn’t done.

As fans gathered in front of the building, Ferrell and her band reassembled—gear and all—for an impromptu street-side encore on Third Street. What followed was pure magic: “Bells of Every Chapel” into a transcendent “In Dreams” started the sidewalk set. Then came Joe and Rose Lee Maphis’s “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke,” and the crowd surged in. She ended it all with a beautiful rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee.”

It would’ve been easy to call it a night when the fire alarm rang—but Sierra turned chaos into communion, delivering a moment fans will never forget. She’s absolutely on fire right now. With a brilliant new album and a live show full of heart, magic, and mischief, she’s capturing imaginations across the country. If you’re just catching her drift, you’re arriving at an early peak. There’s no telling how far Sierra Ferrell will go. It’s not just her originality—it’s her sparkle. And it’s carrying her straight to the stars.