Review: Channeling Dolly, Sierra Ferrell entertained floral-adorned fans of all ages on the Hancher lawn

The smell of fresh-cut grass, the roar of generators powering food trucks and a light dash of summer heat filled the air outside Hancher Auditorium on Friday night, as a massive crowd gathered to see alternative country star Sierra Ferrell perform at the University of Iowa’s free, all-ages Fall Welcome Concert.

Under the picturesque evening sky, thousands unfolded their lawn chairs and laid out their blankets. To say the lawn was packed would be an understatement; as I navigated my way through the crowd, every step was calculated with a surgical precision so as not to step on someone’s blanket or the wagging tail of one of the many dogs in attendance.

Following a thunderous performance by the Hawkeye Drumline, Sierra Ferrell — a four-time Grammy winner who hails from West Virginia — took the stage. Complete with curtains, flowers and a circus tent, the stage design was wonderfully reflective of Ferrell’s maximalist music and personality: vibrant, whimsical and overflowing with joy.

“She has the roots of old country, but she’s progressive and she speaks her mind and she’s not afraid to stand out,” audience member Laura Stapleton told LV before the performance.

The Americana aesthetic that Ferrell employs was matched by many members of the audience, donning flower crowns, colorful dresses and plenty of jewelry.

“It just gives you great people-watching and the opportunity to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love your flower crown’,” said Josie Moore, another audience member in the crowd. “It gives another pathway for connection.”

Ferrell’s golden voice washed over the crowd like a tsunami of honey as she opened with her song “Dollar Bill Bar.” With her sharply dressed and rock-solid band behind her, Ferrell glided through her setlist, showcasing her songs of love, heartbreak and hope. 

Her set included several tributes to the country greats of years past, including covers of John Anderson’s “Years” and the late, great Dolly Parton’s “Here I Am,” further showcasing her commitment to her roots and influences.

The musical variety that Ferrell and her band presented was one of the absolute highlights of the show. She pulled from quite a few different genres across the world of country and Western music, all of which were presented seamlessly. Her band was constantly switching their instruments to achieve the assortment of sounds that her songs utilized. At one point, they even crowded around one microphone for a bluegrass-inspired number.

Ferrell herself demonstrated her technical proficiency. In addition to her rich, unforgettable voice, she swapped between acoustic guitar, fiddle and an accordion-like instrument called the concertina, upon which she wrote her song “Without You.”

Ferrell’s message of unity and empathy was strong in her songs, and even stronger in her stage banter. In between songs, she emphasized her belief in equality and kindness, stating that “there’s no types of people that are better than any other kinds of people.”

She concluded her set with her song “Jeremiah,” distributing yellow flowers throughout the audience as the night’s final notes were played. On a beautiful summer evening, underneath a nearly full moon, Sierra Ferrell and her band delivered a superb finale to another Iowa City summer.