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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

The top 5 best moments of the 2025 Rockygrass Festival, A+

Above: The 2025 festival as seen from the VIP seating in front of the stage early Friday morning on July 25, 2025.

Rockygrass 2025 returned to the farm in Lyons, CO for a sold-out festival July 25-27. The result was an incredible experience for fans and musicians, but really this was truly a Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway weekend, with each member working hard all three days (with some exceptions 4 nights!). We now break down what we believe were the best moments of the entire festival, enjoy.

1) Molly and Kyle Tuttle, along with other guests filling in for Shelby Mean Band's headlining show at Wildflower Pavilion, 5PM on Saturday, July 26

It's no secret by now that the Grammy Award winning group Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway have dismantled, with each member now following their own journeys. One of these members is acclaimed standup bass player Shelby Means, who has an incredible self-titled album she released a few months ago that featured both Kyle and Molly Tuttle on multiple songs. Shelby has been touring Colorado regularly this summer and her band was lucky to grab the headlining slot for Rockygrass's second pavilion Saturday evening.

It was an electrifying performance, but what made this truly special was Molly Tuttle joining for one song that she sang on the album for, and Kyle joining for the entire performance.

"Me and Molly have been friends since 2015," Shelby joyfully stated when she introduced Molly to come back on stage.

The sound in the barn was incredible, the best during the entire festival. The Wildflower Pavilion is itself a highlight of the festival. with an unique setting for musicians and fans alike with its beautiful ceiling and barn like atmosphere.

2) Del Mccoury Band and Lindsay Lou join Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway onstage during final show

While there was a great number of musicians all three days of the festival, it was clear there was one reason why every individual went: to experience the final show for Molly Tuttle & The Golden Highway. As a reviewer that has seen this group four times before, this was the best time we've ever seen them live. This was due to a number of magical moments, including earlier on in the set when Del Mccoury joined the group on stage for a performance of 'She's Heavenly'. 

'We needed someone to sing the high notes on this song and our band members weren't it, so we decided to call upon Molly,' Del explained. Indeed, Molly hit each note of the song perfectly.

What was just as unique as Del was when Kyle Tuttle's baby mama, Lindsay Lou, joined for the group's iconic performance of their version of 'White Rabbit'. Lindsay's incredible voice was on pair with Molly's for the entire song.

3) The river on a hot 95 degrees F Sunday afternoon

One great thing about the Rockygrass Festival isn't necessarily the bands, the stage or the festival itself but the setting. The festival is located on a creek that flows past the grounds, and during summer months, many Coloradans use this body of water for tubing. The festival lets concert goers not only tube but also go into the creek to cool off, which was essential on Sunday when it was a brutal 95 degrees outside during the hot afternoon.

4) Lindsay Lou's Sunday Set

Up and coming bluegrass singer song writer Lindsay Lou, Kyle Tuttle's baby mama as she and Kyle both like to call herself, performed a on par set equal to those headlining the festival. Lindsay was a bit nervous during her performance, but she and her other two female members nailed down some great harmonies on a warm Sunday afternoon that was a great setting for the festival.

5) Becky Buller on Saturday

Earlier on during the day, 4th time Rockygrass veteran Becky Buller nailed her set with her band. It was a great performance and she proved to have some of the best vocals during the entire festival. The dueling violin's and fiddlers during her show was a sight to be seen and heard. Her set was also emotional, as Becky talked about depression and personal life moments. 


While there was some incredible stand-up performance, overall, every musician at the 2025 Rockygrass Festival was great. Bluegrass queen Rhonda Vincent performed a great set Sunday afternoon which included a few great covers, including The Beatles 'Help'. The festival was absolutely worth going to. Many of the musicians thanked the students who came to the Bluegrass Academy the week before the festival. Another great thing about this festival is the instrument contents every day that takes place in the morning that allows up and coming bluegrass artists to shine. It was an incredible festival from the first band to The Infamous Stringdusters on Sunday night.

A+

All photos edited and produced by Mark E. Matherson and Leo Pareti

The 2025 RockyGrass Festival

The festival and crowd along the river on a warm July afternoon!



The backstage area early on Friday morning before everyone gets in


Bela Fleck sits down for an interview and Banjo talk with Bluegrass Junction



Friday performers: (All photos by Leo Pareti)

Off The Rails:





Mason Via:



Allison de Groot and Tatiana Hargreaves:

East Nash Grass: (full interview coming soon!)









The Del McCoury Band performs Friday evening:



Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway's final show:








Saturday performances: (All photos by Mark E. Matheson)

Jake Leg kicking this off Saturday morning:


Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road:




Becky Buller Band:







Breabeach:







Shelby Means Band with Molly Tuttle & Special Guests:












The Fretliners with Bela Fleck:






AJ Lee And Blue Summit with Molly Tuttle:













Sam Bush Bluegrass Band:







Sunday performances (All photos by Mark)

Rose & Grant's Sunday Set:















Seth Mulder & Midnight Run:






The Faux Paws:







Lindsay Lou with Kyle Tuttle 









Peter Rowan with Sam Grisman Project:








Rhonda Vincent & The Rage:











Infamous Stringdusters:













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