Vermont Natives Mike and Tessa Gordon, Noah Kahan and Grace Potter Join Final Stop of Railroad Revival Tour with Mumford and Sons

Photo: Bill Kelly

On Thursday, August 7, the Woody Guthrie-inspired Railroad Revival Tour rolled into its fourth and final stop at Champlain Valley Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Essex Junction, Vt. Helmed by 2011 contributors Mumford & Sons, the occasion was marked by the arrival of unannounced guests and representatives of the Green Mountain State, Phish’s Mike Gordon, his daughter Tessa, Noah Kahan, and Grace Potter. 

Like performances prior, on this iteration of the Railroad Revival Tour, Mumford & Sons were supported by a house band comprised of Celisse, Chris Thile, Ketch Sector, Leif Vollebekk, Lucius, Madison Cunningham, Nathaniel Ratelieff, Trombone Shorty, and more. Notably, during the opening night of their collective run in New Orleans, the band brought out special guest Lainey Wilson during their August 3 tour kick-off in New Orleans, and Darius Rucker the following evening in Simpsonville, S.C.

Sticking to the standard set during the initial performances, Mumford and Sons were keen on inviting local talent to participate in the night’s output, even including “Surprise guests” as a feature of the event. True to their word, the bandleader, Marcus Mumford, welcomed the father and daughter, Mike and Tessa Gordon, to contribute to the night’s cover of Gillian Welch’s “Look at Miss Ohio.” 

During Potter’s time on stage, she led the group through pulls from her songbook, including the classic title track off her 2005 Nocturnals release, “Nothing but the Water, Part 1,” before giving the audience a preview of her latest efforts by performing her unreleased track, “Pegasus.” Before Kahan was called to the stage, the big band highlighted choice numbers: a cover of Bill Withers’ “Use Me,” Secor-led “Wagon Wheel,” a cover of R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” centered around the Lucius and Rateliff’s conjoined expertise. 

Also in the mix was an ode to Neil Young via his deep-cut, “Wrecking Ball,” with Lucius and Cunningham leading the charge, as well as a Rateliff-dominated take on James Taylor’s “Carolina On My Mind.” During Kahan’s stage time, he was supported by the house band and worked through choice Stick Season cuts, “Orange Juice” and “Paul Revere,” before reverting to 2020’s New England naming, “Cape Elizabeth.” 

The folk-pop sensation reprised his 2022 title track, “Stick Season,” before tapping players on stage to help sing “Young Blood.” Reaching the end of the rail, and turning on their conductor hats, Mumford and Sons charged through selections from their catalog, including “Little Lion Man,” “Rushmere,” “Caroline,” “The Cave,” “Ditmas” and “The Wolf,” before welcoming Kahan back for “I Will Wait” and “Awake My Soul.” 

The original 2011 Railroad Revival Tour featured Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show. It was recorded and turned into Big Easy Express, a documentary directed by Emmett Malloy. The film debuted at SXSW in 2012 and won a Grammy in 2013. 

Scroll down to view fan-shot clips from the Vermont concert.