The Steep Canyon Rangers, heralds of Carolina's vibrant sounds, embark on a captivating tour with their latest release 'Morning Shift'. With performances at iconic venues like Manship Theatre, Chickie Wah Wah, and Lobero Theatre, the band brings their unique blend of traditional bluegrass and modern Americana storytelling to the forefront. This tour not only celebrates their roots but also showcases their evolution as influential songwriters, making waves beyond the bluegrass community.

Steep Canyon Rangers: A Journey through Bluegrass Landscapes

Steep Canyon Rangers, renowned for their inventive take on traditional bluegrass, continue to break new ground with their latest release, 'Morning Shift.' The band, celebrated for their deep-rooted Carolina sound, is embarking on a series of performances that showcase their impressive evolution in Americana music. These performances highlight their journey from preserving traditional bluegrass to becoming influential songwriters in the genre. Join us as we delve into their upcoming events, featuring unique venues and the band's dynamic blend of musical styles.

Exploring the Evolving Sounds of Steep Canyon Rangers: A Musical Journey

The Steep Canyon Rangers, celebrated for their Carolina sound and innovative Americana songwriting, are setting stages on fire with their latest tour featuring 'Morning Shift'. With performances lined up in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Santa Barbara, this Grammy-winning band is redefining the boundaries of bluegrass music while honoring its rich traditions.

Steep Canyon Rangers: Bridging Bluegrass and Americana Across the U.S.

Hailing from both the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, the Steep Canyon Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to bring it down the mountain. In their last few albums, the band has gained recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass, earning a reputation as one of today’s most influential Americana songwriting groups. Throughout their esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages.

Della Mae is a Grammy-nominated all-woman string band featuring founding members Celia Woodsmith (lead vocalist/guitarist) and two-time Grand National champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, along with guitarist Avril Smith and two-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year Vickie Vaughn. Hailing from across North America, and reared in diverse musical styles, Della Mae is one of the most charismatic and engaging roots bands touring today. They have traveled to more than 30 countries, spreading peace and understanding through music. Della Mae’s mission is to showcase top female musicians and improve opportunities for women and girls through advocacy, mentorship, programming and performance.

Steep Canyon Rangers & Della Mae

Gogue Performing Arts Center

Steep Canyon Rangers bring their celebrated blend of traditional bluegrass and contemporary acoustic Americana to the Virginia Arts Festival’s Perry Pavilion, in an evening co-presented with North Shore Point, on May 14 at 7:30 PM.

Hailing from the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, the Rangers, with over 15 albums, have forged a career honoring mountain music while reaching out to encompass literary roots, regional influences, and even jam grass, as well as their collaborations with that banjo-playing youngster, Steve Martin, who appears on their latest single.

Renowned for their virtuoso playing, soaring harmonies, and emotionally resonant storytelling, the band has attracted fans beyond the bluegrass world, establishing itself as one of the most influential groups in Americana today. With the addition of award-winning singer-songwriter Aaron Burdett, their sound carries an even deeper sense of soul and immediacy — music that can be tender, fiery, and unforgettable.

Join us at the Perry Pavilion for the three-time Grammy nominees and Grammy Award winners for Best Bluegrass Album whose artistry continues to shape American roots music.

Steep Canyon Rangers

Perry Pavilion

Hailing from both the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, the Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to bring it down the mountain, and to incorporate accessible influence from all walks of the region. With the band’s last few albums, they have gained recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass, earning a reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today.

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An evening with Steep Canyon Rangers

Lobero Theatre

Chickie Wah Wah

Heralds of the Carolina sound for more than two decades, Steep Canyon Rangers find themselves in a unique seat at the table for their new release, Morning Shift, released September 8, 2023. On this  record, the GRAMMY-winners tell stories that both honor their roots, and expand upon the living art of bluegrass music, all while solidifying their reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today.

Manship Theatre

Strings Music Festival

Hailing from both the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, the Steep Canyon Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount. However, they possess an exceptional ability to incorporate accessible influence from all walks of the region. With the band’s last few albums, the Rangers have gained recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass. Further, they have earned a reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today.

Dakota

The Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals, and Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals. Steep Canyon Rangers have been on a journey that is uniquely their own. The band started in college at UNC-Chapel Hill, then dove head first into bluegrass in its most traditional form, and over the years have risen to the top of the bluegrass genre headlining top festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass. Only to then be discovered by Steve Martin, famous actor and banjo player. Martin has taken the Rangers on over a decade-long tour introducing them to hundreds of thousands of new fans and giving them prime time TV exposure. This has helped SCR become the most recognizable modern name in bluegrass music. The band has continued to tour extensively on their own, without Martin, and has expanded their genre into country, jam, and Americana. The Rangers are big players in the bluegrass/country and Americana scene today. They are often compared to predecessors The Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the modern Zac Brown Band.

Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

The Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals, and Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals. Steep Canyon Rangers have been on a journey that is uniquely their own. The band started in college at UNC-Chapel Hill, then dove head first into bluegrass in its most traditional form, and over the years have risen to the top of the bluegrass genre headlining top festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass. Only to then be discovered by Steve Martin, famous actor and banjo player. Martin has taken the Rangers on over a decade long tour introducing them to hundreds of thousands of new fans and giving them prime time TV exposure. This has helped SCR become the most recognizable modern name in bluegrass music. The band has continued to tour extensively on their own, without Martin, and have expanded their genre into country, jam and Americana. The Rangers are big players in the bluegrass/country and Americana scene today. They are often compared to predecessors The Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the modern Zac Brown Band.

Florida Theatre

It’s bluegrass as you haven’t heard it before. Since a group of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill started Steep Canyon Rangers in 2000, the group has been expanding and redefining the parameters of bluegrass. The genre-defying band has brought elements of pop, country, folk and folk rock to music that is very much its own. The group’s fame has spread since 2009 when it began collaborating with actor and banjo player Steve Martin, and the 2012 album with Martin, Rare Bird Alert, featuring guest appearances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks, was nominated for a Grammy. In 2013, the band won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album for its solo work, Nobody Knows You.

Lyric Theatre

Steep Canyon Rangers are masters of bluegrass music as you’ve never heard it before. Ever since a group of students at the University of North Carolina came together in 2000, the Asheville, North Carolina based band has been expanding and redefining the boundaries of bluegrass.

Irvine Barclay Theatre

It’s bluegrass as you haven’t heard it before. Since a group of students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill started Steep Canyon Rangers in 2000, the group has been expanding and redefining the parameters of bluegrass. The genre-defying band has brought elements of pop, country folk and folk rock to music that is very much their own. Their fame has spread since 2009, when they began collaborating with actor and banjo player Steve Martin, and their 2012 album with Martin, Rare Bird Alert, featuring guest appearances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks, was nominated for a Grammy. In 2013, the group won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album for their solo work, Nobody Knows You.

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