Steep Canyon Rangers have risen to the top of the Bluegrass world slowly but surely. Formed while college students in North Carolina (and now based near Asheville, N.C.), the group represents the younger guard in Bluegrass music, a band that is fluent in the traditional side of the genre yet open-minded and contemporary in their approach.
Lately, the Rangers have found success while touring and recording with the legendary comedian, movie actor and musician Steve Martin. The group recorded three albums with Martin, including Rare Bird Alert and Love Has Come For You, a project that also featured singer Edie Brickell. The album’s title track scored a Grammy for Best American Roots Song a few months ago and the collaboration also led to a recent Great Performances episode on PBS.
But the Rangers have won Grammy and International Bluegrass Music Association awards on their own and they are currently on a headlining tour sans Martin. Their latest album, Tell The Ones I Love, produced by all-star multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell, was released last year.
The band, which consists of Woody Platt, Mike Guggino, Graham Sharp, Nicky Sanders, Charles Humphrey and newly added percussionist Mike Ashworth, comes to perform in Cincinnati on a roll, having just headlined the massive MerleFest music festival in North Carolina.
STEEP CANYON RANGERS play 20th Century Theater 8 p.m. Thursday, June 12. Tickets/more info here .
