Steep Canyon Rangers

Hailing from Brevard, North Carolina, Steep Canyon Rangers have revolutionized the bluegrass genre with their innovative, contemporary approach. Formed in 1999 by Woody Platt (vocals, guitar), Graham Sharp (banjo) and Charles H. Humphrey III (bass), the group expanded with the arrival of Mike Guggino (mandolin) in 2000, followed by Nick Sanders (fiddle) in 2004. After a self-released debut album, Old Dreams & New Dreams (2001), Mr. Taylor's New Home (2002) was released on the independent Bonfire Records label, before the band signed with Rebel Records for the follow-ups The Steep Canyon Rangers (2004), One Dime at a Time (2005), Lovin' Pretty Women (2007) and Deep in the Shade (2009). In 2009, the band's popularity expanded when Steve Martin, a well-known musician, offered to accompany them on tour, as did the album Rare Bird Alert (2011). The Steep Canyon Rangers changed dimension when they signed with Rounder Records, as confirmed by the sales of Nobody Knows You (2012), which reached #2 on the country charts and was followed by the band's first number one, Tell the Ones I Love (2013), produced partly live and partly in Levon Helm's studio. Thereafter, The Steep Canyon Rangers continues its momentum, proving to be the most popular contemporary bluegrass band with the number-one ranked albums Radio (2015), Out in the Open (2018), North Carolina Songbook, the first for Yep Roc Records in 2019, then Be Still Moses (2020). Its successor, Arm in Arm, reached #2. After the release of Morning Shift in 2023 comes the live album Live at Greenfield Lake (2024).