Steep Canyon Rangers

Hailing from Brevard, North Carolina, the band Steep Canyon Rangers has revolutionized the bluegrass genre with its innovative and contemporary approach. The group, formed in 1999 by Woody Platt (vocals, guitar), Graham Sharp (banjo), and Charles H. Humphrey III (bass), expanded with the addition of Mike Guggino (mandolin) in 2000, followed by Nick Sanders (violin) in 2004. After a self-produced debut album, *Old Dreams & New Dreams* (2001), *Mr. Taylor’s New Home* (2002) was released on the independent label Bonfire Records, before the band signed with Rebel Records for the subsequent albums *The Steep Canyon Rangers* (2004), One Dime at a Time (2005), Lovin’ Pretty Women (2007), and Deep in the Shade (2009). In 2009, their popularity grew when renowned musician Steve Martin invited the band to accompany him on tour, as well as with the album Rare Bird Alert (2011). The Steep Canyon Rangers reached new heights by signing with Rounder Records, as evidenced by the sales of the album *Nobody Knows You* (2012), which peaked at No. 2 on the country charts and was followed by the band’s first No. 1 hit, Tell the Ones I Love (2013), recorded partly live and in Levon Helm’s studio. Subsequently, The Steep Canyon Rangers continued their momentum, establishing themselves as the most popular contemporary bluegrass band with the No. 1 albums Radio (2015), Out in the Open (2018), North Carolina Songbook—their first for Yep Roc Records in 2019—and Be Still Moses (2020). Its follow-up, Arm in Arm, reached No. 2. Following the release of Morning Shift in 2023 came the live album Live at Greenfield Lake (2024). The album cemented their standing in American bluegrass by debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart, a record that places them alongside Old Crow Medicine Show among the bands most frequently at the top of that chart. In 2026, Steep Canyon Rangers released Next Act, their fifteenth studio album, which marked a more assertive return to their bluegrass roots, featuring guest appearances by Steve Martin, Edie Brickell, and Celia Woodsmith. The band supported this release with a U.S. tour, including appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, and several joint concerts with Steve Martin & Martin Short.

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