About - The Steep Canyon Rangers

If there’s one thing that can be said about the world of bluegrass, it’s that it’s not an easy one to break into. All the money and hype in the world can’t buy entree into what is as much a community as a style of music, and the rules of the game dictate that artists serve demanding apprenticeships with veteran performers before making their way into the limelight.

So it’s truly remarkable that the Steep Canyon Rangers have been embraced by the bluegrass world. From "Bluegrass Unlimited" to the International Bluegrass Music Association to hardcore festival promoters across the country – and now by traditional bluegrass powerhouse Rebel Records, which released their self-titled label debut on June 1. For though their music is filled with the spirit and energy of past bluegrass greats, the Rangers have broken those rules by carving out their own, 21st century path to acclaim.

After college friends first conspired to make bluegrass music at the University of North Carolina, the newly sprung Steep Canyon Rangers quickly graduated from informal living room picking-sessions to clubs, cafes and larger venues throughout North Carolina. Their enthusiasm, talent and fervor quickly sparked the interest of young audiences across the state.

In 2001 the group released their first CD, "Old Dreams & New Dreams", produced by Newgrass pioneer Curtis Burch. Shortly thereafter, the Rangers made their debut appearance at Colorado's famed RockyGrass festival, where they won 1st Place in the band competition. The following year, the group returned as a featured performer on the RockyGrass stage.

2002 saw the release of the group’s second album, "Mr. Taylor’s New Home", released on Bonfire Records (an acoustic-leaning affiliate of Yep Roc Records/Redeye Distribution). This new collection featured 10 original songs written by the group, scoring rave reviews as well as a feature story in Bluegrass Unlimited. On the strength of their new, powerful sound and captivating show, the Rangers dove headfirst into a busy touring schedule that has continued to this day. The band has since made appearances alongside many of the genre's most popular and revered artists, including Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Del McCoury.

From major bluegrass festivals such as Grey Fox and the legendary Bean Blossom (established by Bill Monroe) to clubs and concert halls across the nation, the Steep Canyon Rangers continue to draw new crowds of young, eclectic listeners as well as older, traditional bluegrass enthusiasts. In October 2003, the band topped-off a fruitful year with a triumphant showcase at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 'World of Bluegrass' trade show.

In July 2004, the Steep Canyon Rangers took on fiddler Nicky Sanders as a full-time member of the band. Originally from San Francisco, CA, Nicky first learned to play bluegrass at the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, MA after he graduated Berklee College of Music in 2002. Formerly a member of Boston's Western Swing group, "The Bagboys", he now lives in the Steep Canyon Rangers' hometown of Asheville, NC.

Now, with the release of their self-titled Rebel Records disc, "Steep Canyon Rangers", the group is poised to become a mainstay of the bluegrass scene while retaining its appeal to audiences reaching well beyond the genre’s mainstream. From the blistering opener, “Living In The Pane” to the joyous “Lucky Streak” that closes the album, it’s their meatiest, most varied set yet, offering a convincing portrait of a band that has reached a new level of self-confident musical maturity and excitement. There are razor-sharp original instrumentals, a pair of tributes – Jimmy Martin’s classic “I’ll Drink No More Wine” and a comedic tip of the hat to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt – and songs that give fresh insights into and twists on the enduring themes of traditional bluegrass: hard living, sweet love lost and won, moonlit mountains and the joys of the music itself. [Listen to clips from the NEW self-titled album]

At a time when the future of bluegrass is a subject of hot debate, the Steep Canyon Rangers offer stirring, original music that unerringly traces a path from yesterday to tomorrow. “Can bluegrass be true to [its] roots?,” a Washington Times headline recently asked – and all it takes is one listen to Steep Canyon Rangers to know that the answer is a resounding, unqualified “yes!”