WIN A Cabin For Two With The Steep Canyon Rangers On Mountain Song Cruise!

Steep Canyon Rangers are giving away a cabin for two aboard the Mountain Song at Sea Bluegrass festival at sea!

To win, all you have to do is share SCR's song "Nobody Knows You" with as many people as possible!

 

Click HERE  to receive a download of the song and a unique URL to share the song with your social networks.

The person who’s URL receives the most unique views will win a cabin for two aboard Mountain Song at Sea (Feb 1-4, 2013 and an SCR merch pack, including a signed copy of their latest album, NOBODY KNOWS YOU!

Steep Canyon Rangers Getting Ready for New CD

While on tour in the west, the SCR snuck into Portland for a quick studio session with producer Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, etc). The project is a wonderful new album by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell that should be out in the next 6 months. 

The Rangers say it was an honor and a real learning experience to work with such an accomplished producer.

Bluegrass Ambassadors Taking Genre to Jazz Fans!

Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers at Rochester International Jazz Festival!

Martin, and the Rangers sold out headliner shows yesterday  in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY. Shows were at 4 and 8 p.m.  The evening show sold out in just a couple of hours and Martin was convinced to add a matinee performance which then sold out in about 90 minutes.

In an interview with an Associated Press writer, Martin said he prefers to play music to performing comedy.  He said that he’s comforted by watching the crowd happily humming along to the music.

According to Rangers lead singer, Woody Platt, Martin’s notoriety helps broaden the spectrum of listeners for bluegrass music.

Prescription Bluegrass Reviews Steep Canyon Rangers Latest CD

Bluegrass reviewer Dan King  has just filed his review of the Rangers’ April release on Rounder Records entitled “Nobody Knows You” and finds the effort technically good but not inspiring.   Read the full review.

Watch The Steep Canyon Rangers Debut Their New CD!

The Steep Canyon Rangers chose a world-wide approach via Yowie.com to interactively broadcast their CD Debut to millions of fans.

This is the first solo project for the group since signing with Rounder Records.  The Album is entited, "Nobody Knows You

Rangers Live Tonight. Interactive Web Broadcast!

IBMA's 2011 Entertainer of the Year, The Steep Canyon Rangers Take the Virtual Stage for Global Audience to Celebrate CD Release Today!

Steep Canyon Rangers Partner with Yowie For Interactive Broadcast of Concert and Backstage Experience

The Steep Canyon Rangers chose Yowie because it allows their fans to have a more personal interaction with them.

The Steep Canyon Rangers are doing this by partnering with Yowie to bring fans a free online concert straight from frontman and guitarist Woody Platt’s porch in North Carolina tonight at 7p.m. EST.

Fans can go to the Yowie Site now and test their equipment plus get an email reminder just before the show.   The broadcast is free but you must sign up.

“Rangers” Present FREE Interactive Broadcast from Woody Platt’s Front Porch!

IBMA's 2011 Entertainer of the Year, The Steep Canyon Rangers Take the Virtual Stage for Global Audience to Celebrate April 10 CD Release

Grammy-nominated bluegrass sensation, The Steep Canyon Rangers are anticipating the imminent release of their debut Rounder Records recorded effort “Nobody Knows You.” They are pushing the boundaries of bluegrass and making it accessible to both traditional and progressive audiences of this genre.

Grammy nominated for their collaboration with icon Steve Martin, these personable young musicians are as Steve Martin puts it, "not only great musicians who continue to explore both the new and old styles of bluegrass and bring a fresh energy to the traditions of American music, but they are also really fun on a bus."

This highly engaging band has reached the largest number of people with bluegrass music in 2011 and now they want to bring all of their followers together on their release date. The Steep Canyon Rangers are doing this by partnering with Yowie to bring fans a free online concert straight from frontman and guitarist Woody Platt’s porch in North Carolina on release day, Tuesday April 10th at 7p.m. EST.

Rangers Enter Dead Covers Project

Song Originates from 1928! – Watch Video

The Steep Canyon Rangers have been honoring the Grateful Dead for some time with a very authentic yet still very bluegrass version of “Don’t Ease Me In”  

Now they’ve created a video of the tune for entry into a contest sponsored by the website Dead.net called the Dead Covers Project.  

Rolling Stone Magazine Shows Interest in Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers newest video premiers today exclusively on Rollling Stone Magazine.

..."I was impressed with David Hackett Fischer's book, Paul Revere's Ride, which gave the facts of a story that had been twisted throughout history. . . I was happy to write a song that told the truth of his ride, and tell the little-known story of what happened to Revere's horse that night." -Steve Martin...

The video is about the story of Paul Revere's horse.

This is the same song Martin wrote especially for the band's appearance last summer on the Washington Mall for the PBS special "A Capitol Fourth" and the same song the got millions of folks clapping and foot stomping around the world.

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers performed the song for the intimately shot video in front of a small group of fans in a tightly packed Williamsburg, Brooklyn loft.

Steep Canyon Rangers Announce Release of Upcoming CD!

IBMA’s Entertainers of the Year The Steep Canyon Rangers announced the April 10 release of their Rounder Records solo band debut album, “Nobody Knows You”.

With this 5th album, the band – current Grammy® nominees for ‘Best Bluegrass Album’ for 2011’s Rare Bird Alert collaboration with Steve Martin – takes a giant step forward as songwriters and performers who continue to redefine both traditional and progressive approaches to the genre.

And with a 2012 schedule that features their most ambitious international theater, university and festival tour to date – including headlining the Winnipeg Festival in Winnipeg, Canada, the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California and the Rhythm and Roots Festival in Bristol, Tennessee – they remain the band bringing bluegrass to perhaps its biggest audience ever.

TV Alert: Steep Canyon Rangers on Jimmy Fallon

The Rangers sent a note to remind us to watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this Monday when they’ll be appearing with Steve Martin.

Mon.  12/5
w/ STEVE MARTIN
AIRS at 12:35 EST /
11:35 Central
(Check local listings)

• Don't forget to check the Rangers Tour Page:
  
• www.steepcanyon.com/tour

Entertainers-Of-The-Year, Steep Canyon Rangers on iClips Tonight for $3.99

If you can’t be in Boulder tonight, Steam the Concert “LIVE”

This event is only available on iClips Premium for $3.99   –   which also includes 6 months of archival viewing. (the archives will be available about a week after the broadcast).

iClips is extremely excited to announce the LIVE broadcast of Elephant Revival from the Boulder Theater on November 19th. Joining them are the Steep Canyon Rangers - who, in March 2011, released their first collaborative record with Steve Martin, ”Rare Bird Alert” which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart and at #43 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2010, the latest solo record from Steep Canyon Rangers, ”Deep In The Shade”, remained in the Bluegrass Top 10 on Billboard for 18 weeks.

Steep Canyon Rangers Studio Log

T he Steep Canyon Rangers are in the studio this week recording a much anticipated new CD.   Here’s their studio log for the first three days

steepcanyon Steep Canyon Rangers
DAY 3 in the studio; NEW @SteepCanyon recordings today include "Reputation" & "Ungrateful One"..Looks like another dark-themed CD is coming!

More TV Time for Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers Tonight!

...TV Alert...

IBMA's newest Entertainers of the Year - Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers will be the subject of ABC News with Diane Sawyer this evening (10/7) at 6:30 PM Eastern. Please share and tune in!

If you miss it live, you can pick up the feature here after it airs: http://abcnews.go.com/watch/world-news-with-diane-sawyer/SH5585921 

The segment will spotlight Martin's banjo career as well as his landmark year with the Steep Canyon Rangers including their album, Rare Bird Alert on Rounder Records, and successful tour.

 

About Steep Canyon Rangers (SCR): Brothers in music - Mike Guggino (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Woody Platt (guitar), Nicky Sanders (fiddle), and Graham Sharp (banjo) - met and began playing bluegrass during their college days in Chapel Hill, N.C.  Ten years later the band members have only deepened their commitment to roots music, performing with fierce instrumental prowess but also providing deeply moving songwriting and harmonies, infusing traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes and arrangements.

NO SURPRISES AT IBMA AWARDS!

... they won't be any different than before. Isn't it time to step aside and let some new folks in?”...

As Prescription Bluegrass predicted, the big award from the IBMA this year goes to Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers for Entertainer of the Year. Martin and the Rangers have been unofficial ambassadors for Bluegrass Music for much of the past year, appearing on numerous television shows both to tout the success of Martin's first Solo CD “The Crow”, and most recently to entice fans into a fever over Martin's second bluegrass CD (and his first with The Rangers), entitled “Rare Bird Alert” - a CD which Martin managed to also claim first rights on getting Paul McCartney into the bluegrass realm.

Martin and the Rangers also performed before millions live in-person on the Washington Mall and simultaneously to millions more watching around the world on Public Television as the sextet rocked the Annual Capitol Fourth celebration for the U.S. Independence Day Celebration.

Performers Announced for IBMA AWARDS Show!

Performances from nominees Balsam Range, The Boxcars, Dailey and Vincent, The Grascals, The Gibson Brothers, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, Sierra Hull and Highway 111 and Steve Martin and  The Steep Canyon Rangers – as well as the show’s host, Sam Bush, confirmed

Nashville, Tenn. (Sept 7, 2011) — An initial list of performers for IBMA’s 22^nd International Bluegrass Music Awards has been confirmed for theThursday, September 29 event. 

NOMINEES ANNOUCED FOR INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS

The Boxcars, Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out, The Gibson Brothers, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Lonesome River Band, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers Lead List
Nashville, Tenn….IBMA is proud to announce the nominees for the 22nd annualInternational Bluegrass Music Awards, scheduled for Thursday, September 29, 2011 at Nashville, Tennessee’s historic Ryman Auditorium.  Also announced at the press conference were this year’s inductees to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame - bluegrass ambassador and leader of one of the most awarded bands in the history of IBMA, Del McCoury and pioneering bass player and guitar stylist George Shuffler – and the five recipients of the Distinguished Achievement Award: Greg Cahill, Bill Knowlton, Lilly Pavlak, Geoff Stelling and Roland White.

Steve Martin To Autograph Banjo for Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music!

A Deering Steve Martin Crow model banjo autographed by Martin himself will be auctioned to the highest bidder at Martin’s Saturday evening, August 20th, performance in Flagstaff, AZ.  The comedian’s bluegrass banjo concert along with The Steep Canyon Rangers will be at the Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park.

The Steep Canyon Rangers last performed in Flagstaff at the 2009 Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival.

Steve Martin – Number 1 and Number 3 on Retailer’s Hot Bluegrass List!

A quick check of the Amazon Hot List for Bluegrass, (The best in Bluegrass based on Amazon customer reviews*) shows that Steve Martin is actually competing with himself and his only two Bluegrass CDs are ranked at Number One for his newest (with the Steep Canyon Rangers) entitled “Rare Bird Alert” and Number Three for his first and award-winning CD “The  Crow – New Songs For The 5-String Banjo”
The SteelDrivers are the  only  other group with double recognition inside the top ten.  The SteelDrivers ranked Number Six with their latest “Reckless” and Number Ten with their first CD “SteelDrivers”

*Amazon Top Rated products are identified based on factors that have been carefully chosen to help give customers the best shopping experience. Factors considered include Amazon customer review star ratings, the number of customer reviews a product has received, and the timing of those reviews.

Bluegrass is America's Music At America's Biggest 4th of July Party!

The Steep Canyon Rangers brought America's music to America's Day, teaming with entertainment icon Steve Martin to bring serious bluegrass with a comedic twist to the Fourth of July Celebration at The National Mall in Washington DC. 

Their high-energy performance, part of a star-studded Independence Day event, marks the year's highest profile and most-watched bluegrass concert, the latest milestone for The Steep Canyon Rangers in a year that has included two Presidential concerts!

for Musical Fireworks At

America's Biggest 4th of July Party

Performing for almost half a million people gathered on The Mall, as well as millions more at home tuned onto PBS' annual presentation of A Capitol Fourth, Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers debuted their new MP3 single, "Me and Paul Revere." 

...Hard Driving Bluegrass filled the Mall with dancing and flag waving Americans - all captured by PBS Cameras...

The original song, based on Martin's historical research, sets the record straight amid all the recent confusion and controversy. Sung by Steep Canyon Ranger guitarist Woody Platt, "Me and Paul Revere" tells the story of that famous ride from the point of view of Revere's horse, Brown Beauty.

The song has become the official show closer of Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers' 50-plus date national tour in support of their recent celebrated CD, Rare Bird Alert (Rounder), featuring guest appearances by Paul McCartney and The Dixie Chicks.

Part of a patriotic evening that ranged from first-generation rock 'n' roll legend Little Richard to Glee star Matthew Morrison, Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers turned Independence Day into Jubilation Day.

Their hard-driving set had folks dancing all over mall, all captured by PBS' cameras. Along with his trademark comical emcee work, Martin displayed his versatility on the banjo, performing both Scruggs style and clawhammer pieces. The Steep Canyon Rangers took the spotlight for the finale, showcasing Nicky Sanders' explosive improvisations on the fiddlers' national anthem, "The Orange Blossom Special."

Watch the full episode. See more A Capitol Fourth.

The Steep Canyon Rangers' appearance on A Capitol Fourth is the latest episode in a remarkable year of working with Martin to bring bluegrass to new audiences at such high-profile, non-traditional venues as Carnegie Hall and headlining Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazzfest, The Newport Folk Festival and Merlefest. SCR also just signed with Rounder Records, the premier bluegrass record label.

Their partnership further establishes Steep Canyon Rangers as an extraordinary presence on the bluegrass and roots music scene, joining the likes of other Rounder artists such as Alison Krauss, Bela Fleck, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Robert Plant. SCR will release a new album with Rounder in 2012.
 

Sept. 9-10, The Steep Canyon Rangers will present their annual Mountain Song Festival at the world-renowned Brevard Music Center in Brevard, NC. With previous headliners like Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Del McCoury, David Holt, David Grisman Quintet and Steve Martin, the festival has raised over $190,000 for the Transylvania County Boys and; Girls Club.

"Me and Paul Revere" is available at www.steepcanyon.com, where you can also find Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers' "Jubilation Day" video and a complete SCR tour schedule. For Mountain Song Festival tickets and information: www.mountainsongfestival.com. The archive of the PBS broadcast is located here: http://video.pbs.org/video/2042635078.

About Steep Canyon Rangers (SCR): Brothers in music - Mike Guggino (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Woody Platt (guitar), Nicky Sanders (fiddle), and Graham Sharp (banjo) - met and began playing bluegrass during their college days in Chapel Hill, NC, And ten years later, the band has only deepened their commitment to roots music performing with fierce instrumental prowess, but also providing deeply moving songwriting and harmonies, infusing traditional bluegrass with contemporary themes and arrangements.