Steep Canyon Rangers

Steep Canyon Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to incorporate influences from other genres such as country, jam, and Americana.

The North Carolina natives rose to the top of the bluegrass genre, headlining festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass after forming in college in 2000. Over its quarter-century career, the band has received recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass and its members have earned a reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today. In a 2024 interview, Garret K. Woodward of Rolling Stone called the band, “one of the most sought-after groups in Americana, bluegrass, and indie-folk.”

Steep Canyon Rangers has released 14 studio albums including the Grammy-winning Nobody Knows You (2012) and the Grammy-nominated live album North Carolina Songbook (2019), which was recorded at Merlefest and features covers of songs by artists who were born in North Carolina, including James Taylor, Doc Watson, and Thelonious Monk. The album drew acclaim and topped the Billboard Bluegrass Chart for multiple weeks after its release.

The band has recently released a new live album, Live at Greenfield Lake. The album captures the magic of the group’s chemistry, their unparalleled harmonies, and the rich songwriting that has made them one of the most critically-acclaimed groups in Americana music.

Steep Canyon Rangers, a long-time fan favorite of Blue Ridge Music Center concert-goers, is made up of Graham Sharp (banjo, vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin/mandola, vocals), Aaron Burdett (guitar, vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle, vocals), Mike Ashworth (drums, dobro, guitar, vocals), and Barrett Smith (bass, guitar, vocals).

More information: Steep Canyon Rangers

ADDITIONAL CONCERT DETAILS

• Ticket purchases are nonrefundable
• Parking opens at 5:15 p.m. and is free
• Gates open at 5:45 p.m. – Season Pass holders are admitted 15 minutes early
• Concerts begin at 7 p.m.
• Concerts are held rain or shine – bring appropriate clothing/gear for cold or rainy weather
• Bring a chair or blanket for seating

• The Bluffs Restaurant will offer food and beverages for purchase during the concert. Visitors may bring their own food and beverages into the amphitheater. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. 

• Assistive listening devices are available for use during concerts. If you would like to borrow a free device, email info@blueridgemusiccenter.org in advance of your visit.

For more information, view our concert FAQs