Steep Canyon Rangers

Hailing from both the Appalachian and Piedmont regions of North Carolina, Steep Canyon Rangers have long held traditional bluegrass paramount, while possessing an exceptional ability to bring it down the mountain and incorporate other influences from around region.

With the band’s last few albums they have gained recognition from well beyond the world of bluegrass, earning a reputation as some of the most influential songwriters in Americana today. Employing a thoughtful approach to collaboration, ironclad creative trust, and a collective drive towards authentic storytelling, makes for not only a quintessential Rangers record, but a modern North Carolina classic.

Over the band’s esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages. In 2013, Nobody Knows You won the GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album, while 2012’s Rare Bird and 2020’s North Carolina Songbook garnered nominations in the same category.

Steep Canyon Rangers arrive at a moment of renewal and reaffirmation with Next Act, their 15th studio album set to be released May 22, 2026. The record represents a conscious tightening of focus: a return to the bluegrass foundations that first bound the band together, approached with the confidence and emotional range earned through years of collective evolution. It is an affirmation that bluegrass still contains endless expressive possibility. Next Act finds the Rangers sounding deeply at home in their own musical language, drawing strength from tradition while continuing to write new chapters within it.

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
•  Concerts take place rain or shine
•  Admission gates open at 5:45 p.m.; concert begins at 7 p.m.
•  This concert takes place in our uncovered outdoor amphitheater. Guests should bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating in the grass.
•  Here in the mountains, the weather forecast can change quickly. We recommend bringing layers and a rain jacket or umbrella in the event of a passing rain shower.
•  Guests are welcome to bring a picnic or purchase from our on-site food vendor. No alcohol is allowed, per National Park/Blue Ridge Parkway policies.
•  Food vendor selection is not guaranteed – we recommended bringing water and snacks in case food vendor lines are long or they run out of food
•  Alcohol, drones, pop-up tents, and tables are not allowed in the amphitheater
•  Dogs are permitted at most shows with the following rules: dogs must always be on leash; guests with dogs are only permitted to sit on the hillside above the rock walls and not in the main seating area below the rock walls; guests must clean up after their dogs; if a dog’s behavior is interfering with other patrons’ enjoyment of the show, the guest and dog may be asked to leave the amphitheater and no refund will be given. 

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. Guests wishing to borrow a free device should email info@blueridgemusiccenter.org in advance of their visit.

For more information, view our concert FAQs