Steep Canyon Rangers Announce Out In The Open – Out Jan 26, 2018

With OUT IN THE OPEN (Ramseur Records) Steep Canyon Rangers affirm their place as one of the most versatile and idiosyncratic bands in all of contemporary American music. The GRAMMY® Award-winning, North Carolina-based sextet has spent nearly two decades bending and shaping the bluegrass aesthetic, wedding it to elements of pop, country, folk rock, and more to create something original and all their own. OUT IN THE OPEN is perhaps Steep Canyon Rangers’ bravest excursion thus far, transcending bluegrass while in many ways getting closest to the genre’s true form thanks to producer Joe Henry’s very traditional approach toward recording.

Steep Canyon Rangers have been expanding the parameters of bluegrass since coming together in 2000. Since then, the band has developed a remarkable catalogue of original music – predominantly co-written by Sharp and bassist Charles R. Humphrey III – that links them to the past while at the same time, demonstrates their ambitious intent to bring string-based music into contemporary relevance.

With that goal in mind, Steep Canyon Rangers have in recent years begun collaborating with some of Americana’s most distinctive producers, working with top studio hands like Larry Campbell (2013’s TELL THE ONES I LOVE) and Jerry Douglas (2015’s RADIO) to take newfangled routes in crafting their ever-evolving approach. OUT IN THE OPEN sees the band teaming up with Joe Henry, an accomplished singer-songwriter as well as a 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning producer (Solomon Burke, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Carolina Chocolate Drops) with a particular affinity for American roots music.

In July 2017, Steep Canyon Rangers arrived at Fidelitorium Recordings in Kernersville, NC, an intimate studio facility built, owned, and operated by legendary producer Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Let’s Active). Having not previously discussed Henry’s plans, the band was surprised to discover that their producer – with the invaluable help of engineer/mixer Jason Richmond – intended to record in classic fashion, with all six members singing and playing in a room with no overdubs. Though Steep Canyon Rangers had some trepidation, they promptly rose to the challenge.

In addition to the highly anticipated release of OUT IN THE OPEN, 2018 will also see Steep Canyon Rangers uniting with their local Asheville Symphony for a series of unprecedented live performances and the recording of yet another new album, once again pushing their increasingly distinctive music into unexpected terrain.

OUT IN THE OPEN is an undeniable milestone on Steep Canyon Rangers’ ongoing creative journey, its spirited, eclectic approach recasting the myriad sounds of string-based American music in their own unique image. As they fast approach their second decade, Steep Canyon Rangers are still moving forward, as ever searching for new horizons and musical vistas.

For all up to date news and information visit steepcanyon.com.

Track Listing:
Farmers And Pharaohs
Let Me Out Of This Town
Out In The Open
Can’t Get Home
Going Midwest
When She Was Mine
Love Harder
Shenandoah Valley
Best Of Me
Roadside Anthems
Let Me Die In My Footsteps
The Speed We’re Traveling

Tour Dates:

November 16 – Newberry, SC @ Newberry Opera House

November 17 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse

November 18 – Florence, SC @ Francis Marion Univ PAC

December 1 – Roanoke, VA @ Jefferson Center, Shaftman Performance Hall

December 2 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater

December 7 – Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head on Stage

December 8 – York, PA @ Capitol Theatre at Appell Center for the Performing Arts

December 15 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Casino*

December 16 – Bethlehem, PA @ Sands Bethlehem Event Center*

January 12-13 – Chapel Hill, NC @ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

January 18 – Fort Myers, FL @ Suncoast Arena*

January 19 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Mahaffey Theatre*

January 21 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theater*

January 27 – Asheville, NC @ Explore Asheville Arena

February 1 – Knoxville, TN @ the Bijou Theatre

February 2 – Newark, OH @ Historic Midland Theatre

February 3 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall

February 8 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall

February 9 – Chattanooga, TN @ Walker Theatre

February 10 – Winston-Salem, NC @ Reynolds Auditorium

February 23-24 – Greenville, SC @ Peace Center*

February 25 – North Charleston, SC @ North Charleston Performing Arts Center*

March 1 – Billings, MT @ Alberta Bair Theater

March 2 – Bozeman, MT @ the Ellen Theatre

March 3 – Spokane, WA @ Fox Theater

March 4 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre

March 14 – St. Louis, MO @ The Sheldon – Concert Hall

March 15 – Saint Joseph, MO @ Missouri Theater

March 16 – Jonesboro, AR @ Fowler Center

March 17 – Dayton, OH @ Victoria Theatre

March 22 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theater

March 23 – Gainesville, FL @ University of Florida

March 24 – Clearwater, FL @ Capital Theatre

March 25 – Naples, FL @ Artis Naples

April 6-8 – Squaw Valley, CA @ WinterWonderGrass Festival

April 19 – Washington, DC @ the Hamilton

April 21 – Orono, ME @ Collins Center for the Arts

April 27 – Richmond, VA @ Maudlin Center for the Arts