“the Steep Canyon Rangers consistently defy expectations.” – No Depression
“Out In The Open illustrates how the passage of time, accumulation of experience
and changing of perspective can alter a person’s relationship to the familiar.” – NPR
“it’s remarkable what Steep Canyon Rangers have done musically over the nearly 18 years
they’ve been performing” – The News & Observer
The Steep Canyon Rangers newest album Out In The Open (Ramseur Records) made it’s stellar debut hitting #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Album Chart (including consumption). In addition Out In The Open received placement on several charts including #8 on the Americana / Folk Album Sale, #25 Country Album Sales, #28 Independent Albums (including consumption) and #114 Top Current Albums.
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 that links them to the past while at the same time, demonstrates their ambitious intent to bring string-based music into contemporary relevance.