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The Steep Canyon Rangers are an exciting and acclaimed bluegrass band from Asheville, North Carolina. Young and full of talent, The Steep Canyon Rangers are most certainly on the rise. As a
testament to their greatness, in September of 2006, The S.C. Rangers won the
International Bluegrass Music Association's Emerging Artist of the Year Award. This highly coveted Award simply reinforces the emerging power of this dedicated and hard-working North Carolina bluegrass band. Further reinforcing their current status, the band charted a number one single on the Bluegrass Unlimited Song Chart this year.

The Steep Canyon Rangers are Mike Guggino on mandolin and harmony vocals;
Charles R. Humphrey III on bass and harmony vocals; Woody Platt on guitar and lead vocals; Nicky Sanders on fiddle; and Graham Sharp on banjo, lead, and harmony vocals.

Their latest release on the famous Rebel Records is the album "One Dime At A Time". The new album was produced by Mike Bub, the acclaimed bass player of the brilliant and revered Del McCoury Band. Bub recorded the band live in the studio. Graham Sharp comments: “We all gathered in a circle around a couple of microphones. No separate booths, no headphones, no separate tracks. You can really hear the natural blend of our instruments and voices." The album not only features traditional bluegrass as well as bluegrass with modern sensibilities, it also touches on other styles such as blues to honky tonk. Two particular highlights on the recording are the a cappella spiritual "I Can't Sit Down" ( a Wade Mainer song) and the amazing Jason Carter of The Del McCoury Band who is featured in a fiddle duo performance with fiddle player Nicky Sanders. The majority of the songs on the album are written by The Steep Canyon Rangers.

The Steep Canyon Rangers became a professional band in 2001. Previous albums include "Old Dreams & New Dreams" (currently out-of-print), "Mr. Taylor’s New Home" (2002 Bonfire Records), and "The Steep Canyon Rangers" (2004 Rebel Records). "One Dime At A Time" (2006 Rebel Records) is an important recording that is sure to satisfy.

As their Rebel Records Artist Page states, "Their constant touring, intense rehearsing, and most importantly, their creative songwriting sets them apart from the field. In a genre cluttered with young bands, it’s the Steep Canyon Rangers that are the future of bluegrass music. This music is full of the genuine feeling and sparkling musicianship that marks the best of bluegrass bands."

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~STEEP CANYON RANGERS TOUR DATES ~

DECEMBER

12/08/06 Asheville NC The Orange Peel

12/09/06 Greenville SC Gottrocks

JANUARY

01/06/07 Suwanee GA Everettes Music Barn

01/20/07 TBD Nashua Watershed Association Concert

01/26/07 Prestonsburg KY Mountain Arts Center

01/27/07 Roanoke VA Coffeepot

01/28/07 Bristol TN The Paramount Center for the Arts

FEBRUARY

02/01/07 Athens GA Georgia Theater

02/03/07 Lenoir NC J.E. Broyhill Center - Caldwell Community College

02/10/07 York PA Goodwill Fire Company

02/11/07 Mt. Holly Springs PA The Holly Inn

02/16/07 Shawnee KS Mountain Music Shoppe

02/17/07 Wichita KS Kansas Bluegrass Association Winter Show

02/18/07 Northglenn CO Mid Winter Bluegrass Festival

Official Steep Canyon Rangers Website

Official Rebel Records Website

On April 20th 2006, Monkeyclaus recorded King Wilkie live at the Jefferson Theater in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia. It was an idyllic Virginia spring evening as the music echoed out into the downtown pedestrian mall, and King Wilkie delighted hundreds of fans inside. It was an inspired performance. King Wilkie said they had not played the downtown mall since last playing on the small stage at Miller’s years ago. The audience seemed very pleased to have King Wilkie back home and onstage. Jim Waive and the Yong Divorcees and Sarah White also gave inspired opening performances. Experience again this incredible night of music from the beloved Jefferson Theater, in the comfort of your own surroundings.

King Wilkie Set List from Charlottesville

Billy Means' Blues
Rockabye
Wrecking Ball
Father
Mother
Brandy Wine (acoustic)
Broke Down & Lonesome
Millie's Song
Damn Yankee Lad
Cold Winds
The Man in Me
Ms. Peabody (Lobby Version)
Its Been a Long Time
Angeline

Encores:
Its Not Easy
Trouble in Mind