Steep Canyon Rangers' New Album RADIO Out Today

Grammy award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers' highly anticipated album, RADIO, is out today on Rounder Records (iTunes). Produced by Jerry Douglas (John Oates, Alison Krauss, Béla Fleck), the album is already receiving widespread critical acclaim-American Songwriter praises, "The Rangers' vocal harmonies feel lived in and natural, adding more down home goodness that springs from these players with an easygoing charm. Ditto for the music that finds the Rangers coalescing in ways only acquired through over a decade and a half of playing live. The [Steve] Martin connection was icing on the cake for an outfit that, based on albums as strong as RADIO, was primed and ready for their unsuspecting thrust into the spotlight." Additionally, The Wall Street Journal calls the album's title track, "...a wide-eyed tribute to the magic of discovering music over the airwaves." The single's music video can be viewed/shared here: http://bit.ly/1NSDxwk.
The Steep Canyon Rangers are Woody Platt (guitar), Graham Sharp (banjo), Charles R. Humphrey III (bass), Mike Guggino (mandolin), Nicky Sanders (fiddle) and Mike Ashworth (box kit).
In celebration of the album, the band is currently in the midst of a nationwide U.S. tour including dates with esteemed comedian and banjo player, Steve Martin. Of their recent performance with Martin, San Francisco Weekly asserts, "'Radio,' the title track from the Ranger's new CD, had depth and energy, along with Platt's ear-pleasing tenor rolling out as smooth and flavorful as one of the vineyard's smoky mellow reds. 'Blow Me Away' allowed Sanders to stretch out like the song's 'freight train rolling,' especially at the tune's midpoint. Guggino on the mandolin roamed through the instruments' dynamic range and-tethered by a rich bass, anchored by groove-like percussion, roughed up with a driving banjo line-the whole added up to more than the sum of its parts." See below for full tour details.
RADIO is the band's ninth studio album and was recorded with Douglas at Asheville, NC's Echo Mountain Recording Studio. The album comprises twelve all-original bluegrass/Americana tracks, the bulk of which were written by Sharp with Humphrey, Platt and Guggino composing the rest in varying degrees. Included are a few co-writes with fellow musicians from the folk world such as Phil Barker of the Carolina bluegrass band Town Mountain and singer/songwriter Shannon Whitworth.
Earlier this summer, the International Bluegrass Music Association nominated the acclaimed band for "Recorded Event Of The Year" for their performance of "Test of Time" with Edie Brickell, produced by Carl Jackson. This marks the band's eighth IBMA nomination-two of which they won, including "Entertainers of the Year" in 2011 for their work with Steve Martin. Lead singer Woody Platt is also nominated this year for IBMA's "Mentor Award," which is given to a bluegrass professional who has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of newcomers to the bluegrass industry.
RADIO follows Steep Canyon Rangers' 2013 release, Tell The Ones I Love, which Bluegrass Today praised as "...a great mixture of today's bluegrass styles, excellent harmonies, and a few surprises...an excellent album...The Steep Canyon Rangers have delivered another winner, and their fans are sure to be pleased." Ed Helms' The Bluegrass Situation asserted, "It's an exquisite recording, a wonderful marriage of their talent and work ethic, and Larry Campbell's remarkable intuition." Previously, their 2012 release, Nobody Knows You, was presented the Grammy Award for "Best Bluegrass Album."
The Steep Canyon Rangers are deeply committed to their community and various charitable organizations. Their annual Mountain Song Festival, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County, will celebrate its 10th Anniversary this year, kicking off with an inaugural Steep Canyon 50 K & Relay Ultra Run on September 10th. Along with Steep Canyon Rangers, the lineup includes headliners Ricky Skaggs, the Del Mcoury Band, and The Milk Carton Kids. Additionally, the band has entered a partnership with Oskar Blues Brewery and their CAN'd Aid Foundation as well as SevenBar Aviation and their affiliated hospital foundations.
RADIO TRACK LIST 1. Radio
2. Diamonds In The Dust
3. Simple Is Me
4. Blow Me Away 5. Blue Velvet Rain 6. Looking Glass
7. Down That Road Again 8. Break 9. Wasted 10. Long Summer
11. When The Well Runs Dry 12. Monumental Fool

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