Portland Ovations Hosts Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, 5/18

Portland Ovations will end its season on an extreme high-note bringing the legendary Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers to Merrill Auditorium, Wednesday May 18th at 7:30 PM for an evening of music and comedy.

The multi-talentEd Martin comes to Portland with The Steep Canyon Rangers off their recent release of Rare Bird Alert, the second of two bluegrass albums that Martin recently released. His first, The Crow/New Songs For The Five-String Banjo, won a 2010 Grammy for best bluegrass album. The Steep Canyon Rangers are a classic five-man string band comprised of a guitar, fiddle, upright bass, banjo and mandolin. Martin adds a second banjo and additional vocals making for a unique and exciting sound."It's one of the most unique bluegrass concerts you'll ever see," promises Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer and guitarist Woody Platt. "You get the Steve Martin you would expect, but you also get very serious, thoughtful music." First playing together in 2009, Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers garnered praise from fans and critics alike with the popularity of their joint live performances resulting in the new album Rare Bird Alert.

Opening up the evening will be Tony Trischka and his four-piece band Territory. Trischka is a friend, and collaborator of Martin's, as well as his producer on the recently released Rare Bird Alert. Considered one of the most influential banjo players in the roots music world and an inspiration for a whole generation of bluegrass and acoustic musicians, Trischka is not only a master picker but also a top teacher of the instrument.

Tickets for Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers range from $41 to $59 for Ovations' Members and $45 to $65 for the general public. To purchase tickets, contact PortTix at 207-842-0800 or visit the box office window at Merrill Auditorium.Tickets are also available online at www.portlandovations.org.