Celebrated guitarist Tyler Grant is proud to announce the release of “Goat Canyon Trestle,” the first single from his upcoming seventh studio album, Flatpicker, slated for release on March 28.
An up-tempo bluegrass barnburner, “Goat Canyon Trestle” recounts the story of the largest wooden trestle ever built, deep in the Mojave Desert of eastern San Diego County. The song is a nod to the “Impossible Railroad,” conceived by sugar and shipping magnate John D. Spreckels in 1906 and completed in 1919. A history buff as much as he is a virtuoso guitarist, Grant brings the past to life by weaving an evocative tale of desert grit and determination.
“It will tickle the ears of any enthusiast of the classic railroad songs,” Grant explains. “History songs are tricky, and I am very proud of this one. The moral of the story is: If you take on the desert, it will always win.”
Featuring Grant’s signature “Doc Watson-style” flatpicking and a high-lonesome harmony courtesy of Michael Daves, “Goat Canyon Trestle” captures Grant’s ability to fuse expert musicianship with vivid storytelling. The track is a standout among the album’s 13 songs, which span rollicking instrumentals, heartfelt reflections, and what Grant fondly refers to as “therapy songs.”
Flatpicker is Grant’s seventh album and his most personal to date, brimming with skillful guitar lines, crosspicking brilliance, and a deep reverence for the wild and human landscapes that shaped him. From the programmatic sweep of “Canyon Flatpicking” and “Sea of Cortez” to the tender emotional core of “Orange Street” and “Turn The Page,” the album captures a vast range of moods, experiences, and geographies.
Produced by Grant himself, Flatpicker features a powerhouse lineup of collaborators, including Andy Thorn (banjo), Adrian “Ace” Engfer (bass, harmony vocals), Erin Youngberg (harmony vocals), Dylan McCarthy (mandolin), Andy Reiner (violin), and Michael Daves (harmony vocals).
Flatpicker – Track Listing
The Wedge
Been Away Too Long
Goat Canyon Trestle
Canyon Flatpicking
Turn The Page
Sea of Cortez
Orange Street
Coming Home To Stay
Waning Moon
The Tuk-Tuk
Depot Guitar
The Beholder
Where The Ocotillo Grows
About Tyler Grant
A respected figure in the roots and bluegrass community, Tyler Grant has spent years touring with the likes of Abigail Washburn, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, and the Drew Emmitt Band, which evolved into the Emmitt-Nershi Band (featuring Bill Nershi of The String Cheese Incident). These opportunities led Grant to Colorado, where he settled in 2009 and continued honing his blazing flatpicking chops in the Rocky Mountains’ vibrant bluegrass scene.
A CalArts alumnus with a penchant for weaving natural imagery and personal narrative into his compositions, Grant has cemented his reputation as both a master guitarist and a storyteller at heart. Flatpicker is the culmination of his passion for exploring the American landscape—both external and internal—and it confirms his place among the new generation of acoustic innovators.
With “Goat Canyon Trestle” out now and Flatpicker poised for release on March 28, listeners can look forward to an adventurous journey through desert vistas, longing hearts, and celebratory pickin’—all courtesy of one of the most dynamic flatpickers performing today.
