Many a great tune has been inspired by a more long-form literary work—Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane, and Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights,” to name just a few. Now, North Carolina’s Steep Canyon Rangers are the latest to add their names to that list with “Recommend Me,” their latest single from an upcoming album entitled Morning Shift.

“I’m the guy that jumps in the deep end / Find out quick if I’m sinking or swimming,” sings the Steep Canyon Rangers’ newest member Aaron Burdett on their new single “Deep End.” The song, a toe-tapping romp featuring the Rangers’ signature bluegrass-forward sound, sounds like a good-time ode to being carefree, but its origins come from a very specific, real place.

“Apparently, my neighborhood is cursed,” says Graham Sharp, Steep Canyon Rangers’ banjoist and co-writer of their brand new single, “Hominy Valley.” A pulsating romp through the hills and valleys of which the Rangers sing, “Hominy Valley” dives into the backstory of Sharp’s cursed neighborhood: the story of General Rutherford’s campaign against the Cherokee during the Revolutionary war.

The South Carolina Waterfowl Association’s Wildlife Education Center is the new home of BirdFest, a beloved bluegrass music festival, held on May 5-6, 2023 in Pinewood, South Carolina. This year’s BirdFest is headlined by the well-known bluegrass ensemble Steep Canyon Rangers on Friday and Saturday nights. Other acts include Town Mountain, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters, Seth Walker, and Henhouse Prowlers. Purchase tickets and learn more at BirdfestMusic.com.

North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival will celebrate its 11th annual event at Historic Rural Hill in Huntersville, NC on May 12-13, 2023.

Mountain Song Productions and Brevard Music Center have announced the first annual North Carolina Guitar Celebration taking place at the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium on June 4, 2022.

Old Settler’s Music Festival is pleased to announce the first wave of bands confirmed for its 35th anniversary gathering, slated for April 21-24 — a welcome return to its usual springtime slot. The festival takes place at its permanent home in Tilmon, Texas, 12 miles southeast of Lockhart.

The 5th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 17 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida.

The 5th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 14 - Sunday, October 17 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida.

The Steep Canyon Rangers with Jon Stickley Trio on June 10, 2021 at Chautauqua Auditorium has been rescheduled to September 17, 2021. Please hold on to your tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled show.