Simply stated, Steep Canyon Rangers rank among the upper echelon of today’s most prominent bluegrass bands. They’ve extended their musical template far beyond any confined parameters and into the realms of mass appeal, courtesy of songs that resonate with immediate accessibility and all the elements needed to ensure populist appeal.
The band's new album, Live at Greenfield Lake, is a perfect summation of their strengths and a true compendium of all the band has achieved in their career thus far. Recorded before a hometown crowd in Wilmington North Carolina, it finds the band — drummer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Ashworth; singer, songwriter and banjo picker Graham Sharp; bassist and vocalist Barrett Smith; fiddler Nicky Sanders; singer and mandolin player Mike Guggino; and vocalist, guitarist and “new guy” Aaron Burdett — replaying songs from the band’s classic catalog and breathing fresh life into each of them in the process.
The release of the new album provided a perfect opportunity for Lee and Billy to talk to Graham Sharp about Steep Canyon Rangers' remarkable road forward and their consistent success. Learn more about Graham Sharp at https://grahamsharp.com and the Steep Canyon Rangers at https://www.steepcanyon.com
Host Lee Zimmerman is a freelance music writer whose articles have appeared in several leading music industry publications. Lee is a former promotions representative for ABC and Capital Records and director of communications for various CBS affiliated television stations. Lee recently authored the book "Thirty Years Behind The Glass" about legendary producer and engineer Jim Gaines.
Podcast producer/cohost Billy Hubbard is an Americana Singer/Songwriter and former Regional Director of A&R for a Grammy winning company. Billy is a signed artist with Spectra Music Group and co-founder of the iconic venue "The Station" in East TN. Billy's new album was released by Spectra Records 10/2023 on all major outlets! Learn more about Billy at http://www.BillyHubbard.com
If you'd like to support My Backstage Pass you can make a donation to Billy & Lee's coffee fund at this link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MyBackstagePass
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.