This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
STATE COLLEGE — The sweet, high lonesome sound of bluegrass will echo through State College as the acclaimed Steep Canyon Rangers make their much-anticipated stop on their national tour on Thursday, June 19, at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre.
Hailing from the heart of North Carolina, the Rangers are set to bring their genre-bending brand of Americana to central Pennsylvania, delivering a show that promises to be anything but ordinary.
Formed in the early 2000s at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the Steep Canyon Rangers have been captivating audiences for more than two decades. Though rooted firmly in bluegrass tradition, the band has made a name for itself by pushing boundaries, blending folk, Americana and even a dash of rock into their sound.
“This band is a full-time job,” bassist for the Steep Canyon Rangers, Barrett Smith, said. “Some of us do other things on the side, but this is what we do. We tour. We record. We perform.”
While the band boasts a rich catalog of original music, they are perhaps best known for their long-standing collaboration with comedian and banjo player Steve Martin. For nearly 15 years, the Rangers have been Steve Martin’s go-to band, accompanying him on tours and recordings.
“Steve takes his music very seriously,” Smith said. “It’s not a novelty act. He’s a talented and dedicated musician, and we just kind of became his main collaborators over time.”
Their upcoming show in State College came about thanks to a bit of tour logistics and a whole lot of curiosity.
“Geographically, it just made sense,” Smith explained. “But more than that, towns like State College are really interesting to us. We don’t have much history there, but coming from a college town ourselves, we’ve found those places tend to be some of our favorite stops.”
Fans can expect a dynamic and evolving setlist.
“We change it up every night,” Smith said. “We make the setlist a couple of hours before the show, but we don’t always stick to it. We feel the room, the energy and decide what’s going to make it a really special night.”
Though the Steep Canyon Rangers have seen their sound evolve over the years, they’ve never strayed far from their bluegrass roots. Albums like “Arm in Arm” and “Morning Shift” represent the band’s more adventurous departures from traditional bluegrass, incorporating elements of Americana and stretching the genre’s boundaries.
“Early on, we were strict traditionalists,” Smith said. “We wanted to play the traditional bluegrass festivals, stick to the script. But as time went on, we followed different inspirations. We added a drummer, which in some circles is kind of against the rules for bluegrass, but we feel like evolving the genre is important for its survival.”
Despite the genre-bending, Smith insists their identity remains intact.
“We’re a bluegrass band — that’s what we tell people when they ask. But we’re also always evolving. Even when we experiment, backstage before every show you’ll find us picking traditional bluegrass tunes. That’s our foundation.”
For Smith and his bandmates, bluegrass wasn’t necessarily a family tradition, but rather a passion they discovered in their youth.
“Most of us grew up in the Carolinas. We didn’t come from family bands or anything, but we found bluegrass through different avenues. For me, it was Doc Watson. For others, it was discovering that Jerry Garcia played banjo. Once we got exposed to the real, raw acoustic sound, we were hooked.”
When asked about bluegrass’s resurgence, Smith pointed to recent cultural shifts and breakout artists.
“The genre’s popularity ebbs and flows. ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ was a big moment for bluegrass 20 years ago. More recently, artists like Billy Strings have brought new energy to the scene. It’s always changing, but bluegrass is a constant part of American music.”
Smith believes bluegrass resonates in certain regions more than others.
“We definitely do well in the Appalachian states: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. But oddly enough, we’ve also found great audiences out west in places like Colorado, Montana, Wyoming. Something about mountain living seems to connect people to this music.”
Of course, touring isn’t without its challenges. For the Rangers, the balancing act lies in honoring tradition while pushing creative boundaries.
“There are unwritten rules in bluegrass,” Smith said. “Sticking to them means a lot to some people. But we also want to stretch the genre, bring in new ideas. That’s a constant challenge: winning over traditionalists while also reaching new audiences.”
As the band gears up for their State College show, they are looking forward to connecting with the local crowd.
“It’s going to be a special night,” Smith said. “We love college towns. High energy, high intelligence crowds. We’re going to give them a show that’s memorable, inspiring and a whole lot of fun.”
For fans of bluegrass, Americana or simply great live music, the Steep Canyon Rangers’ visit to State College is not to be missed.
After all, as Smith puts it: “We’re in the business of giving people a good time. That’s what live music is all about.”
The Steep Canyon Rangers’ State College show is scheduled for Thursday, June 19. For tickets and more information, visit thestatetheatre.org or steepcanyon.com.
