Article Contributed by Milestone Publicity
Published on 2026-04-17
Album artwork: Courtesy of The Steppers | Art by Neva Wilder
There are bands that dabble in the jamgrass world, and then there are bands determined to kick the doors wide open. The Steppers, the fast-rising Oklahoma City trio known for high-octane picking and adventurous live shows, have announced their forthcoming 11-track album The Lights Are Always On, due Friday, June 26. Alongside the announcement, the band has released the project’s lead single, “Told You.”
A fast-picking, hard-driving psychedelic string trio made up of Jake Tobey (guitar, vocals), Theran Lantz (mandolin, vocals), and Lawson Popejoy (bass, vocals), The Steppers stretch their sound from tender to ferocious, weaving sharp songwriting with fearless musicianship that refuses to sit still. Rooted in bluegrass tradition while embracing improvisational rock, funk, and folk, the band continues carving out its own lane in the modern string-band scene.
“Told You” serves as an emotional introduction to the new record, inspired by a late-night argument and the lingering sting of words that cannot be taken back.
The band shares, “Told You is the most haunting phrase in any relationship. It’s a phrase that has turned even the warmest of days ice cold. This song tells the story of those late-night arguments when you just can’t seem to get it right. Lines are blurred, memory’s gone. How did it go wrong, and is there a way to make it right?”
The Lights Are Always On marks a defining moment for The Steppers, capturing a band stepping fully into its identity both musically and professionally. Written within a concentrated creative burst, the album reflects a more intentional approach to songwriting and arrangement, emphasizing the drive, punch, and precision longtime fans have witnessed onstage. The record balances tight composition with exploratory jams, establishing The Steppers as serious pickers while continuing to push the boundaries of jamgrass.
“Our past albums sounded mostly like songwriters with a string band twist,” the band explains. “This time we wanted to show the drive and punch we can have, establishing ourselves as real pickers within the scene.”
Inspired by artists who honor bluegrass tradition while pushing it forward, the group expanded their sonic palette by recording as a full five-piece, bringing banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass, and fiddle together with greater precision and purpose. The result, in their words, is “fast, fun, and punchy.”
After introducing their heartfelt songwriting on 2025’s Head Over Hills, The Steppers steadily refined their identity through touring and subsequent releases. With this new record, they sound like a band arriving exactly where they were headed all along.
Years of relentless gigging—from bars and pizza parlors to festival stages alongside Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Del McCoury—have forged a near-telepathic connection between the musicians. The stage remains their natural habitat, where improvisation and audience energy merge into one shared flow state.
THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON TRACKLISTING
24 Hour America
Everyone’s A Criminal
Top End
Pituophis Paradise
Told You
Perpetual Tones
Off The Rails
Days Gone By
Union Pacific Payroll
Green Lights
Long Way From Home
CATCH THE STEPPERS LIVE
Friday, April 3 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
Wednesday, April 8 – Santa Fe, NM – Tumbleroot Brewing
Thursday, April 9 – Albuquerque, NM – Canteen Brewhouse
Saturday, April 11 – Del Norte, CO – Trade & Post
Thursday, April 16 – Denver, CO – Velvet Banjo
Friday, April 17 – Palisade, CO – Palisades Bluegrass Bash
Saturday, April 18 – Humboldt, KS – Owl Creek Jamboree
Friday, April 24 – Lincoln, NE – 1867
Thursday, May 7 – Fayetteville, AR – Prairie Street Live
Friday, May 8 – Conway, AR – King’s Live Music
Saturday, May 9 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick
Wednesday, May 13 – Greenville, SC – Smiley’s On The Roxx
Thursday, May 14 – Asheville, NC – One Stop at Asheville Music Hall
Friday, May 15 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Suck Bang Blow
Saturday, May 16 – Roswell, GA – From The Earth Brewing
Sunday, May 31 – Norman, OK – Summer Breeze At The Depot
Friday, June 5 – Fort Smith, AR – 906 Lounge
Saturday, June 6 – Little Rock, AR – Four Quarter Bar
Friday, June 19 – Bevington, IA – Bevington Bluegrass Fest
Saturday, June 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Resonant Head
Wednesday, July 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon
Saturday, July 25 – Salida, CO – Tres Litros Beer Co.
Friday, July 31 – Harrah, OK – Okie State Room
Saturday, August 1 – Pauls Valley, OK – The Grille
Tuesday, August 28 – Hendersonville, NC – Oklawaha Brewing Co.
