Article Contributed by IVPR
Published on January 8, 2026
Photo: Courtesy of Steep Canyon Rangers
“Feeling strong as a speeding train flying full steam ahead,” sing Grammy winners Steep Canyon Rangers in the opening lines of their latest single, “Circling The Drain.” For more than two decades now, the North Carolina sextet has been moving at a breakneck pace, inspired and active both on stage and in the studio, and it’s time for them to once again jump headlong into a new year of carrying on the Carolina sound for which they’re loved.
Steep Canyon Rangers have recently announced a slew of Winter and Spring tour dates from coast to coast, including joining back up with Steve Martin and Martin Short for their hilarious, music-filled stage show. Kicking off next week at Rocky Mount, Virginia’s Harvester Performance Center, January will take the band down through Louisiana and into Texas. From there, over the next four months, the Rangers will visit California for a five-day run, head back down to the Southeast for a few shows—including a stop at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center—and finish things up close to home at the Amphitheater at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Mills River, North Carolina.
“2026 is lining up to be a very exciting year for the Rangers,” says bassist Barrett Smith. “We’ve got a great touring schedule coming together that includes a lot of our favorite festivals and venues. The band feels as fun and strong as it’s ever been. The vibe is good, and we’re all very excited about another great year of making some good music together for our people!” A full list of tour dates can be found below or at steepcanyon.com/tour.
In addition to these newly announced tour dates, Steep Canyon Rangers have been steadily releasing new singles, hinting at more new music to come. For those who’ve yet to check them out, hear the aforementioned, energetic “Circling The Drain” and the harmony-laden, understated groove of “Next Act” today at this link. Be sure to stay tuned into the Rangers’ socials and steepcanyon.com for what’s to come in 2026.
January 16 – Rocky Mount, VA – Harvester Performance Center
January 17 – Greenville, NC – Wright Auditorium
January 22 – Baton Rouge, LA – Manship Theatre: Shaw Center for the Arts
January 23 – New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah
January 24 – Tomball, TX – Main Street Crossing
January 25 – Dallas, TX – Highland Park United Methodist Church
January 29 – San Antonio, TX – The Majestic Empire Foundation **
January 30 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall **
January 31 – Austin, TX – Bass Concert Hall **
February 20 – Frederick, MD – Weinberg Center for the Arts
February 21 – Easton, MD – Avalon Theatre
February 27 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre **
February 28 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre **
March 4 – Saratoga, CA – Montalvo Arts Center
March 5 – Berkeley, CA – Freight & Salvage
March 6 – Santa Barbara, CA – Lobero Theatre
March 7 – Arroyo Grande, CA – Clark Center for the Performing Arts
March 8 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
March 13 – Washington, DC – DAR Constitution Hall **
March 14 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theatre **
March 20 – Live Oak, FL – Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
March 21 – Duluth, GA – Red Clay Music Foundry
March 22 – Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
March 26 – Parker, CO – Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center
April 11 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theatre **
April 12 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall **
April 25 – Cleveland, OH – KeyBank State Theatre **
April 26 – Cleveland, OH – KeyBank State Theatre **
May 8 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House
May 21 – Auburn, AL – Ham Amphitheater – Auburn University
May 29 – Mills River, NC – Amphitheater at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
** with Steve Martin & Martin Short
For ticket information, please visit steepcanyon.com/tour.
Steep Canyon Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums, dobro, guitar, and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals.
Over the band’s esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages. In 2013, Nobody Knows You won the GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album, while 2012’s Rare Bird Alert and 2020’s North Carolina Songbook garnered nominations in the same category.
