Canyon Rangers Celebrate Entertainer of the Year Nomination for the 2012
IBMA Awards
Nashville, Tenn.— Setting a goal and achieving it
is a wondrous thing, especially when the goal is to be the best. Bluegrass
band Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers realized that goal in 2011
when they were awarded the prestigious Entertainer of the Year trophy at
the 22nd Annual International Bluegrass Music Association Awards at
Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. At 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, Martin
and SCR were once again recognized for their excellence and received the
2012 IBMA nomination in that same coveted
category.
In a genre that prizes musicianship
above all else, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have stormed to
national prominence imbuing their stage show and recordings with raw
talent, respect for the traditions of bluegrass and a willingness to push
the envelope. They continue to perform bluegrass to a larger audience than
any other group in the genre, introducing more and more listeners to roots
music instrumentation and bluegrass music’s rich history.
Earlier this year, SCR recorded their Rounder
Records debut Nobody Knows You with producer Gary Paczosa. The
album, released April 10, 2012, has enjoyed critical acclaim from
mainstream outlets, such as The New York Times and Paste
Magazine, who recognize the scope of the band’s audience has
grown beyond genre boundaries thanks in part to their collaborations with
entertainment icon Martin. Nobody Knows You remains on
Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart more than four months
after release.
The album is noted for its beauty both in its recorded and packaged
form. Graphic design by Bedrock MFG received a 2012 IBMA nomination for
“Best Graphic Design” for their contribution.
The
Steep Canyon Rangers will continue touring with Steve Martin this fall in
celebration of last year’s Rare Bird Alert, while fitting in dates
independently to support Nobody Knows You. The Mountain Song
Festival, the band’s annual benefit for the Transylvania Boys and
Girls Club, is enjoying both land and sea versions this year. The band’s previous efforts
have gifted the Club with over a quarter of a million dollars and thanks to
the band’s continued efforts to grow the festival, the Club will
receive more annualcontributions and ongoing support.
Recognition in successive years from theIBMA for the
Steep Canyon Rangers come as no surprise to anyone who’s spent time
with this well-grounded ensemble. These nominations validate the hard work
and creativity of this unique band of “brothers.” The Steep
Canyon Rangers are heralding a new era of bluegrass with both their
artistic contributions and their service-minded approach to investing
themselves holistically in their performances.
Winners for Entertainer of the Year will be announced during the
23rd Annual IBMA Awards, hosted by Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis, on Sept. 27, 2012 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville,
Tenn.
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