Island hosts
 Steep Canyon

Steep Canyon Rangers

An evening of bluegrass music with the Steep Canyon Rangers willbe hosted by the town’s Recreation Department on Saturday, January16 at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium.

This young, energetic band has played at over 100 venues in thepast year, including a stint with comedian/banjoist Steve Martinand a month-long tour in Germany. A show with Mr. Martin andbluegrass legend Ralph Stanley at Carnegie Hall put the spotlighton a band whose time, reviewers say, has come.

According to concert organizer Tom Hashagen, “This terrificyoung band plays a variety of songs that stay close to thetraditional roots of the genre but … also takes extended foraysstretching the boundaries of contemporary bluegrass.

Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, the Rangers have beenplaying together for about 10 years and have built a reputation asan engaging acoustic quintet. Before being nominated for twointernational bluegrass awards in 2008 (including album of theyear), they were named Emerging Artist of the Year at theInternational Bluegrass Music Association awards in Nashville.

Their latest release, “Deep in the Shade, on Rebel Records isclimbing the Billboard Bluegrass chart, and a song from the album,”The Mountain’s Gonna Sing, was picked by NPR as one of the year’stop 10 folk songs.

The group appears regularly on the Grand Ole Opry as well as atmajor bluegrass festivals, including Telluride, MerleFest and RockyGrass. The versatile musicians also often perform at rock venues onthe jam-band circuit.

All seats for the Shelter Island performance are reserved andrange from $20 to $30 per ticket. They can be purchased online atbrownpapertickets.com/event/89822or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Closer to home, call Garth Griffin atthe FIT Center, 749-0978; or Tom Hashagen at 749-2355 or631-365-1979.