Gearing up for the release of their fifteenth studio album; not counting the collaborations with renowned bluegrass banjoist Steve Martin, the Steep Canyon Rangers: Graham Sharp (banjo, vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin/mandola, vocals), Aaron Burdett (guitar, vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle, vocals), Mike Ashworth (drums, dobro, guitar, vocals), and Barrett Smith (bass, guitar, vocals) – have spent more than a quarter-century defining a path that bridges bluegrass tradition with contemporary songwriting. From the beginning, the band has balanced a respect for bluegrass tradition with contemporary songwriting shaped by literary influence, regional storytelling, and lived experience.
Today’s single was written by guitarist and vocalist Aaron Burdett; Roll of the Dice offers a reflective meditation on uncertainty and transition. Of the song, he says, “In my early months of traveling with Steep Canyon Rangers, I started this tune, which originally was fairly different from this final version. I was having a lot of complicated feelings. The song evolved into this version after Graham encouraged me to change the first verse to what we ended up recording. It’s thematically broad and non-specific, but I think everyone can connect with the feelings.”
Roll Of The Dice comes from Next Act, which will be out on the 22nd of May.
