Barrett Smith of Steep Canyon Rangers on Working Together, Sleeping in the Woods and More

Members of Steep Canyon Rangers. Courtest of Steep Canyon Rangers

Strings kicks off their summer season on Friday, June 21, with an impressive array of Grammy winners, award recipients and, perhaps one of the biggest modern names in bluegrass, Steep Canyon Rangers, who are set to perform at Strings on Friday, July 19, at 7 p.m. Throughout their career, the six member band has established themselves as prominent artists not only in the bluegrass genre but Americana as a whole. They’ve closely collaborated with banjoist Steve Martin, were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2017, and won a Grammy in 2013. Their Strings performance is part of a larger tour highlighting their 2023 album “Morning Shift.” Steamboat Magazine sat down with band member Barrett Smith to learn more.

Steamboat Magazine: Have you ever played in Steamboat Springs before, specifically the Strings venue? Do you think its close-knit, smaller atmosphere will change the way you perform?

Barrett Smith:  Yes, we have played there at that venue. I think it was – I would guess – two or three years ago. It was a really special night. Definitely, the intimacy of the venue completely changed the way we played. The audience is so warm and attentive and it really brings out the best in us, I would say.

SM: You play the bass, guitar and the vocals, but that’s just one member out of six. What are some strategies that you all use to work together and communicate effectively on and off the stage?

BS: Well this band has been together for 20-something years and has really kind of grown up together. So I really think the way we communicate and work together in general is like a family. It has organically evolved over all of these years so we all have these really comfortable ways of interacting with each other.

SM: What’s your favorite part about playing bluegrass?

BS: I’d say just having the opportunity to make a living playing music at all is something we’re all really grateful for and love. Bluegrass is especially significant because it comes from our hometown region in the Southeast U.S. We get to feel like a part of the bluegrass history and that feels really good. It feels great to bring that to Colorado because they have a really appealing history and take on bluegrass. We’ve always loved coming to Colorado as they have such an appreciation of it.

SM: How has your relationship with music and/or as a band changed over the years following your rising popularity?

BS: Well, I’d say that over the course of 20-something years each member of the band has changed immensely just like the person changes immensely. Our relationships have changed, so if the music wasn’t changing it wouldn’t be sincere or real. The music has changed as a function of what has been inspiring and beautiful to us. We’ve always followed what we want to do and make the art we want to make. We’ve always done what we thought was right and beautiful. In terms of rising popularity, it’s really given us opportunities to learn from great artists and environments. We’ve had more tools to work with.

SM: What song off of your new album, “Morning Shift,” resonates with you the most?

BS: There’s a song called “Recommend Me” that seems to, as much as any song on the album, reflect the magic of the making of the album. We all moved into a cabin in the middle of the woods for a week to create the music. The album was a product of that distinct atmosphere. That song has the magic of that time for us and puts us back in that place.

To buy tickets, visit https://stringsmusicfestival.com/event/steep-canyon-rangers/