Interview: Graham Sharp from Steep Canyon Rangers

KGNU DJ Neil Smart interviews Graham Sharp of the Steep Canyon Rangers discussing the band’s early days, winning the RockyGrass band competition, and how consistency and unexpected opportunities helped their success. Graham also talks about their show on January 29th with Peter Rowan and his past experience performing with him. (Interview date: 1/4/2025)

Neil Smart: I am going to be joined by Graham Sharp of the Steep Canyon Rangers. Good morning, Graham.

Graham Sharp: Hey, Neil. How you doing?

Neil Smart: I’m doing amazing. So good to talk to you. You got a big show coming up here on the 29th of January at the Boulder Theater with some guy named Peter Rowan. 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, amazing. Yeah, I know. All of our favorite things packed into one night, Peter Rowan and the Boulder Theater all together. 

Neil Smart: Yes, indeed. And your history with our area goes back a long ways. I remember some very young folks hitting the main stage in Lions at RockyGrass after winning the band competition the previous year. That was right around the turn of the century, wasn’t it? About 2001 ish? 

Graham Sharp: I think that’s about right. I think we first started coming out, making a yearly pilgrimage toward rocky grass, probably around 96 or 97. And somehow, yeah, somehow kept working at it, kept working at it, won that band competition. And that was a big moment for the Steve Canyon Rangers. We were just a ragtag part time crew then. And when we won that band competition, it was a real kick in the pants.

Neil Smart: It has been a springboard for a whole lot of bands. You’ve had a a number of serendipitous things happen with winning Rocky Grass and then running into and meeting some guy named Steve Martin and doing all of those things. Funny how that stuff works out, isn’t it? 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, it really is, and so much else has happened, I think just being, I think longevity has a lot to do with it and just being consistent. And then you find yourself in the right place at the right time and you’re ready to take advantage of it, and that’s, we’ve been really fortunate, like you say, in that way.

Neil Smart: Yeah, and sometimes you’re, what, playing a wedding or something and somebody happens to be there and hear you? 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, it’s been a minute since we’ve done too many weddings, but yeah it’s, there’s I think that’s a good way to look at it. You approach every show, every time you put yourself out there, it’s like a real opportunity. And you always want to put your best foot forward, no matter if you’re playing at a farmer’s market or at the Ryman.

Neil Smart: And you never really know who in the audience needs what song when. Sometimes folks just need that song and you’ve made a friend for life.

Graham Sharp: It’s so true, that’s really been the, one of the coolest parts of it, for me, it’s one of the guys who writes most of the songs for the band, people respond to a song or the words and that’s as much as any recognition or whatever, that’s really the best part.

Neil Smart: I would be remiss if I didn’t check on you after the hurricane. You and yours all okay there in North Carolina? 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we are. We are. Yeah, I’ve just been I’m in the car right now. I’ve been driving and just, as you drive, especially in the winter when the leaves are down, you can really survey a lot of the damage. It’s widespread and where I live and in Asheville, we’re still suffering a lot of the effects from it. We obviously have water and power back now, but just so much of the work people have put into that community really took a hard hit. So we’re doing well and the band’s lucky. Everybody in the band came through it okay, as far as our people and our homes and all that stuff. Yeah, thanks. 

Neil Smart: That’s a beautiful part of the world. I’ve spent a little time there myself and Asheville and Boulder have a lot in common, I believe.

Graham Sharp: They do. They feel like real kindred spirits as far as that goes. I think that’s a big reason why we were always been drawn to Boulder because it feels a lot like where we live. 

Neil Smart: Yes, indeed. Folks, January 29th at the Boulder Theater, a venue you have played many times at this point, Graham. With Peter Rowan, the Steep Canyon Rangers. Folks, that’s going to be a huge show. You’ve done shows with Peter before, haven’t you? 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, we have. It’s been a few years since we did some stuff with him, but we did. We had him come and guest for a couple nights with us here in Asheville and Peter’s fun. Everybody prepares in different ways and it’s really neat to see how Peter comes into a show and how he works with collaborations because as you can imagine, he’s really loose and wants to just really be in the moment and, you can rehearse something with him, but that has really almost no bearing with how it goes in the show. You’re really encouraged and forced to really listen intently and really follow him and sometimes lead. But always just be in the moment, which is really exciting. 

Neil Smart: Rehearsal’s kind of a guideline. 

Graham Sharp: Yeah, it kinda is, it’s, yeah, it’s just a very loose, it’s just a very loose guide for how it’s gonna go. That’s cool. I think our band, we played enough together that we really respond well to that kind of setting where we can be light on our feet. And Peter Rowan, what a history. What a great batch of songs. It’s a real honor, a real privilege to meet up with him. 

Neil Smart: It will be a great night of music, folks and maybe some things you will never see again, which is the beauty of live music. I believe that happens almost every night, on almost every stage, something that will never ever happen again.

Graham Sharp: Yep, that’s what you’re going for. I’m going for that moment. Yeah, I’ve been looking, we’ve been looking forward to getting back to Boulder for a long time. Yeah, the 29th at the Boulder Theater. We can’t wait, man. 

Neil Smart: It’s gonna be a good one, folks. Graham, I’m gonna let you go because I know you’re driving. Just great talking to you and glad you called in this morning. Thank you so much. And, folks do get to the Boulder Theater on the 29th of January. Steep Canyon Rangers, you know them, you love them. We’ve been playing their music here on KGNU for over 20 years now. Get out there and we all know Peter he’s here so often. Get out, enjoy the show on the 29th. Graham, thank you so much for calling in this morning. I know traveling and traffic and all of that gets crazy out there on the road. Do be careful and we will see you on the 29th. 

Graham Sharp: I can’t wait, man. Thanks for having me on here today, Neil. I really appreciate it. 

Neil Smart: Thanks a million, Graham. I can’t wait to see you later on this month.

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Evanie Gamble

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