Steep Canyon Rangers have revealed “Heart’s the Only Compass” featuring Steve Martin, the third track from their forthcoming 15th studio album ‘Next Act’, out May 22 on Yep Roc Records. Songwriter Graham Sharp explains, “It’s natural to look back at history, especially our personal history, and feel like things turned out in a way that makes perfect sense. After hearing some stories of my grandparents’ younger days and seeing people around me learning about their family history through DNA tests, it struck me just how much of a crapshoot it is. When every daily choice seems monumental, it feels good to think that the generations before us didn’t know what they were doing anymore than we do. And the best you can do is follow your heart.” Recorded by Julian Dreyer at Echo Mountain Recording in Asheville, North Carolina, and produced by Mike Ashworth and Steep Canyon Rangers, ‘Next Act’ represents a return to the band’s bluegrass roots, reclaiming the music that first shaped them while drawing strength from tradition and continuing to write new chapters within it.
The album features guest appearances by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell on “Halfway to Reno” and Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae on “Hard Times”. The previously released title track “Next Act” stands as a stirring anthem of reinvention, showcasing the Rangers’ signature blend of bluegrass and Americana with rootsy storytelling, rich harmony-laden arrangements, and soulful musicianship anchored by Aaron Burdett’s commanding lead vocal. “Circling the Drain”, also previously released, highlights the band’s signature mix of high energy precision and instrumental brilliance. Inspired in part by Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Demon Copperhead, Sharp’s songwriting channels a sense of precarity and forward momentum. In support of ‘Next Act’, the band will embark on a 27-date tour run spanning February through June, bringing their bluegrass sound to theaters, festivals, and performing arts centers across the country. The run includes a series of dates with Steve Martin & Martin Short, a symphonic evening with the Nashville Symphony, and festival appearances including MerleFest, Kerrville Folk Festival, and RockyGrass.
Tour Dates:
February 20 – Weinberg Center for the Arts – Frederick, MD
February 21 – Avalon Theatre – Easton, MD
February 27 – Miller High Life Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
February 28 – Orpheum Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
March 4 – Montalvo Arts Center – Saratoga, CA
March 5 – The Freight – Berkeley, CA
March 6 – Lobero Theatre – Santa Barbara, CA
March 7 – Clark Center for the Performing Arts – Arroyo Grande, CA
March 8 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA
March 13 – DAR Constitution Hall – Washington, DC
March 14 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA
March 20 – Suwanee Spring Reunion 2026 – Live Oak, FL
March 21 – Red Clay Music Foundry – Duluth, GA
March 26 – Parker Arts, Culture & Events – Parker, CO
March 27 – Phil Long Music Hall – Colorado Springs, CO
April 11 – Johnny Mercer Theatre – Savannah, GA
April 12 – BJCC Concert Hall – Birmingham, AL
April 24 – Merlefest – Wilkesboro, NC
April 25-26 – KeyBank State Theatre – Cleveland, OH
May 6 – Schermerhorn Symphony Center – Nashville, TN
May 7 – Hendricks Live – Plainfield, IN
May 8 – Stoughton Opera House – Stoughton, WI
May 21 – Ham Amphitheater – Auburn University – Auburn, AL
May 23 – Kerrville Folk Festival – Kerrville, TX
May 29 – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Mills River, NC
June 26 – Big Ponderoo Music + Art Festival – Sisters, OR
July 26-27 – RockyGrass – Lyons, CO