- Steep Canyon Rangers released a new single, “Heart’s the Only Compass (feat. Steve Martin).”
- Their 15th studio album, Next Act, arrives May 22 on Yep Roc Records.
- Album returns to the band’s bluegrass roots and features guests Edie Brickell and Celia Woodsmith.
- The band launches a 27-date tour including dates with Steve Martin & Martin Short and a night with the Nashville Symphony.
H2: New single features Steve Martin
The Steep Canyon Rangers have shared “Heart’s the Only Compass (feat. Steve Martin),” the first new single from their upcoming album Next Act. The track pairs the band’s signature acoustic drive with a guest turn from actor-comedian and longtime banjo collaborator Steve Martin. The single previews an album that the band says returns to the bluegrass music that first shaped them.
H3: Song inspiration and band comment
Songwriter Graham Sharp says the single grew from reflections on family history and the randomness of life. “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,” Sharp explains. The line of thought informs the single’s title and the album’s themes of reinvention and personal history.
H2: Next Act — album details
Next Act is the Steep Canyon Rangers’ 15th studio album and is due May 22 on Yep Roc Records. The record was recorded by Julian Dreyer and produced by Mike Ashworth alongside the band. Producers and engineers aimed to capture the acoustic clarity and ensemble dynamics that define modern bluegrass while honoring the group’s roots.
H3: Guest appearances and notable tracks
The album features several guest artists: Steve Martin appears on “Heart’s the Only Compass,” Edie Brickell guests on “Halfway to Reno,” and Celia Woodsmith of Della Mae contributes on “Hard Times.” Previously released tracks include the title song “Next Act,” which deals with reinvention, and “Circling the Drain,” inspired in part by Barbara Kingsolver’s novel Demon Copperhead.
H4: Full track list
- Rumble Strips
- Next Act
- Circling the Drain
- Heart’s the Only Compass (feat. Steve Martin)
- Halfway to Reno (feat. Edie Brickell)
- Some Days
- Sugar Lake
- The Kindest Thing
- Hard Times
- Back of Beyond
- Roll of the Dice
- Stubborn Love
- Babylon Stone
- Hard Luck Kid
H2: Tour and live plans
To support Next Act, the Steep Canyon Rangers launch a 27-date tour beginning in February. The itinerary includes shows alongside Steve Martin & Martin Short, an evening with the Nashville Symphony, and festival slots at MerleFest, Kerrville Folk Festival, and RockyGrass. The band plans to promote the album through these headline dates and festival appearances across the spring and summer.
H2: What to expect
Next Act promises a blend of tight harmonies, acoustic instrumentalism, and lyrical storytelling rooted in bluegrass tradition. With high-profile guests and a renewed focus on the music that shaped them, the Steep Canyon Rangers aim to deliver an album for longtime fans and newcomers alike when it arrives May 22.
Image Referance: https://musicrow.com/2026/02/steep-canyon-rangers-slates-next-act-due-in-may/