How did we do it: Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers
Graham Sharp is a member of Steep Canyon Rangers. File photo
During his recent solo album release show at 185 King St. in Brevard, singer-songwriter Graham Sharp was not only surrounded by a murderers’ row of bluegrass musicians; he was encapsulated by time and place itself — of people, purpose and passion.
“It was sort of a recalibration,” Sharp said of the performance. “When the Rangers play a show, everything’s tight and arranged. But, with this, everything is brand new. You don’t really know how these songs will work live or where they’re going to go [musically].”
The “Rangers,” as in Steep Canyon Rangers, the Grammy-winning group that Sharp founded 25 years ago in the dorms while a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As the de facto leader of the Rangers, Sharp, now 48, has successfully navigated the choppy waters of the music industry, with the band now regarded as one of the premier acts in the Americana and bluegrass realms.
“I’m lucky enough to be in a group of guys that just love each other,” Sharp said. “For me, it’s a humbling experience with music. You’re [always] trying to get better. You’re looking at all the heroes [of] bluegrass and songwriting — these people inspire you. It’s what keeps you humble, keeps you hungry.”
To note, the Rangers will be taking the stage on Thursday, May 29, at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. The event is free and open to the public. This will also be the first time the Rangers have played their hometown since Hurricane Helene last fall.
“I remember the first time we did the [Pack Square] show. It was coming out of the COVID lockdown [in 2021],” Sharp said. “The whole thing was everybody getting together and resetting the vibe. And, coming out of Helene, I think that’s the feeling again. We’re just there to set the scene for some positive feelings, some community, some support — there’s so many people that need support right now.”
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Regarding Sharp’s solo endeavors, the packed-out Brevard gig was a moment for the storied banjoist/vocalist to look in the rearview mirror, to take inventory of the road to the here and now — this whirlwind journey of sound and experiences, of endless miles along the unforgiving road of life, family and dreams.
Smoky Mountain News: The title of your new solo album is “How Did We Do It.” There’s interpretations with everything, but I would surmise that it’s a love letter to your wife?
Graham Sharp: Yeah, totally. And kind of looking back and being like, “We’ve come a long way." There’s always challenges to whatever you do, to make a living and raise a family and what not. Looking back now, I think about those early years of having a family and what it demanded of us.
[Back then], I was touring full-time. She was teaching school full-time. We had two toddlers. Just the same thing a lot of people go through, but while you’re in the middle of it, you can’t catch your breath, much less gain any kind of perspective on it.
You’re just trying to stay above water. And now, my kids are a bit older and you look back — we made it through, we all survived and are doing pretty darn well.
SMN: And that timeline of your relationship with your wife pretty much aligns perfectly with the timeline of the Rangers.
GS: [Laugh]. It really does. I met my wife and met the band in maybe the same month [while in college]. It was a good month.
SMN: This year is the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Rangers. What really sticks out in your mind about those early years?
GS: We were just eating [music]. I see kids now, and I see them feeling the same way we did then, which is just being eaten up with it. You can’t get enough of it. You go to the festival and you’re up until sunrise playing music, then you’re back up doing it again the next day and the next day.
Then, we moved to Asheville and had a house above the Charlotte Street Pub. It was the same thing, it was like music camp every single day. We had some great people help us along the way. But, for the most part, we were trying to figure it out ourselves. And I think that maybe left some gaps in our knowledge, but it also left us a lot of room to be ourselves.
There will always be challenges, but we’ve been able to come through the fires that a young band or any band faces. The music industry isn’t getting any easier. But, I feel we’re in a position where we’ve done this before, we’ve had challenges and we’ve risen to meet them.
I look back at the Rangers with so much gratitude. We’ve managed to do this for so long. To make a living and make art? What a privilege that is. And I never saw it coming, you know? All we knew about it was to put our heads down and work hard.
Want to go?
A Grammy-winning Americana/bluegrass act, the Steep Canyon Rangers will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville.
Steep Canyon Rangers. File photo
The Pack Square show is free and open to the public. Singer-songwriter Sam Burchfield will open the concert.
As well, the Rangers will perform with the Brevard Festival Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at the Brevard Music Center. For tickets, visit brevardmusic.org.
For more information on the Rangers, visit steepcanyon.com.
