For Immediate Release Contact: Diane Maxwell,

September 26, 2011 408-961-5841

MIGHTY FINE PICKIN’ AND SINGIN’ AT MONTALVO:

STEEP CANYON RANGERS

Chart-topping acoustic bluegrass ensemble appears October 27

“One of the most engaging string bands around.” —The Washington Post

SARATOGA, Calif. –Montalvo Arts Center brings premiere bluegrass entertainment to its 2011-2012 Carriage House Concert Series with Steep Canyon Rangers, appearing on Thursday, October 27, at 7:30 p.m.

One of today’s top acoustic ensembles, Steep Canyon Rangers remains true to its bluegrass/country roots and yet creates a powerful new brand of music. Nominated for Album and Gospel Performance of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2008, the group continued its success in 2010 with their solo record Deep In The Shade, which remained on Billboard’s Bluegrass Top 10 for 18 weeks. In March 2011, the band released its first collaborative record, Rare Bird Alert, featuring famed comedian and author Steve Martin on banjo, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart. Recently, the Rangers were nominated together with Steve Martin for this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (Rare Bird Alert) and Instrumental Song of the Year (Rare Bird Alert).

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While headlining festivals like MerleFest and Bonnaroo alongside Steve Martin for part of each year, the Rangers continue to perform alone as a quintet on such stages as Telluride, RockGrass, and “A Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor.They have made recent appearances on the Ellen Degeneres and Conan O’Brien television talk shows.

The Steep Canyon Rangers emerged in 2001 as collegiate picking-buddies from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. With smooth vocals, smart songwriting, ferocious instrumentals and jaw-dropping harmony, they are bringing bluegrass to music lovers across the USA and around the world. The Rangers areMike Guggino (mandolin/vocals), Charles Humphrey III (bass/vocals), Woody Platt (guitar/lead vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle/vocals), and Graham Sharp (banjo/vocals). .

STEEP CANYON RANGERS What: Mighty fine acoustic bluegrass, continuing Montalvo’s Fall/Winter Carriage House Concert Series. When:Thursday, October 27, 2011, 7:30 p.m. Where: Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, CA 95071. Admission: $40/$35 general public; $36/$31 Montalvo members. Purchase tickets at montalvoarts.org, ticketmaster.org, or call the Montalvo Box Office at 408-961-5858, Monday through Friday from 10a.m. to 4p.m. Box Office is also open one hour prior to performance.

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About Montalvo Arts Center Montalvo Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to forging meaningful connections between art, artists and the communities it serves through creation, presentation and education in extraordinary ways and settings. Located in Silicon Valley's Saratoga hills, Montalvo Arts Center occupies a Mediterranean-style villa on 175 stunning acres, including an international artist residency program. Senator James Phelan left the historic villa and grounds to the people of California for the encouragement of art, music, literature and architecture. In January 2005, the organization changed its name from “Montalvo” to “Montalvo Arts Center” to commemorate its 75th year as an arts center and to better communicate its mission to expanding local, national and international audiences. For more information about Montalvo Arts Center, call (408) 961-5800 or visit