Steve Martin & Martin Short, Steep Canyon Rangers

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It’s not often that two guys described as “comedy legends” are as lively and vital as Steve Martin and Martin Short. In addition to their popular Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, the two are touring with the live show “The Dukes of Funnytown,” with fond ribbing, shaggy dog stories, and even banjo playing. One Youtube clip even seemed to suggest there might be some Happy Feet going on. Dare we hope? Also appearing are frequent Steve Martin collaborators Jeff Babko and the Steep Canyon Rangers for down-home bluegrass.

media release: Comedy legends and co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short are bringing “The Dukes of Funnytown!” featuring Jeff Babko and the Steep Canyon Rangers to Overture Hall on Sunday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets ($99-$350) go on-sale Friday, June 7 at 11 a.m. at overture.org.

About Steve Martin and Martin Short

Steve Martin and Martin Short’s “The Dukes of Funnytown!” is a show that redefines the form in unexpected and profound ways, from two of the funniest, most influential and acclaimed talents of the past century. Their humor is often subversive, but it is always a joyous, self-deprecating romp from two comedy masters driven to make each other laugh as much as the audience. The jokes come at you at a rapid-fire pace with little set-up and big punch lines as they mock Hollywood and the fickle nature of celebrity, but the comedy truly soars when they lovingly (and relentlessly) roast each other. Martin and Short’s chemistry and timing on stage reflects a friendship forged over three decades which developed when they met for the first time on the set of the 1986 film “Three Amigos.” These two titans of comedy have been touring together since 2015, when they launched their first live show entitled “A Very Stupid Conversation.”

NOTE TO PATRONS: If you’ve already purchased tickets for this show as part of a subscription, your seats are secured.

In June, GRAMMY Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers unveiled the second single, “Morning Shift (Live)” from Live at Greenfield Lake, the band’s first live album of original material, out August 30 on Yep Roc Records.

Recorded at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, NC on September 29, 2023, the 16-track album is now available for pre-order on digital, CD, and LP. Mixed and pressed at the state-of-the-art audiophile facilities of Citizen Vinyl in the band's hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, lacquers were cut by renowned engineer Jeff Powell of Takeout Vinyl. Housed in a gatefold jacket, the first LP is pressed on deep purple vinyl and the second on yellow vinyl.

From the spellbinding, tender performances of "Recommend Me" and "Birds of Ohio" mixed with blistering, barnburning renditions of "Afterglow" and "Sunny Days," Live at Greenfield Lake exhibits the wide breadth of styles and genres the band tackles in concert, and captures the magic of their onstage chemistry, demonstrating unparalleled harmonies, rich songwriting, and unforgettable performances. 

“This particular Greenfield Lake Amphitheater show is an example of the kind of night that we all dream of as musicians: a beautiful setting, an enthusiastic crowd, and the band is absolutely on fire,” offers Ranger Aaron Burdett. “While these performances do happen, it’s tough to get all of those elements at once. It’s like catching lightning in a bottle. But we did it on September 29 of 2023 and had the good fortune to get it all down on tape. Live SCR is the best SCR by far. Makes me happy and grateful every time I hear this recording.” 

Of the album, Beau Gunn, Presenter/Buyer at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, adds: "Two things are synonymous with North Carolina Music: one is Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, and the other is Steep Canyon Rangers. The magic and music were definitely in the air that night and captured perfectly in this first-ever live release recorded at The Lake." 

As torchbearers of Americana and bluegrass music, the Steep Canyon Rangers have been crafting their unique sound for 25 years. Comprising of Graham Sharp (banjo and vocals), Mike Guggino (mandolin, mandola and vocals), Aaron Burdett (guitar and vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle and vocals), Mike Ashworth (drums, dobro, guitar and vocals), and Barrett Smith (bass, guitar, and vocals), the band’s music blends their Appalachian and Piedmont influences, creating a sound that is uniquely their own. The North Carolina Hall of Fame inductees have gained recognition beyond the bluegrass world, with outlets like Rolling Stone recognizing them as "one of the most sought-after groups in Americana, bluegrass, and indie-folk."

Over the band’s esteemed career, the three-time Grammy nominees have released 14 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin, been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and appeared on some of music’s biggest stages. In 2013, Nobody Knows You won the GRAMMY Award for Best Bluegrass Album, while 2012’s Rare Bird Alert and 2020’s North Carolina Songbook garnered nominations in the same category.