Aaron Burdett of Steep Canyon Rangers on Crafting Songs in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Aaron Burdett is a Western North Carolina-based singer-songwriter, guitar player, and one of the lead vocalists for Steep Canyon Rangers.A highly acclaimed musician with eight solo albums to his credit, Aaron is also the founder and owner of Solstice Construction Co., a custom homebuilding firm in Saluda, the small mountain town where he grew up. Blurring the lines between Americana, Folk, Country, and Bluegrass, his solo work is deeply rooted in these mountains, carried by thoughtful songwriting and a soulful voice that made him a natural fit for Steep Canyon Rangers.They’re a Grammy Award-winning bluegrass band that formed in 2000 and are widely known for collaborations with Steve Martin. Aaron joined the group in 2022 following the departure of founding member Woody Platt, and he has quickly become an important part of the band’s evolving creative voice, both on tour and in the studio. He appears on the albums Morning Shift, Live at Greenfield Lake, and Next Act, the band’s latest studio album, which arrives May 22.In this episode, Aaron discusses the stories behind a few songs from the new album; his path to Steep Canyon Rangers; balancing music with a longtime career in homebuilding; how growing up in Western North Carolina has shaped his voice as a singer and songwriter; and much more.Steep Canyon Rangerssteepcanyon.comAaron Burdettaaronburdett.comTracks Featured in this Episode“Next Act” by Steep Canyon Rangers (watch the music video)“Going Home to Carolina” by Aaron BurdettTheme Music for On the Blue RidgeThe song "Goa" was written by Lyndsay Pruett and performed by the Jon Stickley Trio.