Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Receive Entertainer of the Year Nomination for the 2012 IBMA Awards

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers were once again recognized for their excellence in Nashville, TN with the 2012 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards (IBMA) nomination for Entertainer of the Year. This marks the group's second nomination in this category. In 2011, Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers were awarded the prestigious Entertainer of the Year trophy at the 22nd Annual IBMA Awards at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

In a genre that prizes musicianship above all else, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have stormed to national prominence with their dynamic stage show, critically acclaimed recordings, inventive and rich lyrics, masterful musicianship, respect for the traditions of bluegrass and a willingness to push the envelope. They continue to perform bluegrass to a larger audience than any other group in the genre, introducing more and more listeners to roots music instrumentation and bluegrass music's rich history.

Filter Magazine commented in a recent feature on Steve Martin stating, "Martin continues to pick up fans and accolades from the music community at large for his compositions, dazzling works that evince both Martin's legendary wit as well as a romanticism only glimpsed in previous mediums in which Martin has worked. More than anything, this is Martin's return to his first love, a hybrid of the brand of comedy he's known for and the music he's spent a lifetime loving."

Following an extensive North American summer tour with sold out shows, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have just added fall dates in support of their GRAMMY® nominated album, Rare Bird Alert (Rounder). Additional tour dates will be announced soon.

Winners for the 2012 Entertainer of the Year will be announced during the 23rd Annual IBMA Awards, hosted by Del McCoury and Laurie Lewis, on Sept. 27, 2012 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

8/22/2012 Las Vegas, NV Reynolds Hall - The Smith Center for the Performing Arts
8/23/2012 San Diego, CA Humphrey's
8/24/2012 Temecula, CA Pechanga Resort and Casino
8/25/2012 Davis, CA Mondavi Center
8/26/2012 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
8/28/2012 Chico, CA California State University Chico - Laxson Auditorium
8/29/2012 Livermore, CA Wente Vineyards
8/30/2012 Modesto, CA Gallo Center for the Arts
8/31/2012 Palm Desert, CA McCallum Theatre For the Performing Arts
9/1/2012 Los Angeles, CA Pantages Theatre
*11/3/2012 Easton, PA State Theatre Center For the Arts
*11/13/2012 Anchorage, AK Atwood Concert Hall
*11/14/2012 Anchorage, AK Atwood Concert Hall

To purchase tickets and for more information on Steve Martin, including message boards, tour dates and more, please visit www.stevemartin.com.