Comedy legend and banjo boss Steve Martin lit up NPR’s Tiny Desk with his bluegrass crew, the Steep Canyon Rangers. The seven-piece band brought charm, chops, and country vibes to a 16-minute set that’s racked up nearly 5 million YouTube views.
Martin kicked things off with lightning-fast banjo work, then eased into folksy flair, letting fiddle player Nicky Sanders and the rest of the gang shine. Between songs, Martin’s signature humor had the crowd in stitches.
Though best known for laughs, Martin’s banjo game is no joke. He’s jammed with greats like Earl Scruggs and still keeps pace with the best of them.
Since teaming up in 2009, Martin and the Rangers have dropped two chart-topping albums—Rare Bird Alert and The Long-Awaited Album—earning Grammy nods and fan love along the way. Their NPR set proves it: this isn’t just a side gig—it’s a bluegrass blast.
