Born on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, Steep Canyon Rangers are an accomplished contemporary bluegrass quintet that has received no small boost in popularity and recognition thanks to hooking up with banjo-playing comedian Steve Martin at the 2008 Mountain Song Festival. Since that initial collaboration, Martin has toured and recorded an album with the Rangers, resulting in the ensemble being awarded this year's IBMA Award for entertainer of the year. But the Rangers are no slouches apart from Martin: Skilled pickers, vocalists and songwriters in their own right, the good-natured fivesome is plenty charming to boot. With Greg Humphreys of Hobex and Dillon Fence. —Spencer Griffith