Burdett joins Steep Canyon Rangers

An Americana/folk singer-songwriter and performer from Western North Carolina, Burdett replaced former lead singer/guitarist Woody Platt, who announced his departure in April to spend more time with his family. With top awards in multiple songwriting competitions hosted by the likes of MerleFest, The USA Songwriting Competition, Mountain Stage, the NC Songwriter's Co-op, and Our State Magazine, his last four albums have been voted top 20 Albums of the Year by WNCW radio listeners.

"Aaron showed up on our radar late in the audition process, and we were all struck by the honesty and power of his music," said the band in a joint statement. "He arrives as an exceptional North Carolina artist in his own right, and our connection feels fresh and familiar at the same time. His talent as a singer and songwriter is already pushing the band to new heights."

"I got the call out of the blue from SCR on a Monday morning a couple of months ago, and although I'd never imagined collaborating with them, the closer I looked at it, the better fit it seemed to be," said Burdett "And as we've tested the waters and played gigs and traveled and hung out together, that feeling has only grown and solidified. It's a dream come true to have an opportunity to play with musicians of this caliber and at this level. We already sound really good together, and I can't wait to see where we are a year from now."

SCR has a new album in the works and a full schedule of upcoming shows.

The band consists of Graham Sharp (vocals/banjo), Mike Guggino (vocals/mandolin/mandola), Nicky Sanders (vocals/fiddle), Mike Ashworth (vocals/drums), Barrett Smith (vocals/bass), and Burdett (vocals/guitar).

The three-time Grammy nominees formed in 2000 while students at the University of North Caroline. SCR has released 13 studio albums, three collaborative albums with actor/banjoist Steve Martin and were inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. In 2013, "Nobody Knows You" won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.