Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for Steep Canyon Rangers fans and supporters of Asheville's Evergreen Community Charter School. After a remarkable year of success in 2011, the Steep Canyon Rangers kick off 2012 with a fundraiser for that takes place at The Orange Peel (101 Biltmore Avenue).

The Asheville-based quintet has continued to build momentum in recent years. Named Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards, the band went on to be nominated for two IBMA awards in 2008. In March 2011 the band released Rare Bird Alert, a collaboration with Steve Martin, and the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart and No. 43 on the Billboard Top 200. The band also gained notoriety with television appearances on shows such as Austin City Limits, The Colbert Report, and Late Night with David Letterman.

The guys of Steep Canyon Rangers are Mike Guggino (mandolin/vocals), Charles Humphrey III (bass/vocals), Woody Platt (guitar/lead vocals), Nicky Sanders (fiddle/vocals), and Graham Sharp (banjo/vocals). Woody says the band is proud to be playing a benefit concert for Evergreen School. “We are connected to the school through Charles Humphrey, our bass player—his daughter is a student there,” Woody says. “It is a great cause and we are honored to be supporting the youth in our community.”

As the band continues its success, it has headlined various festivals, toured abroad, and continues to travel more. “Playing a hometown show has become more and more rare as our touring has expanded over the years,” Woody says. “Playing The Orange Peel is always very exciting for us."

Evergreen is a kindergarten through eighth-grade public charter school with the mission of being a “learning community committed to the pursuit of excellence in the holistic education of mind, body, and spirit.” The school employs the Expeditionary Learning School (ELS) design model, which originated from Outward Bound. Evergreen offers a commitment to environmental education and its students are taught the traits that equal success in life: quality work, responsibility, resourcefulness, respect for others, tenacity and teamwork.

In addition to the concert, a $100 ticket sets you up with a pre-concert private party called Raise a Glass for Bluegrass. From 7-8:30 p.m. you get food from local restaurants, beer, wine, and champagne, a signed Steep Canyon Rangers CD, and mingling with band members downstairs from The Orange Peel at Pulp. Tickets for Raise a Glass for Bluegrass are available at evergreenccs.org.

Tickets for the January 13 concert at The Orange Peel featuring Steep Canyon Rangers are $20 in advance and $22 day of show. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. Get tickets online at theorangepeel.net.