DEL NORTE- Oklahoma City–based jamgrass band The Steppers will be performing at Trade & Post in Del Norte on April 11.

 

The Steppers announced their forthcoming 11-track album The Lights Are Always On, set for release on Friday, June 26. Alongside the announcement, they deliver the project’s lead single, “Told You.” 

 

The Steppers blend bluegrass roots with the freewheeling energy of improvisational rock, funk, and folk, creating a sound that honors tradition while pushing beyond genre lines. With Jake Tobey (guitar, vocals), Theran Lantz (mandolin, vocals), and Lawson Popejoy (bass, vocals), the trio has built a reputation for sharp songwriting paired with adventurous, shape-shifting musicianship.

The Steppers announce their forthcoming 11-track album The Lights Are Always On, set for release on Friday, June 26. Alongside the announcement, they deliver the project’s lead single, “Told You.” 

 

Their 2025 debut album, Head Over Hills, introduced fans to heartfelt storytelling wrapped in a string-band backbone, featuring songs that showcase both their roots and their evolving, high-energy live sound. 

 

More recently, the band has continued refining its identity on stage, delivering performances driven by tight harmonies, improvisational interplay, and an unmistakable chemistry forged through years of touring together.

 

A fast-picking, hard-driving psychedelic string trio — Jake Tobey (guitar, vocals), Theran Lantz (mandolin, vocals), and Lawson Popejoy (bass, vocals) — stretches its sound from tender to ferocious, weaving sharp songwriting with adventurous musicianship that refuses to sit still. Known for blending bluegrass tradition with the freewheeling energy of improvisational rock, funk, and folk, The Steppers continue to push beyond genre boundaries while sharpening their identity as dedicated pickers within the modern string-band scene.

 

“Told You” serves as an emotional introduction to The Lights Are Always On, setting the tone for the record’s mix of personal storytelling and driving musicianship. Inspired by a late-night argument that left a single phrase lingering long after the conversation ended.

 

The band shares, “‘Told You’ is the most haunting phrase in any relationship. It’s a phrase that has turned even the warmest of days ice cold. This song tells the story of those late-night arguments when you just can’t seem to get it right. Lines are blurred, memory’s gone. How did it go wrong, and is there a way to make it right?”

 

The Lights Are Always On marks a defining moment for The Steppers, capturing a band stepping fully into its identity both musically and professionally. Written within a concentrated creative window, the album reflects a more intentional approach to songwriting and arrangement, emphasizing the drive, punch, and precision the group has long showcased onstage. The record extends outward, balancing tight composition with exploratory jams, establishing The Steppers as serious pickers while continuing to push the boundaries of the modern jamgrass sound.

 

After introducing their heartfelt songwriting on their 2025 debut album Head Over Hills, The Steppers steadily refined their identity through subsequent releases and touring. The Lights Are Always On sees them return with a renewed focus and intention.

 

“Our past albums sounded mostly like songwriters with a string band twist,” the band explains. “This time we wanted to show the drive and punch we can have, establishing ourselves as real pickers within the scene.”

 

Inspired by artists who honor bluegrass tradition while pushing it forward, The Steppers expanded their sonic palette by recording as a full five-piece, bringing banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass, and fiddle together with greater precision and purpose. The result, in their words, is “fast, fun, and punchy.