Jamgrass Band The Steppers Drop New Single “24-Hour America” Ahead of Album

JAMGRASS BAND
THE STEPPERS
RELEASE NEW SINGLE
“24-HOUR AMERICA”
TODAY

LATEST OFFERING FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM
THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON
OUT FRIDAY, JUNE 26

NASHVILLE, TN (May 6, 2026) — Oklahoma City jamgrass band The Steppers — Jake Tobey (guitar, vocals), Theran Lantz (mandolin, vocals), and Lawson Popejoy (bass, vocals) — release their new single “24-Hour America” today, the sophomore single from their forthcoming third album, the 11-track The Lights Are Always On, due out Friday, June 26. A fast-picking, hard-driving psychedelic string trio, The Steppers fuse sharp songwriting with exploratory musicianship, rooted in bluegrass and shaped by improvisational rock, funk, and folk influences.

“24-Hour America” captures the relentless pace and pressure of modern life with high-energy intensity. The track highlights the band’s evolving sound as they push beyond genre lines and carve out their place in today’s string-band landscape. “It’s about the constant, ongoing rat race of the Western world,” the band explains, channeling that restless momentum into a tightly wound performance that balances technical precision with emotional weight.

STREAM “24-HOUR AMERICA” HERE.
PRE-SAVE / PRE-ADD THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON HERE.

“24-Hour America” follows the release of the album’s lead single, “Told You” (April 2), which introduced the project’s blend 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 can turn even the warmest day ice cold. This song lives in those moments when you just can’t seem to get it right — when lines blur and memory fades.”

The Lights Are Always On marks a pivotal step forward for The Steppers, capturing a band fully settling into its identity both musically and professionally. Written within a concentrated creative window, the album reflects a more deliberate approach to songwriting and arrangement, emphasizing the drive, punch, and precision the group has long showcased onstage. Balancing tight composition with exploratory jams, the record positions The Steppers firmly within the modern jamgrass conversation while continuing to push its boundaries.

After introducing their songwriting on their 2025 debut album Head Over Hills, The Steppers continued to refine their sound through subsequent releases and relentless touring. The Lights Are Always On arrives with a sharper focus and a clear sense of direction. 

Above: ‘The Lights Are Always On’ Album Artwork
Artwork Credit: Neva Wilder

“Our past two albums sounded mostly like songwriters with a string band twist,” the band explains. “This time, we wanted to show the drive and punch we bring as players, 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, incorporating banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass, and fiddle with greater precision and purpose. The result, in their words, is “fast, fun, and punchy.”

THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON TRACKLISTING:
“24-Hour America”
“Green Lights”
“Top End”
“Pituophis Paradise”
“Told You”
“Perpetual Tones”
“Off The Rails”
“Days Gone By”
“Union Pacific Payroll”
“Everyone’s A Criminal”
“Long Way From Home” 

Years of steady gigging — from bars and pizza parlors to festival stages alongside Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Del McCoury — have forged a near-telepathic connection between the band members. The stage remains their natural habitat, where improvisation and audience energy merge into a shared flow state. Currently on the road, The Steppers are bringing their high-speed, high-intensity sound to audiences nationwide.

CATCH THE STEPPERS LIVE:

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit The Steppers website.

Above: The Steppers; Photo Credit: Laura Bardi
(L-R: Jake Tobey, Theran Lantz, and Lawson Popejoy)

THE STEPPERS ONLINE:
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