Harrisonburg, VA
Americana
RIYL: Steep Canyon Rangers, Avett Brothers, Punch Brothers
The Steel Wheels are truly an Americana band, rooted in musical styles that explore the territories between blues and bluegrass, old-time sing-alongs and foot-stompin’ fiddle tunes. They are subtle innovators who respect the past but whistle their own tunes, layering in rich textures and decidedly modern energy to forge a new sound.
“Imagine a blend of the passion of the Avett Brothers, the instrumentals of Old Crow Medicine Show, and then sprinkle in the backwoods feel of The Legendary Shack Shakers. In truth, attempting to compare [The Steel Wheels] to anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch.” – John Walker, Americana Roots
2010 was a breakout year for The Steel Wheels culminating with five nominations from The Independent Music Awards including “Nothing You Can’t Lose” taking top honors as “Best Country Song”. The four-piece band is based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where lead singer and primary songwriter Trent Wagler has been a scene staple for nearly a decade. Multi-instrumentalist Jay Lapp was touring with several successful Midwest bands when he and Wagler crossed paths in Harrisonburg, Virginia and a musical partnership began. The two are joined by upright bassist Brian Dickel and fiddler Eric Brubaker to form The Steel Wheels.
“There is purity and power in the sound of this band that few come close to tapping. Tight pickin’, passionate energy, and Wagler’s voice soars like an eagle.” – Martin Anderson, WNCW Music Director
Wagler’s voice which has been compared to that of Darrell Scott and John Fogerty is accentuated by smooth four-part harmonies. Brubaker’s fiddle, both lively and evocative, suits the band exactly, and Dickel’s upright bass grounds the outfit. Jay Lapp’s signature mandolin style is remarkable and unmistakable.
The band shines exceptionally in their live shows, and their palpable chemistry translates easily to their last album, Red Wing, which garnered critic’s praise and was met with tremendous success on the radio. It spent 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 40 radio charts, topping out at #15 as well as cracking the top 10 of the EuroAmericana charts. Red Wing ranked #70 of the top 100 Americana albums of 2010 and #2 of all independent releases (Americana Music Association).
The Steel Wheels have quickly built a following across the US and Canada that appreciates the honest and deceptively simple sound. They have appeared at Americana festivals such as the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Floydfest, Albino Skunk Music Festival, Smoky Hill River Festival, Atlanta Dogwood, Folk Alliance, Appalachian Uprising and many more. In addition they have headlined at venues such as NPR’s Mountain Stage, Eddie’s Attic, The Ark, Bluebird Café, Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse, Club Passim, and Calgary Folk Club among others. Wagler and Lapp also have taken a duo show to Ireland and have appeared with Peter Rowan at the ‘Ards International Guitar Festival.
In keeping with their music that takes a traditional idea on a modern adventure, The Steel Wheels organize an annual “Spokesongs” bicycle music tour. Averaging 10 shows and covering 500 miles in 10 days they’ve pedaled themselves through the mountains of Virginia and the hills of Michigan, hauling their own gear the whole way. It’s one more example that the inherent skill and energy, trust in the value of simplicity and a marked talent for taking something old-fashioned and making it relevant for today is one of The Steel Wheels’ greatest strengths.
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Press: emilee [at] crash-avenue.com
Booking: john [at] americanaagency.com
Hi-Res Photo Package [download]
Hi-Res Album Art [download]
“Rain in the Valley” MP3 Focus Track [download]
The Down Low Tour (details soon)
February 22 – Cook Shack Concerts – Union Grove, NC
February 23 – Cook Shack Concerts – Union Grove, NC
February 25 – Music Under the Moss – Panama City, FL
February 26 – Acoustics at Oak’s End – Smyrna, GA
March 9 – The Purple Fiddle – Thomas, WV
March 10 – Clementine – Harrisonburg, VA
March 11 – Clementine – Harrisonburg, VA
March 22 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI
March 23 – The Livery – Benton Harbor, MI
March 24 – Tri States Public Radio Concert Series – Macomb, IL
March 25 – Legion Arts at CSPS – Cedar Rapids, IA
March 28 – White Gull Inn – Fish Creek, WI
March 30 – The Goshen Theater – Goshen, IN
March 31 – Six String Concert Series – Columbus, OH
April 1 – Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL
April 12 – EMU – Harrisonburg, VA
April 14 – The Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC
April 19 – Hill Country Barbeque – Washington DC
April 20 – Christopher Dock Mennonite High School – Lansdale, PA
April 21 – Smithfield Little theatre – Smithfield, VA
April 26-27 – Merlefest – Wilkesboro, NC
May 18 – Holcomb Farm – West Granby, CT
May 19 – Rose Garden Coffeehouse – Mansfield, MA
May 22 – Cantab Lounge – Cambridge, MA
May 23 – World Cafe Live at The Queen – Wilmington, DE
May 24 – Southern Cafe and Music Hall – Charlottesvile, VA
May 25 – Ashland Coffee & Tea – Ashland, VA
May 26 – Bena Country Store – Hayes, VA
May 27 – Theater at Lime Kiln – Lexington, VA
