The Steel Wheels

Trent Wagler (guitar) and Brian Dickel (stand-up bass) perform with The Steel Wheels February 6, 2009

The Steel Wheels are an Americana roots band from Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Trent Wagler is lead vocalist, mountain banjo player, guitarist and the band's primary songwriter. Jay Lapp plays mandolin, guitar, electric guitar and sings. Brian Dickel plays upright bass, electric bass, and sings. Eric Brubaker plays fiddle and sings. Kevin Joaquin Garcia plays percussion and keyboards.[1]

From their base in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, TSW have played the most prestigious festivals, listening rooms, and clubs in the world, cementing a reputation as one of the top independent bands on the scene today. While 2017's stunning studio album Wild As We Came Here was still ringing in the air, the band shone a light on their concerts with the release of two LPs of live music; Volume 1: Live at the Station Inn, and Volume 2: Live at The Jefferson Theater. Ever ambitious and not content to let moss grow under their feet, the Wheels returned to the woods of Maine and studio-retreat of Sam Kassirer, producer of Wild, to record another studio album, Over The Trees, to be released in July 2019.

The Steel Wheels have appeared at numerous Americana festivals, including The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival,[2] the Kerrville Folk Festival, FloydFest, the Albino Skunk Music Festival, the Smoky Hill River Fest, the Folk Alliance and Appalachian Uprising. Other notable venues they have played include the NPR Mountain Stage,[3] Eddie's Attic, the Ark, the Bluebird Café and the Calgary Folk Club. Trent Wagler and Jay Lapp have also played at the 'Ards International Guitar Festival in Ireland, with Peter Rowan.

In step with the feel of their music, taking tradition and history and giving it a modern flavor, The Steel Wheels conduct an annual tour called "SpokeSongs". Different from usual tours, this one is done entirely by bicycle. They average ten shows and travel around 500 miles, and transport all gear on their bikes. The first tour, in 2009, featured The Steel Wheels Duo (Wagler and Lapp) traveling through the Virginia countryside. In 2010, the duo moved the tour to Michigan. And in 2011, all four band members participated in the bicycle tour, again in Michigan. They maintain a blog about the tour on their website.[7] The Michigan-based company Tree Fort Bikes is assisting in the tour.[8]

Since 2012, the group has hosted the Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, Virginia. The two main stages in "the music meadow" take advantage of the "perfect backdrop" provided by "limestone rock formations towering more than 120 feet above."[9]

The musical lineup for the sixth annual festival taking place July 13–15, 2018 includes: I'm With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan), John Moreland, Josh Ritter, The Judy Chops, Kuinka, The Secret Sisters, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Trampled By Turtles — in addition to The Steel Wheels themselves. Wagler says of the success of the festival so far:[9]

Last year we crossed over the threshold of five years together. I know there are those who have said the honeymoon could not last, that sooner or later we'll just be another grumpy old festival losing the luster or shine of yesteryear. But it's not that way with us, Red Wing. Every year you surprise me with something new, something that keeps it fresh.

The seventh-annual festival takes place July 12–14, 2019 with The Wood Brothers, Mandolin Orange, Peter Rowan, The Tim O’Brien Band, Gibson Brothers, and Della Mae headlining.[10] Wagler says of the longevity of his group's festival, "Lucky number seven, can you believe it?"[11]

Wagler provides lead and harmony vocals on Goodbye Virginia written by Missy Raines tour mate Robbie Fulks. The song appears on Raines's sixth album, Royal Traveller, released October 5, 2018 on Compass Records Group.[12][13]

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."[14]

— John Walker, Americana Roots

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. Their new album Red Wing captures the spirit of their great live performances."[15]

— Martin Anderson, WNCW Music Director

Shenandoah Valley's newest, and brightest, songwriting force.[16]

— Blueridge Outdoors Magazine

The Steel Wheels received seven nominations from The Independent Music Awards[17] in 2010. Their song "Nothing You Can't Lose" (from the album Red Wing) received the highest award of "Best Country Song" in the 10th Annual IMA Awards, and in the Vox Pop Awards. "Working on a Building" also won "Best Gospel Song" in the 10th Annual IMA Vox Pop Awards. Red Wing earned very high marks from critics and received airplay on radio stations across several markets. The album charted for 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 40 radio charts, hitting No. 15.[18] It also made its way onto the EuroAmericana[19] charts, finding its way into the top 10. It was ranked number two across all independent releases charted by the Americana Music Association, and number 70 on the top 100 Americana albums of 2010.[18]

• Their "Rain in the Valley" was chosen as NPR's Song of the Day for May 10, 2012.[20]
• The group appeared opening day at the Stagecoach Festival 2013 in Indio, California.[21]
• The group performed a cover of Cake's "Stickshifts and Safetybelts" inside a BMW Isetta.[22]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Steel Wheels.

• Official website
• The SpokeSongs Bike Blog
• The Americana Agency
• Red Wing Roots Music Festival official site
• Red Wing Roots Music Festival Facebook page