The Steel Wheels
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The Steel Wheels |
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The Steel Wheels are an American Roots Music, Americana and folk musicians, based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Biography
The Steel Wheels are a roots and Americana band, writing and playing music the closely-related but unique styles of blues, bluegrass, old-time music, and fiddle music. Their music respects the past but lives in the the present, and layers musical textures with a modern edge to create a new sound.
The four-piece group is based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Lead vocalist and the band's primary songwriter Trent Wagler has been making music in Virginia for nearly ten years, and it is there that Trent met what would be the first new member of The Steel Wheels, Jay Lapp (mandolin, guitar, vocals). Jay had been touring in several bands throughout the Midwest when he and Trent met in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The musical partnership formed, and it was the first incarnation The Steel Wheels. Later, the two were joined by Brian Dickel (upright bass) and Eric Brubaker (fiddle), and The Steel Wheels were born.
The Steel Wheels received garnered five nominations from The Independent Music Awards[1] in 2010. Their recently-released song “Nothing You Can’t Lose” (from the album 'Red Wing') received the highest award of “Best Country Song”. 'Red Wing' earned very high marks from critics and is receiving airplay on radio stations across several markets. The album charted for 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 40 radio charts, hitting #15. It also made its way onto the EuroAmericana[2] 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[3]).
The Steel Wheels have appeared at numerous Americana festivals, including The Bristol Rhythm and Roots Festival, 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, Eddie's Attic, the Ark, the Bluebird Cafe and the Calgary Folk Club. Trent Wagler and Jay Lapp have also played at the 'Ards International Guitar Festival in Ireland, with Peter Rowan.
“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[4]
"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." — Martin Anderson, WNCW Music Director[5]
"Shenandoah Valley's newest, and brightest, songwriting force." — Blueridge Outdoors Magazine[6]
The "SpokeSongs" Bicycle Tour
In step with the feel of their music, taking tradition and history and giving it a modern flavor, the 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 they transport all gear on their bikes. They travel through the Virginia countryside, through the mountains and into Michigan, and they maintain a blog about the tour on their website.[7]
Discography
- Red Wing' (Independent, 2010)
- Timbered Choir EP' (Independent, 2009]
- Adrienna Valentine (Dojo, 2008)
- Blue Heaven (Dojo, 2006)
- Journal of a Barefoot Soldier (Dojo, 2005)
References
- ^ The Independent Music Awards
- ^ The Euro Americana Chart
- ^ Americana Music Association
- ^ American Roots, Defining Americana Music
- ^ Anderson, Martin - WNCW Music Director WNCW
- ^ Blueridge Outdoors Magazine
- ^ The SpokeSongs Bike Blog