The Steel Wheels – with RIVVRS

The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound.

In 2005, Jay Lapp (vocals, guitars, mandolin) and Eric Brubaker (vocals, fiddle) joined lead singer Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo) in forming the band as a vehicle for Wagler’s songwriting. They released several albums under Wagler’s moniker, before officially adopting the The Steel Wheels name with the 2010 release of Red Wing.

Quickly staking their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels followed up this release with three more self-produced albums in the next five years, before joining forces with producer Sam Kassirer for Wild As We Came Here (2017) and Over The Trees (2019).

Kevin Garcia (drums, percussion, keys) joined in 2017, bringing a new level of sonic depth and polish to the outfit. Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, the stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them.

The year 2021 closed a chapter for The Steel Wheels, as founding member and bass player Brian Dickel moved on from touring in order to take over for Jeff Huss as co-owner of Huss and Dalton Guitars. The band is joined by bassist Derek Kratzer, a longtime friend and musical collaborator, to continue the mission set out over a decade ago; shaking up traditions to see what sticks, telling stories, and joining communities through song.

Opener:  RIVVRS