The Steel Wheels

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This is mostly a standing-room event, with chairs and tables going to those who arrive first, or those with a physical need. Thanks

The Steel Wheels play 2 of their albums in their entirety each night!!

Night 1: (January 12th) Lay Down Lay Low (2012) and Over The Trees (2019)
Night 2: (January 13th) Red Wing (2010) and Wild As We Came Here (2017)

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. Newest
member Jeremy Darrow rounds out the rhythm section and grounds the band as they continue
to explore deeply rooted yet fresh folk rock sounds. 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 Steel Wheels have responded to this time of isolation and loss by seeking to connect with
their audience in new ways. In 2020, unable to perform their rootsy brand of Americana for
crowds in live settings, the musicians turned their creative powers to crafting songs for
individuals. Produced in isolation in the band’s home studios, the Everyone a Song albums are
part of an ongoing project to collect the personal experiences of fans and forge them into that
most enduring, yet ephemeral, format we call “song.” An accompanying podcast, We Made You
a Song, explores the stories behind these songs, and the songwriting process itself. While each
song was commissioned to honor a specific relationship or event—a birth, a wedding, a memory
of home—the emotions evoked are universal.

Nowhere is this shared humanity more evident than at the band’s own Red Wing Roots Music
Festival, a weekend-long celebration of music, community, and the beautiful Shenandoah
Valley. Hosted by The Steel Wheels every summer, the festival provides a space for the band to
shine, from their high energy Saturday night main stage set to their afternoon showcase with
young Red Wing Academy students. At Sunday’s gospel hour you are as likely to hear Steel
Wheels originals or Warren Zevon covers as you are traditional gospel fare. The weekend is
rounded out by the beloved tribute set in which the band collaborates with a cadre of fellow
artists to honor an influential figure in American music, with past tributes ranging from Dolly
Parton to John Prine.

Whether at a joyous summer festival, in their many shows across the country and beyond, or in
the studio, The Steel Wheels continue their mission set out over a decade ago; shaking up
traditions to see what sticks, telling stories, and joining communities through song.