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"Americana music at its best!" — Larry Groce, Mountain Stage
"I absolutely am nuts for
The Steel Wheels." — Julie Sullivan, Pickin' In The Pines
The Steel Wheels." — Julie Sullivan, Pickin' In The Pines
"The Steel Wheels are certainly going places... on the line between old timey folk and something raw, new and bluegrassy. Catch Trent and company on their way to fame and glory." — Cover Lay Down
"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
"If one must compare The Steel Wheels to another act in order to get an idea of their music 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 them with anyone is an injustice, since after one listen you can hear that they stand very well on their own perch." — John Walker, Americana Roots
"If you've heard them, you know what I mean. There are plenty of great musical acts out on the road, all making great music. And yet, there are those few who are so distinctly unique, in their own way, they stand above the rest. The Steel Wheels have that something extra that makes them one of those bands that can write their own ticket in this new era of live string music." — Greg Tutwiler, Americana Rhythm Magazine
"Everybody Loved them!!!!" — Dalis Allen, Kerrville Folk Festival
"There were many points during their performance that their perfectly executed vocal harmonies or master level musicianship took one's breath away. They are so much more than words can describe...I believe everyone in our audience will agree that we tasted a little bit of music heaven tonight." — Alan Vajdos, Rear Windo Listening Room
"The Steel Wheels were absolutely fabulous. We've had some of the greats come through here with some great performances, and I can safely say the guys were right up there with 'em (and great to work with, as well). I'd gladly and insistently tell anyone: if you present Folk or Americana, you absolutely HAVE to schedule The Steel Wheels." — Ken Zahnle, Tri-States Public Radio Concert Series
"Shenandoah Valley's newest, and brightest, songwriting force." — Blueridge Outdoors Magazine
"The Steel Wheels break down some bluegrass stereotypes, bringing youth and thoughtfulness to a vibrant American art form." — Rich Warren,Folkstage WFMT
"The Steel Wheels are amazing, captivating, entertaining, all rolled into one sweet and neat package of energy...So glad we were able to enjoy them early on in their career. Now we've got all the rest of our days to watch them mature and master the arts." — Chris Kramer-Harnage, The Folk Club of Reston-Herndon
"I absolutely am nuts for The Steel Wheels. Amazing talent. I hear a lot of stuff and I was just stunned by this band." — Julie Sullivan, Pickin' in the Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival, Flagstaff, AZ
"The show went amazing and The Steel Wheels killed, just like I knew they would.” — Adam Harris, Asst producer, Mountain Stage
"Fiddle-rich and mandolin-driven, their music includes all the elements I most appreciate in acoustiblue music- energy, strong and distinctive lead vocals that are supported and complemented by acute harmony, instrumental proficiency, originality tied to tradition, new songs that sound old and traditional songs that sound as they always have.” — Donald Teplyske, Roots Music
"The Steel Wheels travel along a path through the listener's ears and aim directly for the heart." — Dirty Linen
"I never got so many people telling me this was the best band of all time." — Lynda Baer, Music on the Steps concert series
"Wagler's voice is a supple instrument with an expressive bite." — Bluegrass Unlimited
"Forces to be reckoned with for awhile." — Ben Cisneros, 9513 Country Music
"Songs that recall a more familiar time and yet sound fresh and creative." — Tina Owens, Acoustic Cafe
"That was an absolutely amazing show The Wheels put on !!!!!" — Dennis Frost, Charlotte Folk Society
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 with 5 nominations from the Independent Music Awards and numerous placements on "best of the year" lists. 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 latest 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, 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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Lay Down, Lay Low
The Steel Wheels
released 2012
If you are interested in booking The Steel Wheels for a concert, festival or private event, please contact:
John Laird, The Americana Agency
919-489-4824
