Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on January 16, 2026
photo credit: Monik Geisel
Some bands don’t just keep moving forward — they deepen the groove, widening the frame until the songs feel like they’ve always been there. With a new EP in hand and a busy road calendar ahead, Virginia’s longtime Americana standard-bearers are stepping into 2026 with momentum and meaning.
Today, The Steel Wheels released their new four-song EP Cold Call. The tracks are also featured on the band’s self-titled album, which came out last year exclusively on CD and vinyl, as well as via full MP3 download. The full LP will be available on streaming on March 13.
The group also announced a slate of additional 2026 tour dates — including stops in Washington, DC, Saratoga Springs, and more — and will play an official showcase at next week’s Folk Alliance International gathering in New Orleans. Fans can find a full list of dates below or visit thesteelwheels.com/tour.
Listen / Order / Pre-save:
Listen to Cold Call EP: https://vyd.co/ColdCall
Order The Steel Wheels on CD + vinyl: https://stores.portmerch.com/thesteelwheels/the-steel-wheels.html
Pre-save The Steel Wheels: https://vyd.co/TheSteelWheels
On the new song, primary singer/songwriter Trent Wagler shares:
“All of life is learning to lose. Accepting that failure is a part of growth, death is a part of life, and dreams sometimes come true, but even those don’t last. We’re all learning to lose. Can the awareness of impending loss give us the motivation to tell everyone we know we love them?!”
The band’s ninth studio album, The Steel Wheels, was co-produced by D. James Goodwin (Goose, Bonny Light Horseman, I’m With Her), who also mixed the group’s 2019 album Over The Trees. The project was recorded at Goodwin’s Shenandoah Valley studio during a snowy Virginia winter, and the process moved quickly and fluidly — punctuated by laughter, occasional tears, and a willingness to lean into every emotion as it came.
The result captures The Steel Wheels at a creative high point: honoring their roots as a harmony-centric acoustic ensemble while fully embracing the folk-rock sound they’ve grown into over the last two decades.
This marks the group’s first record since their critically acclaimed 2024 LP Sideways, which earned praise from outlets including Billboard, No Depression, Relix, and The Bluegrass Situation. The band has stayed busy since, releasing standalone singles and celebrating another successful year of their Red Wing Roots Music Festival, founded in 2013 in their home state of Virginia. Recent lineups have included Joy Oladokun and Hurray For The Riff Raff, with past editions featuring artists such as Lucinda Williams, Billy Strings, and Dawes.
Band members: Trent Wagler (vocals/guitar/banjo), Jay Lapp (guitar/mandolin/vocals), Eric Brubaker (fiddle/vocals), Kevin Garcia (drums/percussion/mallet keyboards), Jeremy Darrow (bass).
2026 Tour Dates
January 16 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
January 17 – Fernandina Beach, FL – Tigre Island Room
January 18 – Gainesville, FL – Heartwood Soundstage Indoor
January 19 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum
January 20 – Boca Raton, FL – Funky Biscuit
January 22 – New Orleans, LA – Folk Alliance Official Showcase
January 24 – Harrisonburg, VA – Red Wing Winter Roots (Wilson Hall)
February 20 – Thomas, WV – Purple Fiddle
February 21 – Thomas, WV – Purple Fiddle
February 22 – Pittsburgh, PA – City Winery
February 23 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
February 24 – Berwyn, IL – Fitzgerald’s
February 25 – Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium
February 26 – Madison, WI – The Bur Oak
February 27 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands Tavern
February 28 – Peninsula, OH – GAR Hall
March 1 – Athens, OH – Mountain Stage
March 19 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theatre
March 20 – Hastings, NE – The Lark
March 21 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
March 22 – Wray, CO – 4th and Main
March 23 – Wray, CO – 4th and Main
March 24 – Boulder, CO – E-Town
March 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
March 27 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill
March 28 – Wichita, KS – WAVE
April 24 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
April 25 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
April 26 – Hagerstown, MD – Live at Hub City Vinyl
April 27 – Lancaster, PA – West Art
April 28 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Cafe Lena
April 29 – Turners Fall, MA – Shea Theatre
April 30 – Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artscape
May 1 – Plymouth, MA – The Spire
May 2 – Ithaca, NY – Hangar Theatre
May 3 – State College, PA – State Theatre
June 18 – Mount Solon, VA – Red Wing Roots
June 19 – Mount Solon, VA – Red Wing Roots
June 20 – Mount Solon, VA – Red Wing Roots
June 21 – Mount Solon, VA – Red Wing Roots
June 26 – Eau Claire, WI – Blue Ox Festival
