Today, Virginia-based Americana pioneers The Steel Wheels announce the release of their new self-titled LP to coincide with their 20 year anniversary as a band. The LP will come out on CD + vinyl on Oct. 31, but won’t be released to streaming services until next year on March 14, 2026 – emphasizing the fan first mentality that has been a hallmark of the band’s since their inception. Today, they’ve also shared new single “Chase It All Away,” which combines a pop melody, a New Orleans style jazz piano, frontman Trent Wagler’s twangy vocals and an expansive fiddle solo for a commentary on the hustle of modern-day life.
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Listen to “Chase It All Away”
On the new track, Wagler shares: “Hold it all at once. The diagnosis, the beautiful beach, the hard work coming, the lazy afternoon. How do we measure the need of the day? Is it in widgets moved, checklists marked, or in winding paths taken? How do we keep our inner fire burning to keep curious and passionate, without breaking down when life hits us with the unexpected?”
Their ninth studio album, The Steel Wheels was co-produced by D. James Goodwin (Goose, Bonny Light Horseman, I’m With Her), who mixed the band’s 2019 album Over The Trees. The project was recorded at Goodwin’s new Shenandoah Valley studio during a snowy Virginia winter, and the process was fluid and swift. Sessions were punctuated by peals of laughter and occasional tears as the group embraced vulnerability and leaned into every emotion as it came. The album that resulted captures a band at its creative apex: honoring their roots as a harmony-centric acoustic ensemble but fully leaning into the folk rock that they’ve grown into over the last 20 years.
On the LP, in typical Steel Wheels fashion, Wagler’s lyrics pose big, philosophical questions that he realizes have no answer. The sneakily profound earworm “Easy” they released last month is a perfect example of that – asking if in this age of technology and accessibility, is everything really easier?
On the new album and its rollout strategy, Wagler adds: “This record means a lot to us. It marks our 20th anniversary, and we made it back home in Virginia, where the band first took root. We wanted to present it as a complete body of work, not just a collection of singles dropped over time. That’s why we’re releasing it on CD and vinyl and making it available as a full album download first, with streaming to follow later. We want people to experience the whole record from start to finish in a way that feels intentional and immersive. Our fans have always supported us by showing up and buying records, and we wanted to honor that relationship with something tangible and whole.”
This is the band’s first record since their critically-acclaimed 2024 LP Sideways, which garnered praise from Billboard, No Depression, Relix, The Bluegrass Situation and many more. They’ve been busy since, releasing a series of standalone singles and celebrating another successful year of their Red Wing Roots Music Festival this summer with a lineup which included Joy Oladokun, Hurray For The Riff Raff and many more. Taking place in the band’s home state and founded in 2013, the festival has featured performances from Lucinda Williams, Billy Strings, Dawes and many more. Ever the road warriors, the band is currently on an extensive tour that will take them through Denver, Portland and more over the next few months. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit http://thesteelwheels.com/tour.
The Steel Wheels is Trent Wagler (vocals/guitar/banjo), Jay Lapp (guitar/mandolin/vocals), Eric Brubaker (fiddle/vocals), Kevin Garcia (drums/percussion/mallet keyboards), Jeremy Darrow (bass).
The Steel Wheels 2025 Tour Dates
September 25 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
September 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Blue Door
September 28 – Belle Plaine, KS – Bartlett Arboretum
September 29 & 30 – Wray, CO – 4th & Main Downtown Grille
October 1 – Fort Collins, CO – Armory Event Center
October 2 – Pueblo, CO – Brues Alehouse Brewing Co.
October 3 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill Music
October 22 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
October 23 – Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
October 24 – Port Angeles, WA – Field Arts & Events Hall
November 7 – Owensboro, KY – Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum
November 8 – Pilot Knob, IN – Concerts at the Clubhouse
November 11 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
November 13 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
November 14 & 15 – Elkin, NC – The Reeves Theater & Cafe
