Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-03-24
Photographer Credit: Monik Geisel
Virginia-based Americana pioneers The Steel Wheels recently released their new four-song EP Cold Call. These tracks are all featured on their self-titled album, which came out last year exclusively on CD and vinyl, as well as via full MP3 download. The full LP is now available on streaming platforms as of March 13.
The group also announced a slew of additional 2026 dates, including shows in Washington, DC, Saratoga Springs, and more. The band also performed an official showcase at this year’s Folk Alliance in New Orleans. Find a full list of tour dates below or visit thesteelwheels.com/tour.
Listen to Cold Call EP
Order The Steel Wheels on CD + vinyl
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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?!”
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 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 while fully leaning into the folk rock they’ve grown into over the last 20 years.
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 that included Joy Oladokun, Hurray For The Riff Raff, and 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 others.
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).
2026 Tour Dates
March 24, 2026
Boulder, CO
E-Town
March 26, 2026
Salt Lake City, UT
The State Room
March 27, 2026
Denver, CO
Swallow Hill
March 28, 2026
Wichita, KS
WAVE
April 24, 2026
Sellersville, PA
Sellersville Theatre
April 25, 2026
Washington, DC
The Hamilton
April 26, 2026
Hagerstown, MD
Live at Hub City Vinyl
April 27, 2026
Lancaster, PA
West Art
April 28, 2026
Saratoga Springs, NY
Cafe Lena
April 29, 2026
Turners Falls, MA
Shea Theatre
April 30, 2026
Portsmouth, NH
3S Artspace
May 1, 2026
Plymouth, MA
The Spire
May 2, 2026
Ithaca, NY
Hangar Theatre
May 3, 2026
State College, PA
State Theatre
June 18–21, 2026
Mount Solon, VA
Red Wing Roots Music Festival
June 26, 2026
Eau Claire, WI
Blue Ox Festival
