The Steel Wheels are a four-man band from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with five fine albums to their credit, including their latest, Leave Some Things Behind. “They marry old-time musical traditions with their own heady brew of original soulful mountain music,” says No Depression. The Bluegrass Situation credits them with “some of America’s finest modern string music.” With Trent Wagler on guitar, banjo, and lead vocals, Eric Brubaker on fiddle, Jay Lapp on mandolin, and Brian Dickel on standup bass, the band features sensitive songwriting, soulful vocals, and eloquent instrumental work.

Trent, Eric, and Brian met at Eastern Mennonite University in 2004. “One of the unique things about our band is that all four of us grew up in Mennonite families,” Trent says, “and I hesitate to even use the word because many people who don’t have much experience with Mennonites see that as Amish, but that’s not accurate. It was more of a secular Mennonite upbringing.” Their first album, Red Wing, released in 2010, spent 13 weeks on the Americana Music Association’s Top 40 chart, while the track “Nothing You Can’t Lose” was named Best Country Song at the Independent Music Awards. Their 2012 album, Lay Down, Lay Low, was named IMA Album of the Year, and their song “Rain in the Valley” was an NPR Song of the Day. The music of The Steel Wheels is all about home, family, and community – what it’s like to leave, and how it feels to come back home again. Tonight they’ll be making themselves at home at the Freight.

visit The Steel Wheels website