Are you ready for it? The addition of percussion and keyboards to The Steel Wheels’ signature acoustic sound? The Harrisonburg-formed group steers into new territory by beefing up its traditional folk style on the new album, Wild As We Came Here. “I’m excited to see what happens,” says Trent Wagler (guitar, banjo and songwriter). “There are fans out there who are ready for this, and who have been waiting for us to do this.”
For decades, musicians on the road have been writing about home. So when touring was taking The Steel Wheels away from theirs too often, the group created the Red Wing Roots Festival near Harrisonburg as a way to stay close. The three-day extravaganza features dozens of local and national country-folk-Americana artists in a friendly community where music rules and going green is the only option. On-site camping, kids’ activities, food and spirits ensure everyone enjoys the weekend.
Related Links: The Steel Wheels at The Southern
Friday 7/8–Sunday 7/10: $39-159, times vary. Natural Chimneys Regional Park, 94 Natural Chimneys Ln., Mount Solon. redwingroots.com.