Album Notes

"Trent Wagler is an Americana Songmaster." -The Purple Fiddle

Trent Wagler follows up his critically acclaimed first release, Journal of a Barefoot Soldier (2005) with his second full length album in two years, Blue Heaven (2006). Blue Heaven is a soundscape of pioneered acoustic compositions, grown from the seeds of American roots music. Wagler and his band, The Steel Wheels, build a fresh playlist that touches on pain and death, life and love, and the vices that we all create to get by. Wagler says, “We drive an old time fiddle tune with sweaty punk rock energy and turn around with a tear-dripping ballad.” Wagler is joined by his usual Steel Wheels that keep the energy rolling with the brash fire of Eric Brubaker on the fiddle and solid Bass rhythm by Brian Dickel. The record also hosts a collection of all-star musicians including Jay Lapp (mandolin, guitar, lap steel), Jeff Huss (banjo), Nate Butler (drums) and Cara Wagler (piano).

For more information about Trent Wagler & The Steel Wheels visit www.trentwagler.com, www.myspace.com/trentwagler, or EPK at www.sonicbids.com/trentwaglerandthesteelwheels.

BIO
Trent Wagler resides in Harrisonburg, VA, in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley. The Purple Fiddle has called Trent an “Americana Songmaster.” His collection of original and traditional songs can hit you with the energy of a punk rock band one moment and pull tears from your road weary eyes the next. In 2005, he released his first CD of all original music, Journal of a Barefoot Soldier to critical acclaim. He recently released his first full-length album with the Steel Wheels, entitled Blue Heaven. Wagler’s musical influences help explain his pioneering acoustic sound. From an unlikely Mennonite heritage, Trent grew up listening to his father sing in a traditional gospel quartet, played electric bass in a handful of punk and jam bands, before taking up ‘oud and Arabic music in the Middle East. Now, he spends his time writing and performing his original sound with Brian Dickel (Bass) and Eric Brubaker (Fiddle) of the Steel Wheels. Together they tour frequently across the US and predominantly throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region His sound can call the spirits of Townes Van Zandt and Jerry Garcia to the stage, with definite similarities to recent musicians like Steve Earle, Ben Harper, and even Ani DiFranco. The Steel Wheels has shared the stage with Robin and Linda Williams, John McCutcheon, Adrienne Young and Little Sadie, Over the Rhine, Carrie Newcomer, and Marshall Crenshaw among others.