Steel Wheels
Creators and Hosts of The Redwing Festival
Simultaneously familiar and fresh, the Steel Wheels bring a singular energy to every note they play and sparkling craft to each song. This potent combination, paired with a robust tour calendar, have made the veteran band hands-down favorites of fans and peers alike. From their base in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, TSW have played the most prestigious festivals, listening rooms, and clubs in the world, cementing a reputation as one of the top independent bands on the scene today.
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Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
In September 2014, some 50 years after moving to Los Angeles to form the band Rising Sons with fellow blues musician Ry Cooder and Jessie Lee Kincaid, Taj Mahal hightailed it to Nashville to receive an honor he called “one of the most powerful and wonderful things that could ever happen in my life.” Celebrating decades of recording and touring that have nearly singlehandedly reshaped the definition and scope of the blues via the infusion of exotic sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and South Pacific, the two-time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, film composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist was feted with the Lifetime Achievement for Performance Award at the 13th Annual Americana Honors and Awards.
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Della Mae
Della Mae is a GRAMMY-nominated, all-female string band that has spent the last 15 years redefining the boundaries of bluegrass and Americana. Founded in Boston in 2009 by fiddle champion Kimber Ludiker, the group has evolved from a regional sensation into a global force, touring over 30 countries as cultural ambassadors.
The band’s sound is a “melting pot” of their diverse backgrounds, blending high-energy bluegrass with indie-folk and modern country. Their performances are celebrated for their “sensory yet assertive” style, balancing traditional roots with contemporary songwriting.
Della Mae’s discography is marked by steady growth and critical acclaim. Their 2013 album, This World Oft Can Be, earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Bluegrass Album and helped them win the IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year award. Subsequent releases like Headlight (2020) and Family Reunion (2021) continued to push their lyrical and sonic boundaries.
In early 2025, the band reached a new creative peak with their album Magic Accident, released on January 23 via Compass Records. Produced by banjo legend Alison Brown, the album is described as their most collaborative work to date, featuring original songs from every member. Standout tracks include the title song, penned by Woodsmith, and “Out Run ‘Em,” written by Smith.
Beyond the stage, Della Mae is a “movement” focused on female empowerment and social advocacy. They use their platform to mentor young musicians and support initiatives for gender equality and labor rights. Through their work with the U.S. State Department’s “American Voices” program, they have brought bluegrass to audiences from urban schools in Kazakhstan to rural festivals in Brazil, proving that their music transcends cultural and geographic borders.
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Steve Earle
Stephen Fain Earle is an American rock, country and folk singer-songwriter, record producer, author and actor. Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982. His breakthrough album was the 1986 album Guitar Town.
Steve Earle has announced his forthcoming live album, Alone Again (Live), due for release on July 12, 2024. To celebrate the exciting news, Earle has also unveiled the first track from the live collection, “I Ain’t Ever Satisfied,” out now. The 15-song record will feature live recordings from Earle’s recent 2023 tour, including his classic hits “Copperhead Road,” “The Galway Girl,” “Guitar Town,” and more.
