Oklahoma bluegrass band Steelwind is releasing their third album “Blue” and is celebrating with a performance at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum June 22. This band is known for their tight harmonies, soul, and energy, so y’all are definitely in for a treat.
Okie singer-songwriter Mallory Eagle who now resides in Nashville will be returning home to open the show starting at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30pm). Tickets are $20 in advance and are $25 at the door. Kids under 18 are $10 tickets. The unique Steelwind sound originates from co-songwriters Blake Parks and Michael Henneberry. Since meeting in Stillwater, OK in 2009, Parks and Henneberry have recorded over 30 original songs.
Throughout the years their music has progressed into a recognizable blend of tight harmonies and bluegrass instrumentation that appeals to various types of music lovers in Oklahoma and beyond. Starting as a duo with Blake Parks on fiddle and Michael Henneberry on guitar, the full band now performs live with Joel Parks on banjo, Becca Herrod on mandolin, Adam Davis on dobro, and Kenny Parks on bass.
Although heavily influenced by their love of bluegrass, they were not afraid to push boundaries on this album, with many songs featuring the tasteful percussion by Tremaine Wade (who you may know from Spinster or Swim Fan). Traditional bluegrass never has drums, however when working with ACM instructor and Producer of the album, Tyler Garcia, their experiment with drums turned out to be a stellar outcome, and you’ll get to make your own judgment when you hear the six tracks with percussion. We spoke to Tyler about how excited he is for this new album and chatted about his job as a producer, so feel free to check that out below.
Not only is it rare to find young musicians playing this style music, these talented co-writers are creating new bluegrass songs that will also attract those who may not know anything about the bluegrass genre. Steelwind has played shows with the likes of Darrel Scott, Tony Rice, Byron Berline, The SteelDrivers, Dom Flemmons and Asleep at the Wheel. From playing intimate listening rooms to performing at major theatres and festivals, these Oklahoma musicians are making a name for themselves. Between their heartfelt songwriting process and thorough recording sessions at 33rd Street Studio in Edmond with Producer Tyler Garcia, fans are highly anticipating new music following their 2016 album, F5.
We chatted with Steelwind’s banjo player Joel Parks about the process of working with Tyler, which you can read about below!
“Tyler’s workflow and energy in the studio was instrumental in us achieving the sound we wanted on our upcoming record. He’s an absolute joy to work with who delivers a quality end product every time we’ve worked with him.”
– Joel Parks
The band has recently gained even more fans after releasing their period-specific music video telling the story of their single “My Baby’s Gone” with the fitting backdrop in Prosperity Junction at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Mat Miller with 1984 Studios produced and edited the trending video. After receiving rave reviews from the music video, the band decided it is the perfect location to host their album release show. Taking a moment to watch on YouTube is definitely worth the time.
On Saturday, June 22nd, go back in time with Steelwind for their biggest show of the year and celebrate the release of their new album, Blue. Doors open at 6:30, and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are available online!
