The 11th season of Summer Tracks Tryons summer concert series kicks off Friday in Rogers Park with The Steel Wheels.

Based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, The Steel Wheels has a sound that lands somewhere between blues and bluegrass. Their old time sing-alongs and foot-stompin fiddle tunes have won them a loyal following across the country.

The Steel Wheels includes Trent Wagler on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Jay Lapp on harmony vocals and upright bass and Eric Brubaker on harmony vocals and fiddle.

The band has built a following from the East coast to the midwest and beyond, appearing at Americana festivals such as the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival, Floydfest, Folk Alliance and Appalachian Uprising. Wagler and Lapp also regularly take a duo show to Ireland and have appeared with Peter Rowan at the ‘Ards International Guitar Festival.

On July 9 the Red Hot Sugar Babies will play jazz-swing of the 1920s and 30s. Also featured will be jazz by the Mark Yaxley Trio.

Bob Sinclair will open for Gigi Dover & the Big Love (the full five-piece band) on July 23.

The Swayback Sisters (Americana and folk) and the Spaceheaters (swing-jazz) will perform Aug. 6.

The concert on Aug. 20 will offer a children’s show followed by a mix of world beat and funk, both by Sol Driven Train.

Finally, the season will finish with the popular Firecracker Jazz Band, which plays music from 1890-1940.

As with all Summer Tracks concerts, the show starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. The event is free, though a voluntary donation at the gate is encouraged. The sponsorships provided by local businesses also make these shows possible. Giardinis wood-fired pizzas, homemade ice cream, water and soft drinks will be for sale.

Summer Tracks is produced by the Town of Tryon in affiliation with Peter Eisenbrown of Blockparty Productions. The popular and well attended series attracts people from all over the region. Last year, the concerts drew an estimated 2,000 people to downtown Tryon.

For more information about Summer Tracks and the performers, contact Polk County Travel and Tourism at 800-440-7848 or 828-894-2324 or visit www.firstpeaknc.com or the new Tryon events website www.tryonevents.org.

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