SteelRadio.org Plans New Steel Guitar Fest
All hail the steel guitar! It’s one of the essential building blocks of true country music, and the most recognizable sound of the genre as it squeezes the emotion out of moments with its crying and moaning bends. This once endangered species of country that nearly didn’t survive the Bro-Country era and its extinction-level depletion has been coming back strong lately, with a bunch of exciting new players, and a lot of organization behind it.
All the more reason to launch a new steel guitar festival, and in the Live Music Capital of the World. Called the Austin Steel Guitar Fest, it’s happening October 1-3 at the Austin Marriott South where there will be two stages, and all kinds of performances, showcases, steel guitar jams, seminars, along with vendors and vintage sellers, and all kinds of other cool stuff. It will also be the location 2026 Steel Guitar Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Lucky Oceans, Junior Brown, and the late David “Feet” Rogers will be minted as Hall of Famers during the event, with Lucky and Junior being two of the 50+ guitarists scheduled to perform over the three days. This includes steel guitar legends like Lloyd Green, Lynn Owsley, Dave Biller, and Rose Sinclair, to newer steel players like Caleb Melo, Jake Penrod, Kevin Skrla, and Pedal Steel Noah (see full lineup below).
SteelRadio.org has been pumping out steel-inspired music 24/7 on the internet since 2022, and is a great app to download when you’re in the mood for some twang. The organization was started in the mid ’90s at KWRP.fm in Decatur, Illinois, drawing a worldwide listenership. But when the station was sold in 2016, it ceased operations the next year. Ted Smouse has now revitalized the station online as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The new event in Austin looks to become their flagship.
And both the events and SteelRadio.org don’t just encompass country. Blues, Hawaiian, Jazz, Sacred Steel, along with country subgenres like Western Swing are also represented.
Tickets are on sale for all access over the three days, or just single day tickets, or tickets to the evening performances at austinsteelguitarfest.org/tickets.
August 18, 2026 @ 8:25 am
Trigger, Ray Stevens’s Facebook page just announced a tribute concert for him at the Opry on November 9, and between Nancy Jones’s “special appearance” and the look of the poster and lineup, it reeks of Kirt Webster. It may be worth investigating.
August 18, 2026 @ 12:32 pm
It’s still hard to understand or comprehend that you can drug and rape one of your clients, have 20 more employees and other people accuse you of sexual misconduct, and still get people in this business to look the other way and continue to do business with you. Obviously we’re talking about Kirt Webster here.
August 18, 2026 @ 4:26 pm
I sincerely hope I am wrong about his involvement. However, considering the Ray Stevens event is following the same playbook as an “All‑Star Salute to Lee Greenwood” and “George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum”, I have a strong suspicion. There’s a lot of overlap on the featured artists, and the only difference between those shows and this show is that this one will be in Nashville instead of Huntsville (likely because Ray’s broken neck would limit his travel schedule). I’m sure we’ll learn more soon.
In the meanwhile, everyone should attend Austin Steel Guitar Fest, which is more than likely free of Kirt Webster!
August 18, 2026 @ 9:34 am
There’s a video of a musician named James Reed on youtube where he sings a song titled “She’s Of The Hook Again”, which also includes another musician playing steel guitar. I like that rendition a lot.
I just looked it up to see whether the name of the musician playing the steel guitar is noted there in the description of the video on youtube, to then see whether the name is on the list of performers depicted here, but I couldn’t find it.
August 20, 2026 @ 11:01 am
Do you have the link? I’d like to see this but can’t seem to find it. Keeps directing me to Jerry Reed😁
August 20, 2026 @ 11:07 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOBaP18Gcjg
He was also featured on the AppalachiaUntold youtube channel with a song titled “Man Like Me” which I like as well.
August 18, 2026 @ 11:53 am
This is great news. Steel is alive and well, which is amazing!
August 18, 2026 @ 4:09 pm
Yes sir , I’m
Heading there to honor the great Junior Brown and Lucky Oceans. Steel is alive and ..well, so many great new young players, and the legends all at the same time.
If you want to hear top notch music, attend one of the nights. Thanks Trigfor promoting this, and don’t forget listen to Steelradio.com to hear some great music, they are organizing this event. Hope to see you there Trig!
August 18, 2026 @ 10:24 pm
This is amazing. I watched Kevin Skrila with Brennen Leigh earlier this year and his tone is so good and his playing is so tasty.
The Malpass Brothers’ steel player Jesse Personini should be on this list too. He is unbelievable.
August 19, 2026 @ 12:40 am
My friend from Rome, Italy Flavio Pasquetto is on the bill!!
He’s a true maestro of the instrument, he’s been playing with AATW and plays in my records as well!!
He comes from Italy playing steel guitar in Texas, let it sink!
fun note: maybe Silverada should be invited to play….
August 19, 2026 @ 10:13 am
Yeah, he’s excellent! He also plays with Mary Lee & Caesar’s Cowboys from Italy. They’re returning to Texas in November for the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing festival in Fort Worth, and performing elsewhere afterwards. Great band! And a great festival too!