- Artist
- Date: May 11, 2025
- Stage: Heritage
In 2015, Wheeler released his debut LP, The Book of Rocko Wheeler, a poetic exploration of transformation, death, and rebirth, tracked with Andrija Tokic at the famed Bomb Shelter in Nashville. The album’s heavy, introspective tone set the stage for a career driven by the same restless energy that fueled his admiration for the cowboy’s lore, old Hollywood, and the tragic enthusiasm of the Beats—particularly the musings of Jack Kerouac.
Wheeler now finds himself playing regularly at venues like The Hotel Cafe and The Grand Ole Echo, becoming a staple of LA’s burgeoning Americana scene. But even in the fast pace of the city, he remains dedicated to keeping things intentional with “Rocko’s Funtime Jamboree,” a night he curates to offer an antidote to the rush of Hollywood, whether in the golden glow of the Santa Monica Mountains or the fire-affected communities of the San Gabriel foothills.
His forthcoming album, West Coast Gold, is a labor of love. Recorded with Sean Sullivan and Ben Lusk at The Butcher Shoppe, John Prine’s old studio in Nashville, the album captures a moment in time before the legendary space was demolished to make way for condos. West Coast Gold—set for release on 180-gram metallic gold vinyl and digitally this July, 2025—serves as both a reflection of his journey and a tribute to the golden era of songwriting. It’s a record that ties his roots to the future, as he continues to wander the edges of the map, living to tell the tales and sing the songs.
