The Wheelhouse Rousters draw not only their moniker and musical style from the river and its industry, but also their ebb and flow of energy. From the river bottoms of West Kentucky, to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and as far away as South Korea, the Rousters distill their experiences into songs and sounds firmly planted in American roots music. The band features Eddie Coffey, Logan Oakley, Nathan Lynn, Josh Coffey, and Jake Siener. 

The band was formed by members of Bawn in the Mash in early 2013, in hopes of drawing attention to the folk songs of Ohio River Valley and far West Kentucky.

In 2014 the band released their first studio album, Steamboatin,’ and were featured artists at the The Belle of Louisville’s Centennial Festival of Riverboats. Recorded at the River Discovery Center in Paducah, the album features modern folk arrangements of tradition Roustabout songs of the Ohio River Valley.

The band’s second studio album, Times of Uncertainty, recorded live at the Historic Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah, with support from S.G. Goodman, Brey McCoy and Chris Black, was released in the summer of 2016 and helped secure the band a residency on the Queen of the Mississippi and the America.

River Folk, the band’s third studio album, was released in May of 2019. Recorded at Time on the String in Paducah, KY, the album highlights the band’s songwriting and features longtime friends J.D. Wilkes, the Solid Rock’it Boosters, Tim May, and more.

In 2022 the band was chosen to represent the USA at the World Folk Biennale in Jinju, South Korea with cellist, Seth Murphy. There they collaborated with UNESCO artist from across the globe.

In 2023 the Rousters collaborated with Kaihulu as part of a UNESCO collaboration at the Lowertown Arts and Music Festival in Paducah, KY. The year also found them placing third in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and performing as featured showcase artist at the Americana Music Association’s AMERICANAFEST.

The Rousters 4th album, The Adventure Never Ends, was released October 20, 2023. The album features 13 new tracks, highlighting both original and traditional material associated with the band and their experiences.

Having performed with various artists upon notable boats, like the Delta Queen, Queen of the Mississippi, America, River Barge Explorer, Belle of Louisville, American Jazz, and the Spirit of Peoria, the members of the Wheelhouse Rousters have also opened for such acts as S. G. Goodman, Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, Shooter Jennings, The Legendary Shack Shakers, Billy Strings, Josh Williams, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, the Grasscals, Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder and more. Over the years they have toured performing at numerous festivals including Bourbon and Beyond, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, AMERICANAFEST, Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival, Lowertown Arts and Music Festival, John Hartford Memorial Festival,, and the Homplace Pickin’ Party, among others.