Virginia-based Americana five-piece the Steel Wheels have a new album coming soon, but they're sharing one of its songs early, exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play above to hear "This Year," a stirring, a cappella track.

The Steel Wheels wrote "This Year" -- a hopeful, emotional tune -- as a sort of "holiday song" that fans can listen to all year long. No matter the month, there's a message of hope for the coming ones: "There is no need to worry / There is no worry here," the band sings. "There will be peace this year."

"I set out to write a sort of holiday song that purposefully was a little too overstated … All your marriages are happy; even your cats are doting on you ... but also [includes] moments of honesty," says frontman and songwriter Trent Wagler. "Sure, we all want to have healthy families, pretty pictures, the most loving pets, but every year is a reminder of the shortcomings as well.

"Maybe this year will be great. Maybe hope is revolutionary," he adds. "I read an article about 'hope-punk' that I found very interesting — stating that the most punk thing you can do is be hopeful in our current age."

Comprised of Wagler, Jay Lapp, Brian Dickel, Eric Brubaker and Kevin Joaquin Garcia, the Steel Wheels are preparing to release their 10th full-length album, titled Over the Trees, on which "This Year" appears. The release will occur on the first day of the band's Red Wing Roots Music Festival, set for July 12-14 in Mount Solon, Va., with Della Mae, the Gibson Brothers, Mandolin Orange and more artists set to perform.

Over the Trees is out July 12. For more information about both the project and the Steel Wheels' seventh annual festival, visit TheSteelWheels.com.

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