Southpaw Steel'n'Twang


Southpaw Steel'n'Twang is a power trio which concentrates mostly on instrumental music; focus is often on pedal and lap steel guitars but electric guitar also has much to say.

Ville "Lefty" Leppänen takes care of the aforementioned instruments - and also sings a bit - while JP Mönkkönen (bass) and Tero Mikkonen (drums) lay the foundations for Lefty's guitar circus- and of course play solos now and then! The band’s 2014 debut album “Hale’s Pleasure Railway” collected very positive reviews in international media; Lefty penned all compositions to the album. Second album "Stat(u)e of Mind", released November, 2015 includes also compositions by Tero and Jp. Album was mostly recorded in St.Louis. A digital single Bedtime Bomber was released March 2017.

Southpaw Steel'n'Twang combines different styles and grooves, being one of those very few bands using pedal and lap steel guitars besides the more convential electric guitar in contexts other than country music. Some of their compositions are quite ambitious, the band stands out from the average roots based groups. Rootsy it is, main composer Ville "Lefty" Leppänen having stuck his left foot deeply in American music, but in a fresh way!SST loves to show how various roots styles, progressive music and rock flavours mesh together beautifully!


JP Mönkkönen (el./upright bass, ac.gtr)
Tero Mikkonen (drs, perc. ukulele)
Ville Leppänen (steel/el.& ac.gtrs, vocals)

Reviews of the band »

Interviews »


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Listen our tracks from the new record! SST-tracks now on Spotify and Deezer!

"a real gumbo, as they call it, of sounds and sonic spices"
Samuel J. Fell, Rhythms Magazine, Australia

"this is a musical gem from Finland that is worth seeking out"
Mike Garner, Blues News, New Zealand

"Thanks! Love the new record."
Ken Freedman, WFMU-FM, New Jersey

"Country jazz, surf-noir and a wealth of other steel and lap steel guitar sounds collide in a sonic paradise on this first Southpaw Steel 'n' Twang CD"
Robert Silverstein, mwe3.com, Miami, USA

"'twangfully' terrific songs... delightful art of the jam ...
a vibrant enjoyable listen from start to finish"

Phillycheeze's Rock and Blues Reviews, Phillip Smith, Iowa, USA