Roots Music Rambler

Americana and Folk artist Ismay goes Finding Lucinda, Discovers Self

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000

Americana/Folk artist Ismay (Avery Hellman) was in a Lucinda Williams cover band started by their father early in her adult life. As a singer-songwriter herself, the musician, rancher and self-identified “dreamer” went looking for more understanding of the legendary singer-songwriter and produced an outstanding documentary called Finding Lucinda.

The film documents their journey of more self-discovery than anything else, but their interviews and path to learn more about Lucinda led them to understand Williams grew up the daughter of, and surrounded by poets. The result, besides the beautifully done film, was Hellman decided to learn to write poetry.

Those learnings and evolution in their artistry led to their next big project – a new album called Half Truth, due out June 12th on Fossil Records.

Frank and Falls chatted with Hellman about the film, Lucinda Williams, poetry, and the new album on this week’s episode of Roots Music Rambler. The trio also discussed Fossil Records, a new label co-founded by Hellman and friend of the show Margo Cilker (see Episode 35).

There was a lot to cover and unpack with Hellman’s journey and art. Give the full episode a watch or listen. You’ll enjoy it.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2026 - Falls+Partners. All music on the program is licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Roots Music Rambler is a member of the Americana Music Association.

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Lucciana Costa is the busiest, badass woman in Nashville

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0000

It’s not uncommon for a professional musician to juggle multiple gigs. Until they make it big or get a break playing in a band that does, there’s session jobs, maybe a songwriting contract, picking up live gigs in someone else’s band, slinging merch or someone, or even all that plus holding down a full-time job to pay the bills.

Lucciana Costa can relate. She’s established herself as one in the current crop of up-and-coming singer-songwriters in Nashville. She’s half of the emerging and popular Americana duo King Margo. She plays in and with Gabe Lee’s band, even singing with Gabe and Rylie Bourne on a popular single in 2024 (“Long Time Ago”). Add to that time spent creating education curricula and writing a novel and you can see what we’re quick to call her the busiest, badass woman in Nashville.

Lucciana sat in with Frank and Falls last week to talk about her musical background that runs from West Virginia to Ohio and Michigan before hitting Music City. We talked about her musical family and the lineage of talent that has culminated in her career. She told us how the King Margo collaboration with Rachel Coats and a lot more.

Also in this episode, Frank opens a surprise gift from Falls and both share Kentucky-based Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music recommendations: Hunter Flynn and Ian Noe.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Local Honeys talk music impact, the Kentucky music scene, hint at a new album

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:45:00 -0000

It’s been four years since Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs released a full album. The two, better known collectively as The Local Honeys, dropped a 45 last summer and have blessed fans with a couple of new singles in the last couple of months. But there has been no official announcement of a new record coming.

We think we may have squeaked out a hint or two that one might be as the two joined Frank and Falls for the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler. The interview was a bit of a Morehead State University reunion for the Honeys and Falls, all three of whom are graduates. And Falls tried to not lapse into his native mountain accent as he and Frank talked to the pair about everything from the purpose of music to protest songs and channeling Pink Floyd to the Kentucky music scene.

At the end of the day, Linda Jean and Montana are and will forever be leaders in the use of mountain and traditional music influences in a modern Appalachian sound in Americana music. They not only make great folk-rock and country music, but teach and mentor young musicians with their involvement in programs like Cowan’s Creek Mountain Music School.

The two are currently embarked on a spring tour with Cole Chaney and well worth the time and investment to see them live.

Frank and Falls also discuss the Grand Ole Opry’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of the film “O Brother Where Art Thou” and share Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations. Falls pointed to a recent live act he saw in Stripmall Ballads. Frank shared a band her son Anthony was amused by on satellite radio: Buffalo Traffic Jam.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Highway Junkie Andy Thomas’s first solo LP is out and rockin’ out!

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

There are few things we love better at Roots Music Rambler than talking to an artist about their first album. As this episode drops (March 27), so will southern rocker Andy Thomas’s debut solo record Highway Junkie. Andy spent some time with Frank and Falls recently to talk about the album, his songs and songwriting and a lot more.

Thomas is Virginia-born but now based in Florida. He played in a couple of different bands from the time he was a teenager, jamming with his father and brother, until his most recent projects with The Trongone Band and Yarn. The real story of Highway Junkie is that it came after Thomas realized drugs, alcohol and partying were holding him back. This record is the journey of his sobriety as much as anything.

Frank and Falls also had a very animated and pointed critique of fans of Treaty Oak Revival fan behavior at recent concerts. They showed clips from TikTok of a recent Lexington, Ky., concert at Rupp Arena in which fans carried on an alarming new tradition of throwing towers of not empty beer cups in the air. It left fans and the arena floor doused with alcohol and Falls called it "embarrassing" for Lexington.

And as always, the hosts offer their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music recommendations. This week, Frank points us to the song “Heavy” by Noah Guthrie, which resonated with both hosts. Falls shares singer-songwriter Michaela Anne, whom he saw open for Emily Scott Robinson in February.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Story Behind Crossroads Acoustic Fest (Plus an Exclusive Ticket Discount)

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0000

When Roots Music Rambler did our 2025 year-in-review episode, Frank told us her favorite music festival last year was the Crossroads Acoustic Fest in Seymour, Ind. She’s going again this year (and has convinced Falls to come as well). It takes place April 24-25 and features wonderful singer-songwriters and Americana acts like John R. Miller, Jason Eady, The Tillers, Thunder and Rain and more. Friends of the show Magnolia Boulevard (see Maggie Noelle on Episode 49) and Emily Jamerson (Episode 64).

Crossroads started as a small house concert series after Shawn Busby and his brother attended the 30a Songwriter’s Festival in Florida several years ago. They came home to Seymour and started hosting house concerts. The event has grown into a 400-500 person ticketed event with multiple listening room venues in walkable downtown Seymour.

Busby joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk more about the history of the event, what his hopes are for its growth, this year’s lineup and what it takes to put together an event like Crossroads Acoustic Fest.

AND … Busby shared a 20% discount code toward the end of the episode which is helpful since the early bird prices have expired, so listen and get a ticket discount!

Frank and Falls also tout the show’s choice for 2025 Song of the Year as Tyler Childers’s “Bitin’List” won the Grammy for Country Song of the Year and share some interesting Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices this week: One for a Loretta Lynn and Jack White collaboration. The other is a new cover song from West Virginia-based fiddle phenom Philip Bowen.

Get 20% off your ticket to Crossroads Acoustic Fest when you use the code RAMBLER on checkout. Get tickets here.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Sophie Gault Comes Unhinged with Third Studio Album

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0000

Sophie Gault’s third studio album Unhinged dropped in early February of this year. But the singles rolled out as the record came to fruition and had already sold it for those familiar with her. The fiery guitar player and honky tonk songstress’s performance on the album mirrored its title. This record was Sophie being the Sophie people are used to seeing rattling the windows at bars and clubs around Nashville.

Gault joined Frank and Falls for this week’s episode of Roots Music Rambler to talk about the album, produced by her manager Alex Torres, whose indy label picked Gault up after her original label decided to move on without her. With a nice mix of originals and cover tunes, including a banger with Buck Owens’s “Loves Gonna Live Here” which leads the track list, the record is fun, vibrant and, at times, raw, conveying Gault’s playing style and personality

We also talked about Gault’s journey to music, growing up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., her collaborations with friends of the show Margo Cilker, Gabe Lee and Logan Ledger, and why she says her track with Gurf Morlix is the first of what should be many covers of his songs.

Also in this episode, Frank and Falls discuss the new protest song from Bruce Springsteen and share their weekly Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices. Frank recommends “Can’t Find Your Way Out” by The Franklin Electric. Falls shares an EP he’s been digging lately: Arthur Hancock’s Alive at Hillbilly Central.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Roots Music Rambler Backstage: Josh Mitcham

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the first of hopefully many shorter episodes of Roots Music Rambler, we’re calling our Backstage with episodes. These are short interviews Frank and Falls are able to grab backstage (or just somewhere in person rather than on our virtual, longer-form interview episodes) and catch up briefly.

Our first such episode is with Josh Mitcham. The Breckenridge County, Kentucky native and farmer has a new solo album coming out in June called Gonna Be Alright. He’s dropped a couple of singles from the album already and the sound is a level up from previous work as he brought the Alabama Sound Company to the table to produce the album.

Josh is the former frontman for Jericho Woods and a 2026 Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Ambassador.

Falls caught him backstage at the Mercury Ballroom in early February, getting ready to open for Sundy Best. The two talked about the new songs and album, Josh’s approach to promoting the music and a lot more.

Find Josh Mitcham online at joshmitcham.com, on Spotify, Instagram and Facebook.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newcomer Trey Hedrick dropped his debut album today. He’s about to get big!

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0000

The day this episode of Roots Music Rambler drops, so does a new album from virtual newcomer to the music scene, Trey Hedrick. But don’t let the debut album and baby-faced Hedrick fool you: This guy can write songs and play like you wouldn’t believe.

In fact, Hedrick is a rare guest on Roots Music Rambler: Generally unproven with just a few social media followers more than the average bar band. But he’s got two things going for him that convinced us he’s well on his way to becoming the next big thing: He’s spent a few years touring and playing with other musicians many people couldn’t keep up with; And, his team sent us the album raw masters early to hear the whole thing.

It’s good, y’all. Very good.

We sat down with Trey back in the fall, well ahead of the album being finished. In fact, you’ll be able to tell from the conversation that we didn’t even know the name of the record (Sing, Appalachia) or the release date (today, Feb. 20, 2026) when we interviewed him. But we found, and you will discover, Trey has the mindset and maturity few first-album artists ever do.

Hedrick grew up on a cattle farm in Southeast Ohio in a family peppered with seasoned musical talent. He’s played guitar and mandolin since he can remember and told us his grandmother would call the grandkids in on a hot day and ask them to play songs for her. (Sneaky way of getting them to cool off.)

Hedtrick cut his professional teeth in the Athens, Ohio, music scene and sent some acoustic demos of a few songs to Nashville producer Sean Sullivan, who has worked with Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, John Prine and others. Sullivan liked the demos and the two went into the studio and cut the record at the Tractor Shed last summer.

Hedrick’s storytelling stems from his upbringing in a proud, working-class family. Almost all the men in his family have ties to the coal mines, too, so he’s as Appalachian as they come. Our first impression of his songs was that he reminded us of a young Ricky Skaggs. We think you’ll agree.

Also in this episode, Frank and Falls chat about a previous guest’s plans for new music this year and share our Pickin’ the Grinnin’ picks for the week. Frank called out Swedish rockers Sabaton. Falls recommended Damn Tall Buildings, whom we interviewed in Episode 66. Trey Hedrick’s interview fell before the Damn Tall Buildings one, but we saved it for debut day!

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Sabaton on Spotify

Damn Tall Buildings on Spotify

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Dakota Ray Parker turns a life of struggle to noteworthy country music

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 -0000

If most of us grew up the way Dakota Ray Parker did, we’d have given up a long time ago. But the resilient, friendly Parker navigated his way through a rough and tumble childhood to funnel those traumatic experiences into outstanding songs and singing in his music.

Parker joined us on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about his turbulent upbringing, finding music was a natural escape to distract himself, then to writing and recording music that is now finding its way to a nice audience for the Kentucky native. His music is inspired by everything from Southern Gospel to 90s Country and even hip-hop. He told us his first musical dream was to be a rapper.

Parker released two albums in 2025 and continues to knock out singles every so often. His latest single “Clown” has already amassed 150,000 streams on Spotify thanks to his traditional sounding vocals and catchy lyricism. His new single “Freeborn Man” drops the day this episode does (Feb. 13).

We not only got to hear his story and how he approaches songwriting, but we’ll listen to snippets of four of his songs on the episode as well.

Frank and Falls also chat about Falls’s recent trip to the Grand Ole Opry and rant a little about people who talk at certain types of concerts. The two also have new Pickin’ The Grinnin’ choices for music recommendations this week. Frank points to multi-instrumentalist and frequent session and guest musician John Calvin Abney. Falls shouts out The Wildmans.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Emily Scott Robinson's fifth studio album brings Appalachia alive

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0000

Emily Scott Robinson may just be one of the most underrated singer-songwriters in the Americana space. When folks get hold of her fifth studio album Appalachia her status should rise considerably.

Robinson joined us on Roots Music Rambler for an episode that drops on the very day Appalachia hits stores and streaming services to talk about the album, the songs, her background and so much more.

Robinson, who is originally from North Carolina but now calls Colorado home, wrote the record on the tail end of Hurricane Helene which devastated much of the Western Carolinas and East Tennessee. Her songs elevate the beauty of that land and the people there. She talked about that beauty, especially the neighbors-helping-neighbors response to the flooding and devastation.

Robinson also shared some behind the scenes stories of being and Oh Boy! Records artist, the legacy label of John Prine, recommended a Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choice of her own (Palymra) and a lot more in a fun, engaging conversation well worth the watch or listen.

Also in this episode, Frank asks Falls about his new podcast client Katie Combs. Falls, who produces podcasts through his day job consultancy at Falls+Parnters, is now producing Listen, Honey! Combs’s new show has already offered up two episodes of particular interest to Roots Music Rambler listeners. She has in-depth and not music-focused episodes out now with Nicholas Jamerson and Tanner Horton (The Creekers) well worth watching.

The two also share this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for new music recommendations. Frank raves about King Margo’s song “Send Me Out Like Autumn” and Falls raves about Western Kentucky roots rock band Hollerhead.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Brand New Box of Matches Evolves From Pandemic Pickers to Hit 2026 in Stride

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0000

Elizabeth Sherman and Ryan Hardison started out as a couple. Then started tinkering with bluegrass music. Then the pandemic hit and they began recording multitracks of cover songs at home.

As you may have guessed by now, that led to another step, then another and the duo heads into 2026 as Brand New Box of Matches, a bluegrass group with no fewer than three studio albums and an ever-growing list of both original and cover tunes in their repertoire.

We sat down with Elizabeth and Ryan recently to learn more about their journey from music lovers to more serious, full-time musicians, their musical backgrounds and tastes, songwriting and a lot more. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based pair just announced a 2026 tour that includes a number of festivals and appearances sure to grow the fan base and get their music out there.

Roots Music Rambler was tickled to be an outpost to help tell that story.

Also in this episode, Frank and Falls talk about upcoming Roots Music Rambler “Backstage” episodes that will be shorter, informal catch-up interviews with various artists when the opportunities present themselves. The two also share this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for new music recommendations. Frank calls out Durham, N.C.’s alt-country band Fust while Falls shares his new fascination with West Virginia songwriter Olivia Ellen Lloyd.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A New Country Album Coming from Hunter Park and She Returns From War

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0000

Hunter Park quickly gained a reputation as one of the hottest up-and-coming singer-songwriters when her project She Returns from War made its first full album debut in 2015. Since, the road dogging and networking have done Hunter and the band well. A 2018 album, well-received by alt-country and alternative media, particularly in her native Charleston, S.C., was followed by the amazing Ruthless in 2023.

And, hot off a fall tour opening for S.G. Goodman, She Returns From War is poised to drop a bonafide country album in 2026.

Park joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about the project’s rise from Charleston open-mic group to touring band. We talked about her moving to Nashville, touring with S.G. Goodman, and her brave openness of being a transgendered country music singer.

With the style and sophistication of her writing and the boldness of her position as a deserving artist in the space, we can’t wait to hear the new album and see where 2026 takes her and the group.

Frank and Falls also made some music recommendations in their Pickin’ The Grinnin’ segment. Frank is big on Presley Haile while falls recommended a Kentucky-based rock/blues/country group called The Shelby Lore Band.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Universe is Hungry for Brooklyn-based Bluegrass Group Damn Tall Buildings

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0000

When you say you’re in a bluegrass band from Brooklyn, N.Y., folks in Appalachia will look at you pretty funny. The reaction is almost like the Pace Picante sauce commercial in the 1990s. “New York City? Get a rope!”

But when you dig a little deeper, as we did with Avery Ballotta from the group Damn Tall Buildings, you not only discover some fine pickers and songwriters, but there’s a thriving bluegrass scene in the New York City area. And that quality musicians like Ballotta and bandmates Sasha Dubyk and Max Capistran, honed their bluegrass chops during their time at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Ballotta joined Roots Music Rambler to talk about Damn Tall Buildings’ new album The Universe is Hungry, which dropped in late October. We explored his background, how the group came together and their “paying it forward” mentality. Dubyk and Capistran run a music education program in Brooklyn.

The trio also recently returned from a second overseas trip in conjunction with the U.S. State Department’s cultural outreach program. They taught, jammed and collaborated with students and musicians in Saudi Arabia, which only recently legalized music for citizens. They’ve also toured Ethiopia as a group as well.

Avery was such a delight to chat with and we had a lot of fun comparing notes and talking about what seems to be a resurgence of bluegrass music around the country and world.

Frank and Falls also talked about the recent Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White, and shared their Pickin’ The Grinnin’ picks this week which included Snowcaps and Joshua Slone.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roots Music Rambler’s Best Albums, Songs, Artists & Events of 2025

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:25:00 -0000

The Year 2025 has been a fairly impressive one in Americana and Roots Music and Roots Music Rambler fans have been there for it. On our year-ender episode, Frank and Falls not only recap their favorite new artists, albums and songs, but recall their favorite concerts and events of the year.

And, as a bonus, Falls caught up with Ashton Bowling and Allen Hacker from The Creekers backstage at their recent holiday tour stop in Louisville, Ky. The short green room interview is an added bonus to an episode that celebrates the year we had.

What’s your pick for Americana Album of the Year? The year 2025 had too many to choose from. Molly Tuttle, I’m With Her, Tyler Childers, Hayes Carll, Nicholas Jamerson, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell and many, many more all produced great albums this year. And songs? From Kashsus Culpepper’s Believe to Molly Tuttle’s That’s Gonna Leave A Mark and Tyler Childers’ Bitin’ List to I’m With Her’s Ancient Light, there’s an entire playlist full of potential best songs of the year to choose from.

Frank and Falls also talk about the best new artist for 2025. Depending on your definition of new artist, some names we had on our list include Jesse Wells, Cait Justice, Del Roscoe, Ramona & The Holy Smokes, and even our bonus guests, The Creekers could all be up for that honor.

And in true Roots Music Rambler fashion, Frank and Falls look back on the best live shows they saw in 2025. Their top choices may surprise you.

And, if you’re interested, Falls actually did a Top Songs countdown on our companion radio show, Appalachian Echoes. You can see his countdown, which includes a heavy bias toward Appalachian artists, on the Appalachian Echoes website.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. All music on the program is licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Roots Music Rambler is a member of the Americana Music Association.

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Singer-songwriter Emily Jamerson turns to 2026 poised for big things

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0000

Americana music enthusiasts and concert-goers are constantly in search of the “next big thing.” We all want to be in on the ground floor of watching and artist’s rise to fame so we can say we were a fan from “the beginning.” Whether it’s seeing Tyler Childers with 20 other people at a dive bar in 2017 or standing next to Wyatt Flores at Laurel Cove watching Jesse Wells play, the undiscovered are always discovered by those who remember running into them along the way.

On more than one occasion in the last six months, the “next big thing” label has been said in the same sentence with Emily Jamerson. The younger sister of Sundy Best founder and underground country godfather Nicholas Jamerson, Emily has emerged with songs and stories as moving and thoughtful as her brother’s. She has yet to record a full album, but a strong set of singles and some live sessions have made their way to the streaming services. They’re consistently good with each new one revealing more of the Prestonsburg, Ky., native’s promise.

Emily Jamerson joined Jason Falls for an interview with Roots Music Rambler back in late September. Since that time she has continued to build a strong road presence, expanding to a full band for many shows, and her duet with her older brother, “Sunday Dinners” (which she talks about in the interview) started getting radio play. It’s on Nicholas’s latest album, The Narrow Way.

Emily shared more reflections on growing up in the Jamerson household to compliment her older brother’s stories he shared with us back in the summer. She also shared the formal and informal advice and encouragement Nicholas has provided along the way, including a book (Michael Singer’s The Surrender Experiment), he gave her that helped push past self-doubt and finally write and share her music.

And we talked about and listened to some of her latest music like ”Dried Paint” and “Run, Run Baby.”

Frank and Falls also chatted about Christmas plans and traditions, plus each shared their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ pics for recommended music this week. Frank kept with the holiday theme and shared the music of Ottmar Leibert, whose 1990 album Poets & Angels is one of her favorites for this time of year. Falls calls out upstart honky-tonkers Jason Scott & The High Heat who he saw open for The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam last April.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Ottmar Liebert’s Poets & Angels
Jason Scott & The High Heat on Spotify

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. All music on the program is licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Roots Music Rambler is a member of the Americana Music Association.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Carper brings old school country sound to Christmas, Roots Music Rambler

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0000

It's no secret that at Roots Music Rambler we love music with that old school country sound. We’ve raved about previous guests like Kimmi Bitter, Logan Ledger and others. The latest episode reinforces our appreciation for the simpler tones of bygone eras as perhaps the queen of the sub-genre joined us.

Melissa Carper’s blend of country and western, blues, gospel and even ragtime sounds has made an imprint on the country and Americana spaces since her earliest releases in 2015. Her latest regular, full-length studio album, Borned In Ya, was one of our top records of 2024.

Carper recently released a new record, A Very Carper Christmas, which is an album of all original holiday tunes, and kicked off a holiday tour in Louisville, Ky., opening for J.D. McPherson, to support it.

She joined us a few weeks back (so long ago she even “announced” the Christmas album to us during the recording) to talk about her journey growing up in a musical family, traveling the country on an adventure after deciding college wasn’t for her, and ultimately becoming one of the most unique sounding artists in the country and Americana space.

We also talked about her recent collaboration with Theo Lawrence and her involvement with the super group Wonder Women of Country with Kelly Willis and Brennen Leigh.

Frank and Falls also chatted about music venues they would like to see shows in and each shared their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ pics for recommended music this week. Falls calls out Frankfort, Ky., based singer-songwriter Jeri Katherine Howell while Frank recalls a visceral reaction to discovering The White Buffalo.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Tanner Horton discusses the ‘dazed and confused’ explosion of The Creekers

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

If you, “Woke up this mornin’, dazed and confused,” and sung the lyric in your head, you’ve been bitten by the audio bug that is The Creekers. That line, the opening one from a song called “Tennessee” was the second-most played audio clip on TikTok this summer. It helped propel the Leslie County, Ky.-based bluegrass group to viral success, headline spots at music festivals, and ultimately a record deal with Warner Records.

Co-founder Tanner Horton took time out from digging fence post holes on his home property one evening not long ago to sit in and tell us about the band’s success, songwriting, how they all came together and a lot more. It turns out all but one member of the band has some sort of familial relationship with each other, either as direct as brothers (Jagger and Ashton Bowling), cousins (Horton and Allen Hacker) or by marriage (Scott Sutton).

And then there’s the outlier: fiddler Anna Blanton, whose live show antics have made The Creekers not just a sound for sore ears, but a sight to see live. She’s done everything from zip-lining to riding on her husband’s shoulders while jumping around the crowd. (Charlie Blanton incidentally, is the bass player for friend of the show Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns.)

Horton told us the story of the band coming together, his history with cousin and fellow guitarist and vocalist Allen Hacker, how the TikTok virality happened and what exactly they’ve got in store in the coming months with the band’s new record deal.

Frank and Falls also chatted about Falls’s recent trip outside of the Americana genre to take his daughter to a Tate McRae concert and they each share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ pics for recommended music this week. Falls calls out Hazard, Ky., based vocalist Roy Caudill while Frank shares her experience seeing The Dirndolls live.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

The TikTok viral video that launched the band into stardom

Jason Falls’s rant against the “sellout” commenter

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Gothic Indie Americana experience of Atlanta-based Del Roscoe

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

When you’re first experience with a band is seeing a publicity photo of them and each member is wearing an oversized, paper mache mask for a head, you either run for the hills or start exploring more. At Roots Music Rambler, we dive in head first.

That’s the typical first impression one encounters when finding the Atlanta-based band Del Roscoe. Their new self-titled album came out this fall and the sonic and visual aesthetic the group presents is enough to rouse curiosity. The band calls itself a “gothic indie Americana band.” And the experience aligns with that description.

Co-founder Robert Lee, the group’s primary songwriter, and drummer Matt McKinney took time from their bowling night recently to dial in to Roots Music Rambler from the front of their car. We only point that out because it totally aligns with the experience of Del Roscoe, a band named after a pair of dogs: Del and Roscoe.

We talked about how the band came together, the drivers behind the look and sound, the new album, and the political undertones of songs on the album like Black Hats. As one might expect, the conversation took some twists and turns and on a couple of occasions, nearly devolved into ridiculous. But all of it was a load of fun.

This episode might be one of the more entertaining we’ve had in a while.

Plus, Frank and Falls share their pickin’ the grinnin’ choices for music recommendations, and talk about the new Waylon Jennings album Songbird.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Taylor Lansdale: From the Courtroom to the Stage

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

On the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler, singer-songwriter Taylor Lansdale opens up about his journey from the courtroom to the creative world of songwriting. Once a public defender in Montgomery County, Kentucky, Taylor found himself emotionally exhausted by the weight of his work. Turning to music, he discovered songwriting as a powerful form of therapy and storytelling. Now, with his debut album Headlong, he’s finding his voice and connecting deeply with audiences drawn to his raw honesty and heartfelt lyrics.

The conversation explores the inspiration behind several tracks on Headlong, Taylor’s creative process, and how he channels emotion and experience into song. The hosts also dive into recent headlines surrounding Ryan Adams and share their latest Pickin’ the Grinnin’ music recommendations.

Taylor Lansdale’s transition from public defender to singer-songwriter
The emotional toll of life in the courtroom and how it shaped his music
Behind the making of his debut album Headlong
The songwriting process as a form of healing and reflection
Commentary on Ryan Adams’ latest controversy
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ music recommendations from the hosts

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Taylor Lansdale Online

Taylor Lansdale on Spotify

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Rock-N-Roll Story Guys Podcast on Spotify

They Might Be Giants on Spotify

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Ramona & The Holy Smokes attack Alt-Country charts with first studio album

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0000

When a band’s first album drops, it’s exciting. When it shoots up to a top three position on the charts – any chart for that matter – something is happening.

That’s exactly what is happening to Ramona & The Holy Smokes whose eponymous debut album landed at No. 3 on the Alt Country Specialty Chart in early October. It has bounced around the top 10 since and debuted at No. 50 on the Americana Music Association charts on October 29.

Founder and front woman Ramona Martinez joined Frank and Falls on Roots Music Rambler the day after the Alt-Country chart spike to talk about the new album, her decidedly old-school country sound, her journey to being an artist and much more. Martinez’s parents were military and diplomacy professionals, so she lived in several different countries growing up. She landed in Charlottesville, Va., where her music career took hold, after several years working in public radio.

The new album is full of Texas-sounding honky tonk drinkin’ and thinkin’ songs. The band’s sound includes multicultural and bilingual numbers as well, underlining Martinez’s South Texas family roots.

Frank and Falls also have their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ selections for new music recommendations and Falls actually joins the show from the radio studio in Pikeville, Ky., where he first broadcast at 14-years-old in 1987.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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On the verge of motherhood, Kentucky’s Brit Taylor drops new single, hints at new album

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

The new single from country singer-songwriter Brit Taylor “All for Sale” presents a cautionary tale for men who mess up. If you do, all you stuff is going on sale and you can take a hike. The song probably wasn’t intended for Taylor’s husband Adam Chaffins. He co-wrote and produced the track for the Kentucky native. And the couple, very much mad about one another, are expecting their first child together any day now.

With all that news in the Brit Taylor universe, we couldn’t resist the chance to invite her on as our first-ever repeat guest on Roots Music Rambler. Taylor sat down with us recently to talk about her soon-to-be motherhood, new music, balancing the business of both her and Chaffins having solo careers and more.

She even answered the question of whether or not the new single implies a new album is around the corner. Certainly after a bit of maternity leave.

We first chatted with Taylor in February of 2024 after the launch of her Kentucky Blue album. Since then, Taylor turned that album into a bluegrass cover album called Kentucky Bluegrassed, played the main stage at this year’s Bourbon & Beyond and a lot more.

You’ll definitely learn some things and have fun catching up with her on this episode.

Frank and Falls also talk about artists they have not seen live who are on their bucket list and share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music recommendations for you.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Chasen Wayne shares life’s ups and downs on new LP Corpus

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Chasen Wayne took the long road to honky tonk stage success. The native Texan’s first job in the music industry – if you could call it that – was a club bouncer as a teenager. His reputation and professionalism landed him at a popular venue in Austin, Texas where he wound up booking shows, too.

Nevermind that his big claim to fame in Austin is booking a video shoot for Zach Bryan, a story he tells us in the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler. Wayne’s primary focus was on his weekend residency at the club and building his musical career.

His new album Corpus shares stories of his path out of addiction to sobriety, fatherhood and much more. Wayne’s stories are mostly true and autobiographical. But they’re raw and revealing which has him destined to continue to grow an already avid fan base and keep living that honky tonk dream.

We talked to Wayne about sobriety, father hood, digging tunnels and a lot more. And we got to hear the details behind the big Zach Bryan video shoot, too.

Also on this episode of Roots Music Rambler, Frank and Falls discuss Morgan Wallen deciding not to nominate his latest album for Grammy consideration, the pop country vs. “real” country debate, and they share their picks for Pickin’ the Grinnin’ – music you should listen to.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

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Chicago dive bar country staple Sparkle Carcass drops new record Maraschino Chevy

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0000

Long-time listeners of Roots Music Rambler will recognize the name of the band Sparkle Carcass. They happen to be one of Francesca Folinazzo’s favorite Chicago-based bands she sees play live frequently. And to their credit, they are well-known in the windy city as an alt-country, dive bar sorta crew.

Well, Cody Palmer and crew today released their second studio album and he joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about it. The LP is called Maraschino Chevy and brings out their honky-tonk, beer-slingin’, toe-tappin’ sound nicely.

Palmer joined Frank and Falls to talk about the album, his songwriting process, a musical mom whose healthy rivalry with him helped form his work and a lot more. He talked about how he and wife (and band member) Reilly Downes balance their independent musical projects while participating in one another’s and a lot more.

We also talk about Sparkle Carcass’s first Maraschino Chevy single “Sippin’ on a Cool One” which was originally released by a band called Rollin’ Country around 1977. But Palmer has never been able to find the band for proper credit or acknowledgement. So if you know them or of them, reach out to us at ramblers@rootsmusicrambler.com and we’ll connect the dots!

Also on this episode, Falls shares a social media conversation with artist Lance Rogers and Bill Taylor that helped crystallize his purpose in doing this podcast, his radio show, and beyond. And he and Frank share their picks for new music to listen to in our Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Last Revel back with new Dave Simonett-produced album Gone for Good

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Just a few short years ago, Minneapolis-based folk rock band The Last Revel may have been on its last leg. Co-founder and guitarist Lee Henke was burned out and needed a break. Fortunately, he went on the all-too-familiar journey of burned out musicians, found space, and therapy, which led him back to the band after the pandemic. Soon after, they released Dovetail, which was what he called the “happiest” record of the band’s 15-year career.

Now they’re back with a second post-hiatus offering called Gone for Good. And no, the title doesn’t infer a farewell album. In fact, the band is in as good a place as it has been after working with Trampled By Turtles frontman Dave Simonett, who produced the new offering.

Henke, fellow co-founder Ryan Acker and fiddle mainstay Vinnie Donatelle all three joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about the ups and downs of the last five years, the new album, how the band came together and much more. Henke shared his journey away from, and back to the band, and each offered up their perspective on working with Simonett and more.

Also on this episode, Frank and Falls share their picks for new music to listen to in our Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment and each shares what band they would most likely be members of based on their own assessment of their personalities. (Not to mention, we learn of one of Falls’s pet peeves.)

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Los Gallos offers mix of Mexican traditional music with country, rock and blues

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Chicago-based Los Gallos is a perfect example of the blending of culture in Americana music. Their Mexican and Puerto Rican family backgrounds manifested in first-generation American players who grew up on country and rock radio in the U.S. has resulted in perhaps one of the most interesting bands we’ve heard in a while. Their music is a mix of English and Spanish language songs that range from traditional Mexican sounds to country singer-songwriter approaches.

Watch the Episode on YouTube

Ric Salazar and Henry Fajardo from the band joined us on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about their path to music, the influences their family and upbringing had on it, and the unique blend of songs that make up their diverse portfolio of sounds.

And, because we don’t miss an opportunity on Roots Music Rambler, Frank did corner the guys to ask where to find the best tacos in Chicago.

Frank and Falls talk about some change to Roots Music Rambler (we’re back on full video now) and Falls shares his latest venture, Appalachian Echoes, which is a great companion and compliment to the show. Plus they offer their regular weekly Pickin’ the Grinnin’ picks of new music for your listening pleasure.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com, watch the full episode on YouTube, or download wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Camp drops Sis Draper project, co-written by the late Guy Clark

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Singer-songwriter Shawn Camp has a number of No.1 and Top-10 hits to his name as a songwriter. He’s also had solo success as an artist through the years and is one of the members of bluegrass power group The Earls of Leicester. But perhaps the most fulfilling role he’s had through the years was being a collaborator and protege of sorts of the legendary Guy Clark.

Clark died in 2016 but for over 20 years, he and Camp co-wrote a catalog of songs that tied in with the character of Sis Draper, a traveling fiddle player Camp met when he was a child in Arkansas. Those songs were released today as a full album called The Ghost of Sis Draper. All but one song on the LP was co-written by Camp and Clark. The other is a Guy Clark solo composition performed by Clark.

Shawn Camp joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about his longtime collaboration and relationship with Clark, the new album and how it was built with love over time, plus give his take on the current state of both country and bluegrass music, The Earls of Leicester and more. We had a super-interesting conversation that spanned from his childhood days as a pickin’ prodigy, to 2023’s Grammy Award as a co-writer on Willie Nelsons’ “A Beautiful Time.”

Frank and Falls talk about the amazing fall music festivals they’ve attended and both share their pics for new music recommendations in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Resurrected Corduroy Brown rising with feel-good Appalachian rock

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Corduroy Brown was so ill with COVID during the pandemic, he was airlifted from Huntington, W.Va., to more advanced medical facilities in Morgantown. During the helicopter ride, he died.

Fortunately, quick work from the EMTs revived him. He survived and experienced something most people don’t: A glimpse of what’s on the other side. It changed his outlook on life and his music, which has taken off since.

Brown released a gripping and powerful solo album called Let Me Know in 2021 after he fully recovered. It has propelled him from small gigs to opening for headline acts like Everclear and Hoobastank, as well as some headline and featured spots at some nice music festivals throughout the region.

Brown joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about his path to music, his actual death experience, how that changed his music and what’s next. (Hint: New album news nested in this episodes!) Needless to say, we all left the conversation excited about Corduroy Brown, what’s to come, and life in general.

Frank also grilled Falls on his lucky selection to Tyler Childers’ secret pop-up concert at Dinosaur World in July, and both share their pics for new music recommendations in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Producing Records with La La Land Sound’s Anne Gauthier

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’re taking a bit of a diversion from the typical artist interview this week on Roots Music Rambler with a special guest. Anne Gauthier is the primary producer and engineer behind the great sounds and recordings that come out of La La Land Sound in Louisville, Ky. She has produced, mixed and recorded with artists like Bonnie Prince Billy, Murder by Death, Joan Shelley and more. She has also contributed to records by Ray Lamontagne, Jake Shears and White Reaper.

One of her career highlights was also working with legendary producer Glyn Johns (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin). We asked her about that, how she came to be a record producer and where La La Land Sound fits in the musical landscape. Anne also shared some of her thoughts on production approaches and equipment, the use of A.I. in record production and more.

Frank and Falls also caught us up on the latest from Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns whose America’s Got Talent quest was cut short. They also give a quick update on several past Roots Music Rambler guests and share their pics for new music recommendations in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns talk America’s Got Talent, New Album

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Bill Taylor got a message on TikTok in November from a talent scout for America’s Got Talent. Yes, he was interested, but he thought little of the outreach until two weeks later when the process began to have him and his Appalachian Heatherns fly to California for an audition in front of Simon Cowell, Sophia Vergara, Mel B and Howie Mandel.

The band recorded their audition in March. In June, it aired and the nation finally got to see and hear Taylor’s bluegrass and countrified version of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” which instantly vaulted Taylor and the Heatherns to global exposure. The performance warranted not just four “yes”es from the judging panel, but standing ovations from everyone in the packed theatre.

The Facebook video of the audition alone stands at over 11 million views.

Taylor and Appalachian Heatherns drummer Joe Cox joined us on Roots Music Rambler this week to take a breath from a month of exploding in the wake of national TV exposure. The band’s social media presence has blown up, they sold out a headline show at The Burl in Lexington, Ky., in July. They’ve also been added to a number of festival lineups and headline shows in the coming months.

The second audition of America’s Got Talent is not scheduled but is likely to occur sometime in August or September, so the band is keeping the schedule loose.

Taylor broke some news in the episode, revealing the band has a full-length album planned for release late this year, and hinted at some big live event news coming soon. We also dug into how both Taylor and Cox came to music and more.

Frank and Falls also talked about Amanda Shire’s long-awaited new album and single, and shared their normal Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment with recommendations of new music for you.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Magnolia Boulevard has emerged from adversity with its “Dream Team” and new music coming

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In 2018, a group of southern rock, soul and funk loving musicians from Lexington, Ky., got together to form a new band called Magnolia Boulevard. They quickly gelled and his momentum before the pandemic interrupted what seemed to be a sure rise to prominence in the emerging Americana blend of genres popular in today’s clubs and music festivals.

As the COVID-19 fears subsided and they returned to the stage, their original drummer and universally loved musician Todd Copeland, died suddenly. But co-founders Maggie Noëlle and Ryan Allen continued working on their songwriting and the budding partnership, mixed in with a little grit and determination, and Magnolia Boulevard is still building to something bigger in 2025.

The sound of the band is led by the sultry and powerful voice of Noëlle, who joined us on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about her Southern Virginia roots (she hails from the hometown of Ralph Stanley), the continual climb of the band, its new lineup (which she calls the “dream team”), being a mother while living her musical dreams, and so much more.

Frank and Falls both admit to having crushes on Maggie, so this is a silly good episode with the leader of a band we can’t recommend enough.

The co-hosts also discuss Planting by the Signs, the new album from S.G. Goodman, and have their normal Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment with recommendations of new music for you.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the Best Music Festivals of the Summer is In Manchester, Kentucky and It’s Free!

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Did you know there’s a music festival coming Labor Day weekend that features an incredible roster of singers, songwriters and bands in the Americana, country, folk and bluegrass space and the tickets to said event are absolutely free? You do now.

The Manchester Music Fest is in its seventh iteration in eight years (damnit, COVID) and has always been completely free to the public to attend. Yes, you have to get there. Manchester is a small little burg nestled in the heart of the Eastern Kentucky Appalachians. But it’s a short drive from Interstate 75 South from Lexington and North from Knoxville and is a community just bursting at the bit to welcome people to visit.

This year’s lineup (did we mention it’s free yet?):

Brent Cobb & the Fixin’s
Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays
Taylor Hunnicut
The Creekers
Hollerhead
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
Bill Taylor & The Appalachian Heathens
Deep South
Scott T. Smith
Abe Partridge
Emily Jamerson
Roy Caudill
Stinky Pete
Spooky Fox
The Seas
Mayor of Shenanigans
Colby Sams

For free? Yes. Free.

Tim Parks and Jess Bowman are two of the people behind the Manchester Music Fest. They sat in with Falls this week to talk about the event, how they can pull this off without charging for tickets, booking artists and the impact of such an event on a small community. But they also talked about the early challenges some clever marketing presented for the isolated community in them thar hills (as they say).

Parks is even currently or formerly involved in the management and road management of acts like The Creekers and Sundy Best, so a lot of fun insights fell out of the conversation.

Frank also recaps the recent tribute concert for her late friend Lindsey Woodward and, of course, Frank and Falls also have their normal Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices of recommendations of new music for you to experience.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicholas Jamerson offers new, meditative album through life and loss

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Nicholas Jamerson is regarded as one of the finer songwriters in the current Americana, folk and country scene. His heartfelt lyrics of love, loss and lamentation born from the hills of Eastern Kentucky were the foundation of the success of Sundy Best, his award-winning band and collaboration with Kris Bentley.

But after its temporary break-up/hiatus, Jamerson continued writing and recording as a solo act, often backed by the Morning Jays, his support band. He’s churned out six studio and two live albums over the last decade, the newest of which, The Narrow Way, dropped June 20. It is the third album in a trilogy preceded by The Wild Frontier (2020) and Peace Mountain (2023).

Jamerson joined Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about the new album, which he acknowledged is a bit meditative about life, love and loss. He also talked about his new status as an elder statesman in the folk/singer-songwriter space, how he balances projects like Sundy Best which still tours, and his past as a high school and college football star.

You’ll notice Jamerson repeats the notion that songs and songwriting are his “work.” We’re lucky to be able to experience the craftsmanship.

Frank and Falls also file their 2025 Americana Music Association Awards Ballot and have their normal Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices of recommendations of new music for you to experience.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Chapman drops surprise news including new album and collaboration hints on RMR

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Roots Music Rambler is not designed to be a breaking news outlet, but don’t tell Ben Chapman that. In our recent sit-down for Roots Music Rambler the Georgia-native and standout singer-songwriter dropped news item after news item.

Chapman, who recently tied the knot with longtime girlfriend and fellow songwriter Meg McRee shared the news of their upcoming first child (which they’d already shared on social media), but then told of a new solo album coming up, plus a collaboration project with McRee, Brit Taylor and Adam Chafins. The foursome released “Gone as it Gets” three years ago. Apparently a 10-track LP from the group is due in early 2026!

On his new solo album, Chapman said, “It’s weird.” He likened it to Pink Floyd, but promised it wouldn’t be a huge departure from what his fans have come to expect from him.

Chapman’s latest album is Downbeat. He’s been touring in support of it for over a year now and has added up-and-coming performer to an already impressive songwriting resume which includes material recorded by Shelby Lynne, The Steel Woods, Flatland Cavalry and Muscadine Bloodline, among others.

He’s spent the better part of the last 6-7 years as a contract songwriter in Nashville, along with McCree, who is a frequent collaborator.

We were thrilled to have him join us and excited at the news he wound up sharing. You’ll enjoy this episodes.

Frank and Falls also share this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for artist recommendations for you.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Rooster Blackspur
Bruce Springsteen’s Land of Hopes and Dreams (new protest EP)

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Irishman Mark Geary mixes delightful melodies with dark melancholy

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

For Ireland’s Mark Geary, America was everything. He moved to New York in the 1990s and cut his teeth in the music business alongside legendary artists like Jeff Buckley. Thirty years later, his songs continue to paint pictures of the modern Irish experience, especially as it relates to America.

Geary sat down with Roots Music Rambler before his May headline show at The Monarch Music Community in Louisville, Ky., to talk about his latest album, In the Time of Locusts, songwriting, developing his sound and style and much more.

Geary is on the sonaBlast Records label, which is based in Louisville, but has a roster of independent singers, songwriters and bands from around the world. In fact, labelmate Cait Justice, a previous guest on Roots Music Rambler, even popped into the interview, recorded in the green room at The Monarch.

Frank and Falls also share this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for artist recommendations for you.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Logan Ledger brings California Country Cool to the Americana Scene

Fri, 02 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

If you’ve listened to Roots Music Rambler much at all you know Frank and Falls are suckers for the new wave of retro-sounding Americana and Country artists. (See our previous episode with Kimmi Bitter.) When we first heard Logan Ledger, the same fascination kicked in.

With sounds reminiscent of Marty Robbins, Jim Croce and The Byrds, it was easy to see why this Bay Area product was reclaiming the title of purveyor of California Country in early album reviews. His debut record in 2020 was produced by T. Bone Burnett. His sophomore effort, “Golden State,” was produced by none other than Shooter Jennings.

And it’s magnificent.

Ledger joined Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about his albums, his sound and how a long-time Nashville singer-songwriter found his way into the professional musician space by finding and amplifying his own style.

Falls shares his thoughts on a weird Jim Morrison documentary and he and Frank offer up their normal pickin’ the grinnin’ picks for the week as well.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Storyteller Gabe Lee talks songwriting, family and growing up in Nashville

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Songwriters and storytellers are at the core of Americana music. Few conversations in the genre go very long without the mention of names like John Prine, Jason Isbell, Gillian Welch and others. Most of those folks flocked to Nashville at one time or another to get a publishing deal, cut some records and try to make it in music.

Gabe Lee never had to flock to Nashville. He was born and raised there. The son of Taiwanese immigrants, his mother a pianist, Lee studied to be a classical concert pianist as a kid. Adolescence derailed those plans and Gabe joined garage bands and caught the music bug in a different way.

He now has emerged as one of Nashville’s most promising singer-songwriters. His four albums have shown a maturation into an artist who has been compared to the Prines, Isbells and Welches of the world. He even tells a story of his in-laws thinking of him as the Asian John Prine, a title he’s proud to represent.

Lee sat in with Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about his upbringing and influences, his albums and his music. We discussed everything from listening rooms to college professors.

Lee’s latest album Drink the River came out in 2023. He says he’s intentionally taking time to build up a catalogue of “bangers” for a new LP, which he admits may not come out for another year. But he continues to drop singles, play tours opening for the likes of American Aquarium and dotting music festivals, and sit in with cool podcasts.

Frank and Falls also talk about their own musical abilities (or lack thereof) and offer up their normal pickin’ the grinnin’ picks for the week.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cait Justice Debut Reveals a Fresh Voice from Appalachia

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The mountains of Appalachia have produced some of the most memorable music in recent memory. From Dwight Yoakam to Chris Stapleton and Sturgill Simpson to Tyler Childers, plus up-and-comers like Brit Taylor and Leah Blevins, there’s beautiful tunes in “them-thar hills.”

Cait Justice’s debut album Angel Teeth from sonaBlast Records offers a new entry in the fresh voices from Eastern Kentucky. The 20-something college student from Pikeville, Ky., now resides in Louisville. Within weeks of hitting town, she played a few open-mic and listening rooms, was recommended to sonaBlast’s Gill Holland, and found herself recording a debut album in Louisville’s famed La La Land Studios.

Justice sat in with Frank and Falls on the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler to talk about her sudden insertion into the Louisville and Americana music scene, her background in music, and what it’s like to be at the beginning of what promises to be a meteoric rise to music relevance.

Frank and Falls also talk about the impact their respective mothers had on their interest in music and offer up their normal pickin’ the grinnin’ picks for the week.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Mallett Brothers Band is back with Higher Up in the Hills

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Folk rockers The Mallett Brothers are back with a new album on April 4 called “Higher up in the Hills.” Luke and Will Mallett joined us on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about the album, the first couple of singles from it, 15-years of making it in independent music without leaving their home state of Maine and more.

The brothers who front the band are actually from folk music royalty. Their father, David Mallett, is a well-known folk singer who wrote “The Garden Song” popluarized by Pete Seeger, John Denver and others. We talked about growing up around their famous dad, his impact on their music, and collaborations with him over the years.

The Mallett Brothers also share the story behind another fun collaboration – with legendary keyboardist Chuck Leavell on his PBS series “America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell.”

Falls also kicks off the episode with perhaps the most impassioned rant he’s ever embarked upon, pleading with people to stop complaining about cross-genre artists and the hate toward specific sub-genres of music. It’s worth the listen.

Frank and Falls also share their normal pickin’ the grinnin’ picks for the week.

Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Also be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flatpicker Tyler Grant talks about his journey, new songs, album

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

There’s nothing we love more on Roots Music Rambler than digging into the stories behind songs, albums and artists, especially when geography and place have an impact there. That’s why this episode stands out as one of our favorites as Tyler Grant joined us to talk about his new album, his journey through bands and solo work and more.

No one digs into a story as well as Grant does and you’ll note that right away as we talked about his latest single and upcoming album, Flatpicker, which is due out in March. And the album title is certainly appropriate. Grant is a National Flatpicking Champion and internationally recognized guitar virtuoso. He was also the lead singer and songwriting engine behind the band Grant Farm.

It was such a pleasure to have him join us. He even became the first RMR guest to admit to committing a crime. (Ha! Listen to learn more.) We also learned more about his path through many musical genres to become a bluegrass and folk star.

Falls shares his birthday experience meeting and seeing Joy Oladokun (his favorite). Frank and Falls also share their normal pickin’ the grinnin’ picks for you to listen to, and talk about the advent of AI generated music? Yep. It’s out there.

Be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have Music Festivals Jumped the Shark?

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

It’s no secret that the Roots Music Rambler team loves a good music festival. But as we’ve discussed before, there are perhaps too many of them and the costs continue to skyrocket for fans. It just so happens that there exists an entire podcast and YouTube show dedicated to music festivals and its host, Nate Riggs, is a friend of the program.

This week on Roots Music Rambler, Frank and Falls dig in with Riggs to talk about the state of music festivals across the U.S. The conversation includes everything from the costs to the lineups to the experiences and more. Falls also shares news that his children want him to take them to Bonnaroo and he and Frank talk about the under-the-radar festivals worth attending.

The hosts also talk about A Complete Unknown, the new Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet.

Be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shepherd Hits 2025 with a new single, plans for lots of new music

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

There are few artists out there who fit the Americana music label by decidedly not fitting in any single box better than Jeff Shepherd. The northern Indiana native has been called rock, blues, outlaw country and punk. His music harkens back to 70s rock but has enough country influences to draw comparisons to southern rock and outlaw country artists, alike.

Shepherd, which he now goes by as a single-named moniker, joined us on Roots Music Rambler to talk about his new single, “Settle Down,” and his plans for more new music in 2025. We talked about his time working in the steel mills, the struggles of an independent musician and his newest venture into fatherhood. His son was born a little over a year ago and the lifestyle change has been interesting, he says.

Plus, Frank checks in on Falls who was weathering a snow storm during the recording and the duo talk about one getting to meet a couple of emerging artists at a recent show. And as always, they share their Pickin’ the Grinnin picks for new music for you to explore this week.

Be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roots Music Rambler’s Top 10 Songs & Albums from 2024

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Well, 2024 is in the books and what a year we saw in Americana and Roots Music. From Sierra Ferrell’s explosion to Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter and crazy collaborations to new music from artists like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Secret Sisters, Marcus King and Dwight Yoakam, the year was one for the books.

Since this was the first full calendar year Roots Music Rambler existed (we debuted in September of 2023), we thought we would start an annual tradition of recapping the year with our top songs, albums and artists, plus do a little where-are-they-now rundown of previous show guests to keep everyone thinking about and talking about the music we all love.

In this episode Frank and Falls run down their top 10 songs and albums of 2024, proclaim their top artist, group and newcomer of the year, and call out a couple of artists worthy of praise for innovating in the genre in 2024.

But, to be clear, our philosophy on Roots Music Rambler is tied to a belief that music is not a competition. Rankings and bests are simply fodder for conversation and discovery. These lists are just our individual opinions. We want to hear yours as well. So comment on our social media posts about the rankings and share your favorites for 2024 or what you’re excited about for 2025.

Be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links: (Songs played are representative of our lists, but not necessarily our top songs!)

Without You by Ella Salter and the Sunday Sinners on Spotify
Hero by Marcus King on Spotify
Paperweight by The Secret Sisters on Spotify
Dollar Bill Bar by Sierra Ferrell on Spotify
Texas Hold ‘em by Beyonce’ on Spotify
Gild the Lily by Billy Strings on Spotify
Sierra Ferrell - Our unanimous Artist of the Year - online
The Kimmi Bitter episode of Roots Music Rambler
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside the Stories and Experience of Singer-Songwriter Margo Cilker

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

It’s not often Rolling Stone compares a singer-songwriter to John Prine. But they did just that when they heard “Steelhead Trout” by Margo Cilker. The Oregon-based artist’s first two albums have turned her into an emerging star in the Americana music scene.

Pohorylle, her debut, was so good, the UK Americana Music Association nominated it for Album of the Year alongside Brandi Carlile, Robert Plant & Allison Kraus and Charley Crockett. She went on tour with Drive-By Truckers and Hayes Carll.

Her sophomore album, Valley of Heart’s Delight, is better. Not just by our estimation, but every music publication that’s reviewed it says so. The songs are deeper, more introspective, and perhaps more universal.

Cilker joined us for a chat from her Snake River Valley ranch recently to talk about songwriting, her success, and what the future holds for her music. She and Francesca connected at a performance over the summer and had a conversation about the song and fish that brought about the Prine comparisons. Needless to say, we had a fun conversation.

Falls also talks about his new favorite TikTok account (@rockabuyrecords) and its protagonist (Dean) who is Falls’s new hero. Falls also shares his first take on Dwight Yoakam’s new album Brighter Days.

Be sure to help spread the love of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrating Bluegrass, Harmony and Family with the Bibelhauser Brothers

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Few musicians today stay as busy as Aaron Bibelhauser. Not only is he a prolific songwriter and one half of the twin brother-led bluegrass band called The Bibelhauser Brothers, but he hosts a notable bluegrass music radio show, collaborates with several other artists on albums and singles and leads a community jam session periodically in his home city of Louisville. The only mystery about Aaron is when does he sleep?

Aaron and his twin Adam, who splits vocals with his brother, plays bass, contributes to the writing and production of songs, and naturally offers beautiful blood harmony to the group, joined Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about the group’s new singles, a potential new album, collaborations and more. We discussed their journey to be musicians, and their history with a previous band called Relic as well.

While Adam has a day job and is a full-time dad, Aaron is busy writing, performing and producing. He’s penned songs for Del McCoury, Michael Cleveland, and the Louisville Shakespeare Festival, and produced a tribute album for Mickey Clark. He’s also the host of Bluegrass Evolution, a Sunday night bluegrass radio program on WFPK (91.9 FM) in Louisville.

Also on the show, Frank and Falls discuss Grammy snubs and take a listen to Stephen Wilson Jr.’s astonishing new cover of Ben E. King’s standard “Stand By Me,” which lit up the Live at the Print Shop video concert series recently.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kindred Valley’s Appalachian roots and stories garnering quite a following

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

When Blake Lacy, Noah Freeman and Brett McCoy met and discovered each other’s musical tastes, they did what college students do: They started a band. A few iterations of an expanded friend circles later and the trio evolved to a six-person offering called Kindred Valley.

The band came on the Roots Music Rambler radar opening for Brit Taylor (Episode 16) at The Burl in Lexington, Ky., in February of 2024. A few months later, they were headlining shows at The Burl and dotted music venues up and down the mid-atlantic and midwest.

Blake Lacy (songwriting, vocals) and Noah Freeman (songwriting, vocals, multiple instruments) sat in with Falls recently to talk about the band’s roots, how they came together, the explosive growth of the group’s success in 2024 and a lot more. The band even survived the attrition of one member who decided life on the road wasn’t in the cards.

Kindred Valley’s music is often categorized as folk rock. We’ve likened them to a folksier version of Fleetwood Mac, largely because of the diverse roster of musical talent throughout the group and the harmonies and sometimes lead vocals of Rachael Hayes, the lone female member of the band.

The group has a new EP out called What Was Left to go along with their self-titled debut album released last year.

Frank and Falls also rank the top live performances they’ve seen in 2024 and issue a call to action for you to contribute your favorite performances, albums and songs for the year as we wind down toward the end of the year. And, as usual, they share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ picks of the week.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bluegrass mainstay Dave Adkins talks new album, band geeks and more

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Dave Adkins has already had a fantastic career as a bluegrass artist. He was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America in 2022, which was the second time he earned that nod. He’s also been nominated for awards like the International Bluegrass Association Emerging Artist of the Year and Inspirational Bluegrass Artist of the Year.

In 2020, Adkins contributed lead vocals to two tracks on a Grammy Nominated Best Roots Gospel Album in 2020. His catalog of songs written and performed have earned countless No. 1 and top 10 hits on various charts.

And he’s still at it.

Adkins joined Roots Music Rambler to talk about his latest album What I’m For, his days as a band geek growing up in Eastern Kentucky, and his time as a radio disc jockey, coincidentally at the same radio station co-host Jason Falls started his broadcasting career with.

Frank and Falls also talk about Falls’s recent experience seeing Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp, and Frank’s encounter with Adeem the Artist and others at the Evanston Folk Festival. And, as usual, they share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ picks of the week.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Ducas returns with Pete Anderson-produced Long Way From Home

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

George Ducas is back with a new album, but a decidedly elevated sound thanks to him luring legendary Bakersfield sound producer Pete Anderson back to the country studio. He sat in with Roots Music Rambler this week to talk to Frank and Falls about the new album, the day-to-day of being a Nashville songwriter and a lot more.

Ducas even made a public promise to try and get Anderson to come on the show! (We’re giddy over this!)

As if that weren’t enough, Ducas also played the first song he ever wrote (at age 11) during the recording, which was more than a treat, and just the second “live” performance during a recording of Roots Music Rambler.

Ducas’s new album is called Long Way From Home and Anderson, long-time producer and guitarist for Dwight Yoakam, is very high on the album and his return to producing in the country genre.

This was one of our most fun conversations. Ducas really is a great guy and brilliant songwriter. You’re going to enjoy this episode.

The hosts also offer up their picks for new music for you to discover this week in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment of the show.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ghost of Paul Revere frontman Griffin William Sherry emerges with solo album

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

The Ghost of Paul Revere announced its breakup in April of 2022 and fans of the Maine-based folk trio were heartbroken. The band said it had become more difficult to make records and tour while maintaining their friendship and the latter was more important.

But 2024 brought about two rays of sunshine in the world of Ghost fans: The band has released a 10th anniversary, 180-gram vinyl reissue of its most successful release, Believe. And lead singer and primary songwriter Griffin William Sherry is back with a new album and tour. He told us the sound difference in his new solo work and what fans loved with Ghost isn’t that different.

He also said, “Never say never,” to the question of a reunion of the original band.

Sherry not only sat in with Frank and Falls on Roots Music Rambler this week, but became the first artist to play “live” during the show recording. He performed a solo acoustic rendition of his song “Juliet” from his new album Hundred Mile Wilderness.

Falls shares the latest purchase to accompany his growing record collection. Frank and Falls also talk about free concert series at several communities around the country where you can sometimes catch great Americana acts for free. Falls also calls on our listeners to let us know of free concert series where great acts often play. We’re curating a list.

The hosts also offer up their picks for new music for you to discover this week in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment of the show.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

R/D Record Cabinets (where Falls ordered his new record cabinet)
Jammin’ in Jeff summer concert series
Griffin William Sherry online
Griffin William Sherry on Spotify
“Hundred Mile Wilderness” on Spotify
The Ghost of Paul Revere on Spotify
The Aroostook War
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Mennonite Church to Celtic Punk and now Country and Folk, Brandon Good has seen it all

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Brandon Good’s early days in music were in the Mennonite Church. Later, in a Celtic punk band. Nowadays, the Chicago-based singer-songwriter is expressing his love for harmonies and melodies through more country and folk, singer-songwriter type tunes while unifying several genres into an interesting blend of tunes.

Good joined Frank and Falls on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about his previous work in albums like The Anvil, which he called a “heavy” album of introspection and emotion. But he also teased out some new music coming this fall with a new LP on the horizon. He says the new work will be more lighthearted and humorous than before.

Our conversation also touched on the impact of location on songwriting, with Brandon sharing his experience of living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He talks about the solitude and reflection that the location provided, allowing him to make conscious choices and revelations in his music.

Frank and Falls also discuss whether or not music festivals are getting too big, individually, and too big, in terms of the sheer number from which to choose. And they offer up their picks for new music for you to discover this week in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment of the show.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Queen of Old School Country Sound Kimmi Bitter has arrived

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

In March of this year, Kimmi Bitter came out of nowhere to land on top of the Alt Country music charts with her first full-length album Old School, a collection of songs that if you didn’t know better, you’d swear were from Patsy Cline and the Jordanaires. That record spent four weeks at No. 1 and vaulted Bitter into the conversations for Americana newcomer of the year.

Bitter joined Roots Music Rambler to talk about the explosion of her record, the opportunities it has opened up and what the future of her music and sound might be. We also dug into where her love of 60s country comes from and how she’s crafted a strong brand to go with the great music.

Also on the show, Frank and Falls talk about recent music experiences at the American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s in Chicago (Frank) and Roostertail Music Festival (Falls), and debate whether or not audio books qualify as reading. They also share their Pickin’ & Grinnin’ picks of the week as recommendations of new music for you to enjoy.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mountain and Bluegrass Music with Linchpins Larry and Cheryl Webster

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Larry and Cheryl Webster may not be big recording artists or the kind of musicians that sell-out arenas around the world, but they are as important to the music industry and community as anyone that has ever come out of Eastern Kentucky. Their network of contacts and influence put them in the role of linchpin for many mountain and bluegrass musicians through the now six decades the couple has been playing, writing, performing and booking music.

It just so happens they were the couple whose Friday night pickin’ and grinnin’ sessions gave one of our hosts, Jason Falls, his roots in loving roots music. So he ventured home to Pike County, Ky., and invited himself into their kitchen for a chat.

Larry and Cheryl headed up The Mule Band, a traditional folk, mountain and bluegrass group, for years. It has served as the house band, if you will, for Pikeville, Ky.’s annual spring festival called Hillbilly Days, on and off since the late 1970s. Larry would invite promising mountain and bluegrass artists to play the event which became quite an honor for musicians from the genres.

Larry is also a prolific folk and mountain music songwriter with credits on recordings by The Local Honeys, Guy Carawan and Nate Polly among others.

Cheryl is known for her ability to harmonize and comes from an extensive family of musical talent including her cousin Darrell Scott. She tells the story of how his song “You’ll never leave Harlan alive” is about their great grandparents. The song had new life injected into its popularity when original recording artist Patty Loveless along with Chris Stapleton performed it at the 2022 CMA Awards.

The Websters are also the grandparents of promising fiddle player Ella Webster, the current touring player in Cole Chaney’s band.

In a bonus segment, Frank and Falls share a clip from an interview with author Amy Bizzarri, whose latest book The Best Hits on the Blues Highway: Nashville to New Orleans on Route 61 is fantastic.

Frank and Falls also talk about their daughter’s recent music activity including Lollapalooza 2024, and the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. And shared new music for your listening pleasure in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment after the interview.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atomic Junction Drops New Album of Clever Alt Country Tracks on Americana Space

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Aaron Perlut learned to play the guitar at age 47. That was just six years ago. Now, he’s the front man for Atomic Junction, which dropped its first full-length LP earlier this summer. The St. Louis-based band’s sound is not unlike many of its midwestern kin: A little country, a little punk, a little rock. And a lot interesting

Perlut joined Frank and Falls on the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler to talk about the midlife start to his musical journey, recording the band’s first album, their influences and more. The conversation was slightly different than others we have on the show. Falls and Perlut have been friends for two decades and even once worked together at Perlut’s marketing agency, Elasticity.

Falls claims to have known nothing about Perlut’s musical focus until recently.

Frank and Falls also share their much anticipated experience seeing Tyler Childers together as the Mule Pull Tour stopped in Chicago. They discuss Shooter Jennings’ big Father’s Day announcement that new Waylon Jennings recordings are coming in 2025. And, of course, they share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations for music you should check out.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Incredible Kaia Kater talks new album, representation in Americana music

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Believe it or not, Rhiannon Giddens isn’t the only black banjo player turning heads in Americana Music. Kaia Kater’s first album in six years is out and the likes of Rolling Stone, No Depression and more are giving it glowing marks.

She’s not just turning out a unique sound and a very different take on how the banjo plays into new music, but Kater is also chiming in on representation of people of color in bluegrass, country and Americana music. This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) dig in with her to talk about that, her background growing up in Canada, the culture shock of going to college in West Virginia and collaborating with the likes of Allison Russell, Aoiefe O’Donovan and Taj Mahal on her new record and a lot more.

Falls also shares his experience at Railbird Festival in Lexington, Ky., in June, which included a new worship-like status of Marcus King. They also discuss the list of top 12 all-time grossing live music acts and the lack of intimacy in stadium shows.

Plus, as always, Frank and Falls share their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations for music you should check out.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jackson Pines Singing New Jersey Into the Folk Scene

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0000

When you think of music from New Jersey, you typically think of Bruce Springsteen. Or perhaps Bon Jovi. But most people don’t immediately see folk music come to mind. Jackson Pines may not be trying to change that, but they’re certainly doing their best to make New Jersey folk a more widely known and understood subset of the Garden State’s musical DNA.

This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) caught up with the two founders of Jackson Pines, Joe Makoviecki and James Black to get a history lesson on New Jersey folk, talk about the latest music from the group and hear stories from their travels.

The band has even played on stage with Pete Seeger, giving them full-on folk credentials.

Makoviecki turned out to be sort of a New Jersey folk historian – not unexpected from a teacher’s son – so this episode wound up being one of the more educational we’ve ever had.

Falls also asks why vinyl record collectors get upset about people using the term “vinyl” as a noun. So for all the hall monitors out there, this part will piss you off.

Falls also tells his Ron White-like story of being “thrown out of a bar in New York City,” and, of course, Frank and Falls share their pickin’ the grinnin’ choices for good music for you to check out this week.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Song for the Dumped by Ben Folds Five on Spotify
Happiness Bastards by The Black Crows on Spotify

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigan-based country singer Rachel Brooke talks new single, journey to the stage and more

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0000

This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) are joined by country music singer and songwriter Rachel Brooke. Her new single is out and she is touring the U.S. this summer to drum up anticipation for an EP later this year and perhaps a new full album in 2025.

She sat in with Frank and Falls to share her journey from being a teenage punk band drummer to crooning country songs in honky tonks around the midwest. She also discussed her music and writing, the layoff from touring and recording brought about my motherhood and much more.

Frank and Falls also talk about being locked in a hotel room … twice. (And yes, we said locked “in”!) Falls shares his experience seeing Joy Oladokun, Gary Clark Jr., and others at the inaugural I Made Rock and Roll festival in Indianapolis.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bri Bagwell’s “Overnight” Success is on Year 15, But She’s Here!

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0000

This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) visit with Texas-based country artist Bri Bagwell. She has strung together 12 No. 1 hits on the Texas Country Music Charts and is a nine-time winner of that organization’s Female Artist of the Year. She’s well on her way to becoming the next big thing in country music and she sat in with us for a chat.

Bagwell’s latest album, Corazon Y Cabeza, features a song climbing those charts this summer called The Rescue. It’s about her dog Whiskey, a rescue she found on the side of the road several years ago, who incidentally sat in Bri’s lap during the interview.

Bagwell is also a successful podcaster as host of Only Vans, a music interview show where Bri interviews her fellow artists in the front of her touring van as she travels across the country playing gigs. Hear several of her songs and all about her climb to the country music mountain tops on this week’s episode.

Francesca and Falls also talk about 80s hair bands, the 25th anniversary of Old Crow Medicine Show, which played a private show Falls attended recently. And as usual, Frank and Falls offer up their weekly recommendations for new music to listen to in their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer-Songwriter Leon Majcen brings Prine and Buffett-esque sounds to new album

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0000

This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) are joined by emerging Americana singer-songwriter Leon Majcen (pronounced MITE-zen). The Florida-based songwriter brings a mix of John Prine and Townes Van Zandt lyrics with a Jimmy Buffet, Gulf Coast vibe that is sure to appeal to a lot of music fans.

Majcen came to our attention opening for Sundy Best in Louisville in February. Falls then saw him at the Monarch Music Space in Louisville in May. His self-titled new album launched in late May and is well worth the listen, if not purchase. Majcen has an interesting backstory, too. He is the son of Bosnian immigrants who fled that country during its war in the mid 1990s.

Frank and Falls also pay tribute to their music teachers in their childhoods, and as usual, offer up their weekly recommendations for new music to listen to in their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse Lynn Madera talks new album, heavy-hitter producers and more

Fri, 24 May 2024 15:00:00 -0000

This week on Roots Music Rambler, hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) visit with singer-songwriter Jesse Lynn Madera whose new album “Speed of Sound” is out. She pulled together a list of heavy-hitter producers to make this new record including Dan Navarro of Lowen and Navarro fame, and Grammy winners Jim Scott and Ryan Hadlock. The early single from the album “Last Calls” features Navarro and is turning some heads in the Americana space.

Frank and Falls explored the new album, her roots growing up in both West Virginia and Texas, her creative flow and inspiration and the role her actor husband Hemky Madera (Weeds, Kaleidoscope, Spider Man: Homecoming) plays in her writing.

Plus our hosts discuss a somewhat controversial topic in the Americana music space: Do women have to have a gimmick to get noticed? The question was inspired by a theory posed by a marketing and promotions pro in the space and opened an interesting conversation.

And, as usual, Frank and Falls offer up their weekly recommendations for new music to listen to in their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Son Volt, Bottle Rockets guitarist John Horton talks about the beginnings of Alt Country

Fri, 10 May 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 19 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we have a true Alt Country legend with us. Guitarist John Horton joins us on the show to talk about his career and impact on the music world. He became a member of the legendary band The Bottle Rockets in 2003. As if that wasn’t impressive enough to cement him as an impactful contributor to the Alt Country sound, he joined friend Jay Farrar and his band Son Volt in 2021.

Son Volt, of course is one of the two offspring of the Uncle Tupelo split. That band is often credited with starting the Alt Country genre.

Horton takes us through his musical journey, the impact of both bands and their music, Son Volt’s latest album Day of the Doug (a tribute to Doug Sahm) and a lot more.

Frank and Falls also discuss the recent dust-up between Jason Isbell and the widow of Justin Townes Earle over Isbell’s song When We Were Close. The controversy was covered widely in the music business as Jenn Marie Earle posted a harsh criticism of the song which calls out their daughter.

Frank also discusses her recent trip through Belleville, Illinois, to New Orleans, to stalk historical sites related to both Farrar and former Uncle Tupelo and Wilco founder Jeff Tweedy. She and Falls also offer up their regular Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music you should listen to.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Folk Legend Si Kahn Turns 80 with New Music, Look Back at Career

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 17 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

This week, folk music legend Si Kahn joins the program to celebrate his 80th birthday (April 23). He looks back on his over 50-year career of making music and talks about a new album coming out in September called “Labor Day.”

Kahn is a long-time labor organizer and advocate whose songs are typically laced with political punditry and satire. His first album, New Wood, was recorded in the 1970s and chronicled electioneering and old boy’s clubs of small mountain towns, among other themes.

Kahn has recorded over 20 albums and written four books, the latter of those mostly focus on community organizing and grass-roots community building. He is the former leader of Grassroots Leadership and has served in various roles with songwriting unions and organizations over the years.

In 1987, Kahn recorded Carry It On: Songs of America’s Working People with Jane Sapp and legendary folk singer-songwriter Pete Seeger. He has also written several theatrical plays and musicals.

Frank and Falls also discuss the ambiguous definition of Americana music and, of course, offer up another offering of Pickin’ the Grinnin’ – recommendations for you to discover new or rediscover older music this week.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer-Songwriter Renee Maskin Turns Out Another Strong Album with Shimmer

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 17 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

This week, New Jersey-based singer songwriter Renee Maskin joins the show to talk about her transition from progressive rock and punk to folk and Americana. She’s now on her third album, an imaginative gem called Shimmer, and has even been named songwriter of the year and artist of the year by New Jersey Stage.

Maskin spent several years in a progressive / punk band before a fateful trip to Texas and a recommendation to listen to Tom Waits turned her musical interests to folk and Americana. Since the switch, she’s been honored as a songwriter with awards and recorded three albums, all fueled by the inspiration surrounding the music scene in her hometown of Asbury Park, N.J.

She sat in with Falls to talk about the Bruce Springsteen-vibe of Asbury Park, her evolution as a songwriter, touring with her former band which included touring with The Pretenders and more. Maskin started her professional pursuits in college as a visual artist, but quickly moved to music full-time.

She’s been writing since she first took a guitar lesson as a teenager.

Frank and Falls also talk about Falls’s recent invitation to fill-in on WFPK’s Roots ‘n’ Boots, a weekly roots music show on terrestrial radio in Louisville, music documentaries worth watching and, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brit Taylor Flips Kentucky Blue to a Chart-Climbing Bluegrass Album

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 16 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

This week, Falls caught up with rising star Brit Taylor before a recent performance in support of her Kentucky Bluegrassed album. The Hindman, Ky., native actually took 2023’s Kentucky Blue, her second album comprised of a number of strong country and Americana nongs, and rendered a bluegrass version of many of those songs with Kentucky Bluegrassed.

The bluegrass version entered the Americana Music Association charts in early March as Taylor went on the road to promote both records. Kentucky Blue was produced by Sturgill Simpson and Dave Ferguson. Taylor also previous wrote songs with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.

Frank and Falls also talk about his trip to see Taylor play which included some celebrity spotting, of sorts. They also chat about the potential break-up of Lovejoy, Falls’s experience seeing Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit for the first time.

And, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S.G. Goodman Talks About Her Rise to Prominence in Americana Music

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 14 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

This week, the Patron Saint of the Dollar Store herself blesses us with her presence. S.G. Goodman joins the show to talk about her meteoric rise to prominence in the Americana music scene. The last 12-18 months have included her being named Americana Emerging Artist of the Year, releasing her second album to high acclaim, having Tyler Childers cover “Space and Time” on his Rustin’ in the Rain album, then being asked to join him on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, then going on tour to open for Childers and Jason Isbell … WOW!

Goodman sat in with Falls to talk about the rise, her background, the whole Tyler Childers evolution with Space and Time and a lot more.

Frank and Falls also talk about the Jason Isbell-Amanda Shires divorce, The 2024 Grammys and more. Falls had a very pointed reaction to Taylor Swift’s on-stage announcement of her new album much to his daughter’s chagrin. Frank lamented the fact Childers’s In Your Love video didn’t win.

And, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music. Falls even asked Goodman to contribute, so she told us who she’s listening to during her brief break from the road.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires to divorce
The 2024 Grammys winners list
Senora May’s Instagram Post
S.G. Goodman’s website
Daniel Martin Moore online
The Kentucky Natural Lands Trust & Pine Mountain Settlement School
Erin Rae on Instagram
Lankum on Spotify - (S.G.’s music recommendation)
Fred Eaglesmith on Spotify - (S.G.’s music recommendation)
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Louisville-based Digby back with first album in 17 years (Exclusive clips!)

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 13 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, Falls sits down with three members of the Louisville-based Digby, which is back with its first album in 17 years. The group, originally known as Hundred Acre Wood, scored a modest hit single in the early 2000s with “Hundred Percent Free” but put down the guitars, drums and fiddle as life happened to its members.

While often labeled a “power pop” band, the group evolved from a more acoustic and folk-based sound and fits squarely into the Americana vibe.

They debuted the single “Love is Love ” on Valentine’s Day on WFPK in Louisville. The full album, Happy Little Heartbreak, drops March 1. The episode features the world-wide debut of three songs from the upcoming album (clips, not the full cuts), and lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter Paul Moeller, lead guitarist Rich Oeffinger and bassist Ben Schneider all dialed in to chat about the past, present and – yes – future of Digby.

Also on the show, Frank and Falls discuss the recent news that Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires are divorcing. Falls drops a truth bomb on Swifties after Taylor’s tacky promotional speech at the Grammys. And, of course, some new music was offered up as this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ for you to feast upon.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Question We All Want Answered: Does Wilco Suck?

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 12 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we finally explore the topic that has been nagging at Falls (at least) for some time: Does Wilco suck? Needless to day, it’s an entertaining conversation that might end in a different place than you expect.

Also on the show, Frank asks Falls about his burgeoning addiction to vinyl record shopping and the two interview their daughters about the music they love. Katie and Lucia joined the hosts for some spirted talk about Boy Genius, Lovejoy, Gracie Abrams and more.

And, of course, some new music was offered up as this week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ for you to feast upon.

Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available.

(As of press time, there are no “Wilco Sucks” bumper stickers.)

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sara Jean Stevens Hits Her Stride With Working Mother, New EP Coming

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 11 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we’re joined by singer-songwriter Sara Jean Stevens. The Illinois-based artist has put in years of grind, playing in other people’s bands and other people’s music. She even did a European tour with Bleached, an L.A.-based punk band a few years back.

But she decided one day she had songs in her that needed to get out, so she started gigging with her own band, which morphed into a solo act backed by musicians and began to find her own voice and sound. Firmly planted in the Americana sound, Stevens writes songs she calls “dusty and warm” like the horse farm she grew up on.

Frank and Falls talked about her journey to cutting her first album, the new EP and eventual LP in the works, her career as a hair and makeup artist, her recent jaunt into being a muralist, and a lot more. Stevens is set to open for John Hiatt in the spring and is poised for a big year in 2024.

Frank and Falls also reveal Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store, talk about their experience in bands and singing in public, and, of course, share some new albums and artists worth checking in in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment of the show.

Falls swoons over his favorite new find in years - Proof of Life from Joy Oladokun.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

WFPK 2023 Countdown Results & Playlist
Jason’s Americana Playlist on Spotify
Weathervanes - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
The Record - Boy Genius
Rustin’ in the Rain - Tyler Childers
Guts - Olivia Rodrigo
Cousin - Wilco
Hackney Diamonds - Rolling Stones
First Two Pages of Frankenstein - The National
Jason’s big recommendation: Joy Oladokun’s Proof of Life
Noah Kahan on Spotify
Noah Kahan/Hozier Collaboration
The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We - Mitski

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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From Rock Bottom to Rockabilly Success, Ashley Best is At His Best Now

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 10 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

Ashley Best has one of the stories that just sets him up to write great country songs. The Cadiz, Ohio dairy farmer started playing music in his teens, then life got in the way. In his early 20s, his wife died unexpectedly and left him with two daughters to raise. The struggles of a widower got to him and he admitted to spending years self-medicating with alcohol.

Then he hit rock bottom.

The journey out of alcoholism included finding love again, getting back to his family farm, and rediscovering his ability to write and perform. Best produced an EP in 2018, then dropped his first full album, Something, in 2022. His mix of honky tonk swoon and rockabilly energy has produced strong music that matches nicely with his layers-of-life-experience voice that is unique, to say the least.

Best told us he describes his vocal quality as, “tired.” We think it’s “seasoned.”

Best joined us to share his emotional journey down and back, what it’s like playing honky tonks in the Ohio-West Virginia-Pennsylvania section of the country, how his grandfather’s old reel-to-reel recordings put him on his path to music and much more on an emotional and uplifting episode of RMR.

Frank and Falls also talk about their respective vinyl record collections, share their reaction to a local radio station’s top 2023 albums list and react to Jason Isbell’s recent dental work.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Discovering the Roots of Arabic Music with Oud Virtuoso Mohammed Dohai

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 9 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

This is a special episode we’ve been hinting at for a while. In November of 2023, Falls traveled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on business. While there, he reached out to Oud soloist and teacher Mohammed Dohai. The Oud is a traditional Arabic instrument dating back centuries that is a predecessor of the lute, mandolin and guitar. It is typically played with 12 strings, double strung like a mandolin, but has a deep, pear-shaped body, short finger board and angled capstan.

Dohai spent 10 years working as a civil inspector on engineering projects in the UAE but in 2015 transitioned to playing and teaching Oud full-time. He’s since become a frequent performer throughout the Arabic region, playing for large crowds, royalty and beyond.

He teaches Oud at Bait Al Oud, a prestigious international conservatory dedicated to the instrument in Abu Dhabi. He not only accepted Jason’s invitation to be on the podcast, but met him in person to talk about, show and play the instrument for Roots Music Rambler.

This episode is special for that and other reasons. Our journey to understand the roots of this Arabic instrument and one of its finest players is exactly why the podcast exists … to dig into the roots of music and musicians that a given place or time makes unique.

Frank and Falls also share their recent weekend that can only be described as Trucker-laden, Falls reveals his new S.G. Goodman-inspired tattoo, and the two share the music they’re listening to this week to help you know what Picks are making us Grin in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/rambler

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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John Haywood Talks Old Time Banjo, Heavy Metal and Tattoos

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for Episode 8 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode we dig into the eclectic world of artist, musician and bonafide Eastern Kentuckian John Haywood. Not only is John an “old time” banjo player, but also leads a heavy metal band while being an artist and running a tattoo parlor during the day. He hails from Prestonsburg, Kentucky, just a hop, skip and a jump from Pikeville, where Falls grew up.

The conversation was fascinating as Haywood explains the difference in mountain banjo versus bluegrass banjo, how bluegrass and heavy metal music are intertwined, and how his childhood and background with and without music shaped his life as an artist.

His latest banjo album is called Upon My Word and Honor, which John explains was a phrase his papaw used to say, but he didn’t quite hear correctly. The heavy metal band is called Appalachiatari and can be found on Spotify. His website is full of his artwork and his tattoo parlor can be found on Instagram.

Frank and Falls also share some fun stories about their first concerts. Falls cringes at his and just cackled at Francesca’s teen heartthrob first show. She recovered, though, with the story of seeing U2 during The Joshua Tree concert.

Falls also offers a sneak peek at a very cool future episode. He is traveling to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for his work life and is planning to interview Mohammad Dohai, a concert oud performer (an Arabic instrument similar to a lute or mandolin).

As usual, the two have some recommendations for new music in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment as well that includes a new album from a notable Americana singer.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

Tradfast – Irish Music Festival Frank keeps referring to
Gold Tone article about the difference in Old-Time and Bluegrass music

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Roots Music Rambler is also sponsored by Sonos. Put high quality speakers in every room of your house for a seamless listening experience while you party, work, laundry, clean and more. Go to https://rootsmusic.link/sonos to get your first speaker and experience the difference of Sonos.

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Pixie & The Partygrass Boys May Have the Greatest Bluegrass-Covers-of-Rock-Songs Album Ever

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

It’s time for Episode 7 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, Ben Weiss of the Utah-based bluegrass group Pixie & The Partygrass Boys joins Frank and Falls to talk about perhaps the best bluegrass cover album of all time. The Chicken Coop, Vol. 1 is and 11-track toe-tapper that puts a guitar-mandolin-banjo-fiddle spin on everything from “Gimmie Shelter” by the Rolling Stones to The Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.”

Intentionally silly and fun, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys took their bars and weddings gigs and jazz backgrounds and flipped them into a novel, but serious musical take on bluegrass music. In fact, they have a new album on the horizon that isn’t as cover and gimmick-driven.

Weiss, who plays mandolin and provides some vocals for the band, joined the show on the eve of a Pacific Northwest jaunt for the group. He talked about the background of the band, their treatment of a recent version of The Nutcracker and the commonalities in jazz and bluegrass.

Frank and Falls also spent time lamenting the TikTok-ificiation of Americana music shows and concerts, from tickets to crowds, and Falls shared his experiences watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie with his daughter at a Drive-In Theatre.

(And stick around for the outtakes as he almost embarasses a former teacher!)

As usual, the two have some recommendations for new music in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment as well that includes a new album from a notable Americana singer.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

The Run Pee App
Sauerbeck Family Drive-In - LaGrange, Ky.
The Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch
The River of Rosewater - Nutcracker spin featuring Pixie & The Partygrass Boys music

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Nathan Graham hits his rise to prominence with debut album Saint of Second Chances

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 6 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, singer-songwriter Nathan Graham’s debut album Saint of Second Chances is out and a breath of fresh air mixing Chicago blues, rock, pop, soul and more. He joined Frank & Falls to talk about his background, family, influences and the new tunes, as well as what he learned from his brief stint on The Voice in 2017.

The Chicago native spent several years as a session musician and playing clubs with several bands before friends and family encouraged him to start singing as well. He also found others singing the songs he wrote didn’t quite satisfy his need to give birth to the song.

Graham is also on a personal mission to break the stereotype of people of color seldom being labeled a “singer-songwriter” despite performing the same tasks in even the same genres. The three discuss the stereotypes, Graham’s parents and their impact on his music, and how Chicago impacted his art.

The episode starts with Falls reacting to Jason Isbell’s recent criticism of Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond” and offered some pointed criticism of his own.

And the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment features everything from Native American artists to Tears for Fears.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ella Salter & The Sunday Sinners talk obstacles as they ready for a new album

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 5 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, Frank & Falls are joined by Ella Salter and her backing band, The Sunday Sinners. Ella’s 2019 debut album “Beverly” saw its launch thwarted by COVID and the South Alabama singer had a sluggish start to a promising rise through the Americana and Country circuits. But she pulled together The Sunday Sinners once the world opened back up and the unit has been writing new songs since.

They’re in the midst of an Indie Go Go campaign to raise the necessary funds to record a second studio album in early 2024 and are still working the roadhouses, bars and clubs throughout the South in preparation.

Ella et. al., joined the podcast from their weekly rehearsal space – a furniture store – near Mobile, Ala., and talked about Ella’s Texas-Alabama roots, the hurdles she and the band have had to overcome, writing the new album and much more.

Falls also shares his recent experience with and Edgar Allen Poe dramatic production on The Belle of Louisville and he and Francesca file their regular segment Pickin’ the Grinnin’ where they share the new artists, albums and songs that are making them smile this week.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum

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Exploring the Roots of Drive By Truckers Instrumentalist Jay Gonzalez, A New Album and New Music

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 4 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, Francesca catches up with Jay Gonzalez of the Drive by Truckers. The multi-instrumentalist has a new side project coming out in December. He shares the story of finding and collaborating with lyricist Peter Smith to produce the new Gonzalez Smith album. The first single from the album, She’s My Girl, is out now.

Frank also explores Jay’s roots as a musician growing up in upstate New York, moving to the South and blending with the Drive by Truckers.

Frank & Falls also do a little check-in to see how the show is going so far, four episodes in. Francesca reveals she spent 20 years as a 9-1-1 dispatch operator. Jason muses on his next tattoo and hints that he’s working on an impersonation off Drive by Trucker co-founder Patterson Hood.

Since we’re all new to Roots Music Rambler, the show includes three main parts:

Francesca and Falls open the show talking about a topic of the day in the music industry.
Our guest then comes in as we explore their roots – of music and life.
Then Francesca and Falls finish off the show with our Pickin’ The Grinnin’ segment. That’s where both pick what music, artists, events and more make them grin this week. They share whom they’ll see live, what new artists they’ve discovered and more.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

Happy Place Beer by Third Space Brewery
Rosie’s in Bloomington, Illinois
American Aquarium
The Hu - Mongolian band Francesca mentioned
Billy Joel’s Glass Houses - Gonzalez’s first album
Shenorock, New York - Where Gonzalez grew up
She’s My Girl - The first single from Gonzalez Smith’s new album
The Manhattan Bar - Athens, Ga.
Gary McFarland & Peter Smith’s 1971 album Butterscotch Rum on Spotify
Waiting for the Fire by Marvelous Toy - Gonzalez’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’
The Henry Clay People - Gonzalez’s friend Jordan Hudock’s other band

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Zack Bryan’s new album
Sierra Ferrell
18 Wheels of Love - Video mentioned by Francesca
Nathan Graham’s new single Right One
Lovejoy’s new single Normal People Things
Noah Kahan
Cole Chaney
Ella Webster (Cole Chaney’s fiddle player)
Hillbilly Days - PIkeville, Kentucky’s spring festival

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel Pop musician Mike Mentz discusses drawing inspiration from his travels, his aggressive 21 roads project and a cappella groups on Roots Music Rambler

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to episode 3 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we talk about Falls’s disappointment with a concert cancellation, the sweet Dolly Parton AirBnB he stayed in recently in Nashville, and the latest songs and artists piquing our interest. This show’s guest is self-proclaimed travel pop artist Mike Mentz whose journey from the Chicago suburbs to the world abroad has inspired two significant new projects that are framing roots music in a whole new light.

We talk to him about his acapela group beginnings, singing on a cruise ship, then traveling the world with an inspired mission to let the place inspire his music. He’s recently launched an impressive video and record series based on several months visiting Mexico and has many more facets of the project on the horizon.

Since we’re all new to Roots Music Rambler, the show includes three main parts:

Francesca and Falls open the show talking about a topic of the day in the music industry.
Our guest then comes in as we explore their roots – of music and life.
Then Francesca and Falls finish off the show with our Pickin’ The Grinnin’ segment. That’s where both pick what music, artists, events and more make them grin this week. They share whom they’ll see live, what new artists they’ve discovered and more.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

Dolly’s Music Row Oasis (where Jason filmed the episode)
The Dollyhouse family of AirBnB Nashville rentals
Vibing Victorian (the Bloomington, Illinois AirBnB Francesca & Tom rented)
Francesca's pics from the AirBnB on Roots Music Rambler's Facebook page
Jason’s Instagram and TikTok accounts
Roots Music Rambler Instagram
Austin Lucas’s website (future guest)
Mike Mentz’s website
Mike Mentz’s album Souvenir
Mike’s Patreon (support and get access to the cool stories, videos, etc.)
John Haywood’s website

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Queen of Queer Country talks LGBTQ artists in Country Music, growing up on the accordion and The Secret Emchy Society

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the second episode off Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls "Frank," and Jason Falls, who goes by "Falls" most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we talk about Tyler Childers' new album, the first song that took Francesca's breath away, and she talks Falls out of pulling a smart-alek stunt at an upcoming Ryan Adams show. Our guest this time around is the Queen of Queer Country Cindy Emch. She is the founder and brains behind The Secret Emchy Society which is playing Americanafest the week of this episode drop. We dig into her childhood growing up with an accordion-playing mom, college radio days, her experience growing into an LGBTQ existence in the world and how her person and personality presents challenges in the world of country music.

Since we're all new to Roots Music Rambler, the show includes three main parts:

Francesca and Falls open the show talking about a topic of the day in the music industry. Tyler Childers has a new album out since the last episode, so the conversation started there.
Our guest then comes in as we explore their roots – of music and life.
Then Francesca and Falls finish off the show with our Pickin' The Grinnin' segment. That's where both pick what music, artists, events and more make them grin this week. They share who their going to see live, what new artists they've discover and more.

Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It's a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Some other notes and links:

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount!

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PREMIER: Talkin' Oliver Anthony Conspiracy Theories, Tobacco Farming, Napster & More With Country Artist JD Shelburne

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Episode 1 of Roots Music Rambler! What was once an off-shoot of a travel blog is now destined to become your favorite music podcast. Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls "Frank," and Jason Falls, who goes by "Falls" most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.

On this episode, we talk Oliver Anthony conspiracy theories, tobacco farming, Napster & more with up-and-coming country artist JD Shelburne. His new album "Neon Hallelujia" is out and the sixth in Shelburne's efforts, all of which dig into hometown life in Taylorsville, Kentucky. The conversation wound around his childhood, his parents, his wife and 3-year-old son. We talked about songwriting, the evolution of his music, the temptations of the music industry and more.

And yes, we dug into Oliver Anthony and whether or not Shelburne thinks the conspiracy theories that Anthony's explosion onto the music scene was all a set up.

As you hear in this premier episode of Roots Music Rambler, the show includes three main parts:

Francesca and Falls open the show talking about a topic of the day in the music industry. In this episode, it was hard to not start with Oliver Anthony's viral success that has flipped country music, the Billboard charts and iTunes on their collective heads.
Our guest of honor comes in to talk about their background, music and beyond. That's where Shelburne fits into this first episode
Then Francesca and Falls finish off the show with our Pickin' The Grinnin' segment. That's where both pick what music, artists, events and more make them grin this week. They share who their going to see live, what new artists they've discover and more.

Buckle up for what Falls called, "The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down." It's the debut episode of Roots Music Rambler.

Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TRAILER: Welcome to Roots Music Rambler

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 01:35:00 -0000

Where there are people, there is music. In our celebration of melodies and lyrics, harmonies and riffs, we typically focus on the songs or the people who wrote them. We often overlook the where.

Welcome to Roots Music Rambler!

Join Francesca Folinazzo and Jason Falls for Roots Music Rambler, a podcast exploration of the where as much as the who or what. We’ll interview emerging and established artists, fans and others in Americana, Outlaw Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Roots, Soul, World and beyond. But we will always get to the stories of where they’re from and how that impacted the music we know and love.

It’s more than just their influences. It’s their families. Communities. Cultures. This show is a fun combination of music, travel, history and more. We dig into the stories from artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, fans and beyond, that don’t just expose their musical influences, but their life influences.

Music follows the path of human movement. We trace the steps to bring better understanding to what we hear today and why we love it.

Where music, travel, history and culture intersect

Join us for the exploration of the real roots of music on Roots Music Rambler. Available wherever you get your podcasts.

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