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:  Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns online Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns AGT audition Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heatherns on Spotify Bill Taylor (solo) on Spotify Bill Taylor on Instagram Bill Taylor on Facebook Amanda Shires new single “A Way it Goes” 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 Hollerhead Wild Earp Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Roots Music Rambler is a member of the Americana Music Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Magnolia Boulevard Online Magnolia Boulevard on Spotify Magnolia Boulevard on Instagram Maggie Noëlle on Instagram 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 The Reverend Horton Heat Drayton Farley Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on 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

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:  Manchester Music Fest Online Manchester Music Fest Instagram City of Manchester, Kentucky online Clay County Kentucky Fiscal Court Online Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heathens on America’s Got Talent 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 Lola Kirke Gasoline Lollipops Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on 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

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:  Nicholas Jamerson Online Nicholas Jamerson on Patreon Nicholas Jamerson on Spotify Sundy Best Online Sundy Best on Spotify Nicholas Jamerson on Instagram Nicholas Jamerson on Facebook 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 The Gypsy Kings The Creekers Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Ben Chapman Online Ben Chapman on Spotify Ben Chapman on Instagram Meg McRee on Spotify Meg McRee on Instagram The Chapman/McCree/Brit Taylor/Adam Chaffins collaboration 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 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. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Mark Geary online Mark Geary on Spotify Mark Geary on Instagram The Monarch Music & Arts Community Cait Justice episode of RMR 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 Magnolia Boulevard Amythyst Kiah Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Logan Ledger online Logan Ledger on Spotify Logan Ledger on Instagram Beyond the End documentary on AppleTV+ 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 Humble Pie  First Aid Kit Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Gabe Lee online Gabe Lee on Spotify Gabe Lee on Instagram American Aquarium on Spotify Falls’s Medium Account Jason Isbell’s new solo album on Spotify The Monarch Music Community (Louisville) The Law Office Music Pub (Chicago) 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 Vaden Landers The Waco Brothers Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Cait Justice on sonaBlast Records website Cait Justice on Spotify Cait Justice on Instagram 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 Mumford & Son’s ZZ Ward 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; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show The Mallett Brothers online The Mallett Brothers on Spotify The Garden Song (written by David Mallett) by John Denver on The Muppett Show American Forests with Chuck Leavell on PBS Bourbon & Beyond lineup Sara Jean Stevens new EP Lovesick on Spotify 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 Caleb Caudle Whiskeytown Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Tyler Grant Online Tyler Grant on Spotify The Goat Canyon Trestle Video SUNO AI - The AI music generator we mentioned Joy Oladokun on Spotify 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 Gabe Lee Kashush Culpepper 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; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  The Music Festivals Podcast online The Music Festivals Podcast on YouTube The Music Festivals Podcast on Spotify A Complete Unknown 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 Kathleen Edwards Waylon Wyatt 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; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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:  Shepherd Online Shepherd on Spotify 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 Meg McRee Lucero Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Audio production by Resonate Recordings. Copyright 2025 - Falls+Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Rock-a-Buy Records on TikTok Rolling Stones article on Valley of Heart’s Delight Margo Cilker online Margo Cilker on Spotify Pohorylle (album) on Spotify Valley of Heart’s Delight on Spotify Forrest Vantuyl (Margo’s husband) online Forrest Vantuyl on Spotify Brighter Days by Dwight Yoakam on Spotify ”Keep on the Sunny Side” cover by Dwight Yoakam 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 The Cleverlys on Spotify Corner Boy 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, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Stephen Wilson’s “Stand By Me” on Live at the Print Shop 2025 Grammy Nomination List Bibelhauser Brothers online Bibelhauser Brothers on Spotify “Walking on Water” (New Single) on Spotify “Sleep a Thousand Years” (featuring Dale Ann Bradley) on Spotify Bibelhauser Brothers Live (album) on Spotify Close Harmony (album) on Spotify Lovin’ and Leavin’: A Bluegrass Tribute to Mickey Clark (album) on Spotify 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 Old 97s on Spotify Lucero 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, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Kindred Valley online Johnny Staats (mandoline player) on Wikipedia What Was Left (EP) on Spotify Kindred Valley (LP) on Spotify Kindred Valley on Instagram 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 Oliver Sayani New Order 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

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: Jason’s Willie Nelson pics on Instagram The Bottle Rockets Indianapolis on Spotify John Mellencamp’s MTV Pink Houses Promo Dave Adkins online Dave Adkins on Spotify What I’m For by Dave Adkins on Spotify Larry & Cheryl Webster episode of RMR Evanston Folk Festival  Frank’s pics and videos from The Evanston Folk Festival 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 Ben Chapman Jon Muq 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. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Jason’s picture of the autograph find from The Gorge Jason’s pics and vids from The Gorge show Jason and Shane Gillis George Ducas online George Ducas on Spotify Long Way from Home on Spotify Pete Anderson online Ducas’s 1994 Top 10 hit “Lipstick Promises” The Vandoliers on Spotify Frank’s picture with the Drive by Truckers at the Vandoliers show 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 Kaitlin Butts on Spotify Cassandra Lewis 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. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Reilly Downs and the Acid Cowboys 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. Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices