Roots Music Rambler

Jeremy Marshall, the singer-songwriter who founded and fronts the Alt-Country band Hollerhead, says he doesn’t know what to call the band’s genre of music. “We just play our music,” he told us when he joined Roots Music Rambler this week. The Western Kentucky-based band mixes a steady diet of southern rock with country, blues and even bluegrass influences, or Americana as we’ve come to say about a blending of genres. Marshall and his wife/vocalist/songwriter/manager/operations (i.e. – the person in charge) Della joined Frank and Falls to talk about the group’s existing catalog, new singles and a forthcoming second studio album. Jeremy told us the story behind the band and the band’s name, which at first glance aroused curiosity in Falls, our Eastern Kentuckian on staff. “Ain’t no heads of no hollers in Western Kentucky?!” he said. Turns out, that’s not why the band has the name. The Marshalls explained where the name came from, which is a far better story than Falls assumed. Frank and Falls also dug into an interesting conversation on the show when Falls asked what artists Frank refuses to listen to or support because of non-musical reasons. The discussion and debate explored why controversial acts can be a holistic turn-off, but should also be given room for forgiveness. And, of course, hot off their visit to the Crossroads Acoustic Fest in Seymour, Ind., our co-hosts share new Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices this week. Logan Mac and Meels get a nod from RMR. 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: Country Never Dies on Spotify The Facebook post from Tanner Horton Zoey Ball Breakfast clip with James Bay and Noel Gallagher Hollerhead Online Hollerhead on Spotify Hollerhead on Instagram The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices Logan Mac on Spotify Meels 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: She Returns from War on Spotify Ruthless (album) on Spotify She Returns from War on Instagram The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices Presley Haile The Shelby Lore Band 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: The Creekers online The Creekers on Spotify Manchester Music Fest Unbroken Circle Music Festival American Music Festival Evanston Folk Festival Crossroads Acoustic Fest The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram 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

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: Melissa Carper Online Melissa Carper on Spotify Melissa Carper on Instagram Melissa Carper on Facebook The Wonder Women of Country The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations Jeri Katherine Howell on Spotify The White Buffalo 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

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: Waylon Jennings Songbird on Spotify Del Roscoe Online Del Roscoe on Spotify The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations Cigarettes @ Sunset on Spotify Kelli Owens Hutton 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

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: Ramona & The Holy Smokes Online Ramona & The Holy Smokes on Spotify Ramona & The Holy Smokes on Instagram Americana Music Association’s weekly album and singles charts Alt-Country Specialty weekly album charts Appalachian Echoes Online WXCC-FM Online The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations Trey Hedrick on Spotify “Unknown Legend” by Neil Young on Spotify “Unknown Legend” by Lukas Nelson, Sierra Ferrell & The Travelin’ McCourys 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

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: Morgan Wallen says “No” to the Grammy’s Chasen Wayne on Spotify Chasen Wayne on Instagram Zach Bryan’s “Nine Ball” (filmed at Sagebrush) The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations The Onlies Del Roscoe 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

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: The Last Revel Online The Last Revel on Spotify The Last Revel on TikTok The Last Revel on Instagram Gone for Good on Spotify Dave Simonett Online The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube 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 Vincent Neil Emerson Bonny Light Horseman 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