Épisodes

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

    Brand New Box of Matches Evolves From Pandemic Pickers to Hit 2026 in Stride
    Jan 23 2026
    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: Brand New Box of Matches Online Brand New Box of Matches on Spotify Brand New Box of Matches 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 Fust Olivia Ellen Lloyd 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
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    35 min
  • A New Country Album Coming from Hunter Park and She Returns From War

    A New Country Album Coming from Hunter Park and She Returns From War
    Jan 16 2026
    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
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    47 min
  • The Universe is Hungry for Brooklyn-based Bluegrass Group Damn Tall Buildings

    The Universe is Hungry for Brooklyn-based Bluegrass Group Damn Tall Buildings
    Jan 9 2026
    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: Damn Tall Buildings online Damn Tall Buildings on Spotify Damn Tall Buildings on Instagram The Universe is Hungry (album) on Spotify Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere in IMDB Episode 9 - Mohammed Dohai 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 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
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    47 min
  • Roots Music Rambler’s Best Albums, Songs, Artists & Events of 2025

    Roots Music Rambler’s Best Albums, Songs, Artists & Events of 2025
    Dec 28 2025
    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
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    1 h et 9 min
  • Singer-songwriter Emily Jamerson turns to 2026 poised for big things

    Singer-songwriter Emily Jamerson turns to 2026 poised for big things
    Dec 19 2025
    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: Emily Jamerson on Spotify Emily Jamerson on Facebook Emily Jamerson on Instagram Nicholas Jamerson on Roots Music Rambler Sundy Best on Spotify World Chicken Festival Michael Singer’s The Surrender Experiment 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 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
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    56 min
  • Melissa Carper brings old school country sound to Christmas, Roots Music Rambler

    Melissa Carper brings old school country sound to Christmas, Roots Music Rambler
    Dec 12 2025
    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
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    51 min
  • Tanner Horton discusses the ‘dazed and confused’ explosion of The Creekers

    Tanner Horton discusses the ‘dazed and confused’ explosion of The Creekers
    Nov 28 2025
    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 Creekers Online The Creekers on Spotify The TikTok viral video that launched the band into stardom Jason Falls’s rant against the “sellout” commenter 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 Roy Caudill on Spotify The Kentucky Music Mafia on Spotify The Dirndolls 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
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    59 min
  • The Gothic Indie Americana experience of Atlanta-based Del Roscoe

    The Gothic Indie Americana experience of Atlanta-based Del Roscoe
    Nov 21 2025
    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
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    58 min