Heirloom, the new album from singer-songwriter Nathan Evans Fox, is out and an impressive manifestation of both creativity and almost historical documentation of an Appalachian artist. Fox joined Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about the new album, his journey to Nashville from the mountains of Western Carolina, fatherhood and more.
Like many artists today, Fox often shares little snippets of what he’s working on via social media posts. One nugget of a song-to-be he shared a few months back drove well over one million views across his channels and the song wasn’t more than a few lines. He took the queue to finish it in what became “Hillbilly Hymn (Okra & Cigarettes)” which anchors the album. It has a traditional mountain feel and was recorded in an a capella focus with what seems like family gathered round his singing on the front porch.
But the record traverses everything from fatherly advice for a child in Lots of Beginnings to a brilliant “fuck you” song for those Fox gives permission to hate in “Landlords Bill Lee Etc.” It’s an amazing mix of home spun advice and statements about the polarization of today’s world.
He told us the record is a bit of a “seed bank” of his life for his children and the world he’ll leave behind.
Fox has never shied away from politics or social issues. He even told us when thinking about commercial country music, “The songs about trucks and jello shots don’t come organically to me.” He told Frank and Falls a little about gourds, blueberries and seed banking, acknowledged participating in fundamentalist Christian rites like exorcisms, and told us he’s leading an anti-confederate southern history book club this summer.
To say we were entertained is an understatement. We think you’ll be too.
Frank and Falls also share Roots Music Ramblers official member votes for this year’s Americana Music Association awards and offer up music recommendations in our Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment. Falls recently finished Ken Burn’s documentary on Country Music. Frank shared an Instagrammer from Italy that just brings people joy in his feed named Metroman.
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Notes and links:
– Americana Music Association 2026 Award Nominations – https://americanamusic.org/2026-americana-honors-awards-nominees-revealed/
– Nathan Evans Fox Online – https://nathanevansfox.com
– Heirloom on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/4N5u84BhjfNToWx1daqxf7?si=SJ9YK20mQr-FI1tCa97EKg
– Nathan Evans Fox on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sQgm2iQWAvwjyGjTXDUJ2?si=IsetN-B7SZO-TqztWuP0Kg
– Nathan Evans Fox on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nathan.evans.fox
– Nathan Evans Fox on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@nathan.evans.fox
– Kanopy App – https://www.kanopy.com/en
– The Roots Music Rambler Store – https://rootsmusicrambler.com/store
– Roots Music Rambler on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@rootsmusicrambler
– Roots Music Rambler on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rootsmusicrambler/
– Roots Music Rambler on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@rootsmusicrambleon
– Roots Music Rambler on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RootsMusicRambler
– Jason Falls on Instagram – https://instagram.com/jasonfalls
– Jason Falls on TikTok – https://tiktok.com/@thejasonfalls
– Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/workmomtravels/
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices
– Ken Burns’s Country Music – https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music
– Metroman on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/metroman_official
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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.
