Chicagoan Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) founded Roots Music Rambler as a music and travel blog in a pre-pandemic world. COVID killed events and travel plus her desire to play her banjo. Falls texted her in 2023 and said, 'Let's bring it back as a podcast!' He was raised on John Prine, babysat on Waylon Jennings and taught to drink and cuss the proper, mountain way. He hails from Pikeville, Ky., the birthplace of Dwight Yoakum, whose annual festival is Hillbilly Days.

Brand New Box of Matches talks about their live show which is more than just pickin’ and grinnin’

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There’s nothing like live #bluegrassmusic and that’s especially true for @brandnewboxofmatches, our guests this week on the new episode of Roots Music Rambler. Elizabeth and Ryan told us all about their backgrounds, love of music, new albums and more. But they told us despite the fact they’ll welcome a friend to jam with them ocassionally, their shows are uniquely them.

Hear more by watching the full episode on our YouTube channel (We’re @rootsmusicrambler there), on our website at rootsmusicrambler.com or download the audio version wherever you get your podcasts!

#bluegrass #brandnewboxofmatches #livemusic #americanamusic #musicpodcast

Brand New Box of Matches did all bluegrass covers … until they didn’t.

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On the latest Roots Music Rambler, we sit down with Elizabeth and Ryan from Knoxville, Tenn.’s @brandnewboxofmatches. They started playing cover songs and did two full albums of cover songs. Then someone asked if they wrote originals and pandora’s box opened.

Hear more of their journey, their music, their backgrounds and more by watching the episode on YouTube, downloading it wherever you get audio podcasts, or watch or listen at rootsmusicrambler.com.

#bluegrassmusic #brandnewboxofmatches #songwriting #bluegrass #americanamusic

Brand New Box of Matches Elizabeth Sherman eyed that stand-up bass long enough to learn it!

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EPISODE DROP!!! A brand new Roots Music Rambler is live! Jump over to YouTube, rootsmusicrambler.com or download wherever you get your podcasts!

This week we’re talking to Knoxville-based bluegrass group @brandnewboxofmatches which is made up of couple Elizabeth Sherman and Ryan Hardison. Elizabeth grew up playing piano and keyes. But when she and Ryan started tinkering with bluegrass music, she saw that stand-up bass and knew she just had to learn.

Listen or watch the full episode and learn more about the band, their new music, how they evolved and a lot more. Plus Frank and Falls offer up their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices this week: @oliviaellenlloyd and Fust.

Go listen and watch now!

#bluegrassmusic #brandnewboxofmatches #americanamusic #countrymusic #bluegrass

From Pandemic Pickers to Full-Fledged Bluegrass Group, Brand New Box of Matches Hits 2026 in Stride

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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.

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 – https://www.brandnewboxofmatches.com/
Brand New Box of Matches on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aaqXj6WTU2uc6udFIoTZv?si=7QAiWVfHQOufnZ4T0N120Q
Brand New Box of Matches on Instagram – http://instagram.com/brandnewboxofmatchesband
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
Fust – https://open.spotify.com/artist/70kEs7OMlk8egbrVvRlOIv?si=8l1RNfDTTg2Hz-d3B06a_A
Olivia Ellen Lloyd – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0itd8fCSPL3NAu9CAhuHG0?si=uzcXID0NS6KKCgnCUD8egA

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.