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.

Sophie Gault comes Unhinged on Third Studio Album

Sophie Gault’s third studio album Unhinged dropped in early February of this year. But the singles rolled out as the record came to fruition and had already sold it for those familiar with her. The fiery guitar player and honky tonk songstress’s performance on the album mirrored its title. This record was Sophie being the Sophie people are used to seeing rattling the windows at bars and clubs around Nashville.

Gault joined Frank and Falls for this week’s episode of Roots Music Rambler to talk about the album, produced by her manager Alex Torres, whose indy label picked Gault up after her original label decided to move on without her. With a nice mix of originals and cover tunes, including a banger with Buck Owens’s “Loves Gonna Live Here” which leads the track list, the record is fun, vibrant and, at times, raw, conveying Gault’s playing style and personality

We also talked about Gault’s journey to music, growing up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., her collaborations with friends of the show Margo Cilker, Gabe Lee and Logan Ledger, and why she says her track with Gurf Morlix is the first of what should be many covers of his songs.

Also in this episode, Frank and Falls discuss the new protest song from Bruce Springsteen and share their weekly Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices. Frank recommends “Can’t Find Your Way Out” by The Franklin Electric. Falls shares an EP he’s been digging lately: Arthur Hancock’s Alive at Hillbilly Central.

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:
– Sophie Gault online – https://www.sophiegault.com/
– Sophie Gault on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ux10F8lEAxvDw8zKsFqVl?si=PMlQn_VESMSHT3FBKNN8JQ
– Sophie Gault on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sophie_gault/
– Unhinged on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0lk35hr32VqpCPCBifuR3E?si=m5V5NfE7TIK53bCBS8PgOg
– Death Vessel (Sophie’s recommendation) on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CTeeoO6hwJmvuYgoTSH9x?si=xmtiB16xQ2Ck4kE8Lj6i8Q
– 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

– The Franklin Electric’s “Can’t Find Your Way Out” on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/3njlbNmeff54LEQe5IcEtf?si=8jNPuEeFQ_uQ5pBcgMEnNw
– Arthur Hancock’s EP Alive at Hillbilly Central on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0AEG0dF7y47oSzzx9dTxXu?si=jRrz39cNTR2oExfrbaZ8ZA

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.

Sophie Gault tells the story behind the name of her new album Unhinged

Tomorrow is the next episode drop day for Roots Music Ramlber! This week, we’re talking to honky tonk badass singer-songwriter and guitarist @sophie_gault. About her new album Unhinged.

We asked how the name came about (although we kinda had a hunch).

Frank and Falls also talk about Springsteen’s new protest song and have excellent Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations for you: @franklinelectric and @theinstawook !

Hear the full interview Friday morning on the RMR YouTube Channel (@rootsmusicrambler) at rootsmusicrambler.com or where you listen to podcasts. (Go subscribe now so you don’t miss it!)

#sophiegault #singersongwriter #americanamusic #honkytonkangel @trendpr @torresmusicgroup

Sophie Gault doesn’t like the singles-first focus of today’s music business

A new episode of Roots Music Rambler drops Friday and the amazing @sophie_gault joins Frank and Falls to talk about her new album Unhinged, the songs on it, songwriting, migrating to Nashville and much more.

Gault told us she’s more of an album musician rather than a singles focused one and doesn’t like the way the industry is evolving to focus on several singles coming out in slow drips to promote an album.

Hear the full interview Friday morning on the RMR YouTube Channel (@rootsmusicrambler) at rootsmusicrambler.com or where you listen to podcasts. (Go subscribe now so you don’t miss it!)

#sophiegault #singersongwriter #americanamusic #honkytonkangel @trendpr @torresmusicgroup

Roots Music Rambler Backstage with Josh Mitcham

Welcome to the first of hopefully many shorter episodes of Roots Music Rambler, we’re calling our Backstage with episodes. These are short interviews Frank and Falls are able to grab backstage (or just somewhere in person rather than on our virtual, longer-form interview episodes) and catch up briefly.

Our first such episode is with Josh Mitcham. The Breckenridge County, Kentucky native and farmer has a new solo album coming out in June called Gonna Be Alright. He’s dropped a couple of singles from the album already and the sound is a level up from previous work as he brought the Alabama Sound Company to the table to produce the album.

Josh is the former frontman for Jericho Woods and a 2026 Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Ambassador.

Falls caught him backstage at the Mercury Ballroom in early February, getting ready to open for Sundy Best. The two talked about the new songs and album, Josh’s approach to promoting the music and a lot more.
Find Josh Mitcham online at joshmitcham.com, on Spotify, Instagram and Facebook.

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:
Josh Mitcham online – https://joshmitcham.com/
Josh Mitcham on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/7GfDelpg9kegzKy1qNQPca?si=vWlAGGOzQ2KgzHbFSJoLHg
Josh Mitcham on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/joshmitcham/
Josh Mitcham on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/joshmitchammusic
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

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.