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.

Lucciana Costa may be the busiest, badass woman in Nashville

It’s not uncommon for a professional musician to juggle multiple gigs. Until they make it big or get a break playing in a band that does, there’s session jobs, maybe a songwriting contract, picking up live gigs in someone else’s band, slinging merch or someone, or even all that plus holding down a full-time job to pay the bills.

Lucciana Costa can relate. She’s established herself as one in the current crop of up-and-coming singer-songwriters in Nashville. She’s half of the emerging and popular Americana duo King Margo. She plays in and with Gabe Lee’s band, even singing with Gabe and Rylie Bourne on a popular single in 2024 (“Long Time Ago”). Add to that time spent creating education curricula and writing a novel and you can see what we’re quick to call her the busiest, badass woman in Nashville.

Lucciana sat in with Frank and Falls last week to talk about her musical background that runs from West Virginia to Ohio and Michigan before hitting Music City. We talked about her musical family and the lineage of talent that has culminated in her career. She told us how the King Margo collaboration with Rachel Coats and a lot more.

Also in this episode, Frank opens a surprise gift from Falls and both share Kentucky-based Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices for music recommendations: Hunter Flynn and Ian Noe.

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:

Lucciana Costa online – https://www.luccianacosta.com/
Lucciana Costa on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/77fSWaufxseHLD6seG4XB4?si=BZLZSLNBTxSc1Vz4B5tfvQ
Lucciana Costa on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/luccianacosta
King Margo online – https://www.kingmargo.com/
King Margo on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nU1TOkubLd1C3dMnPLkiR?si=3X1mbn26SU6cHWpHq_b4jA
King Margo on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kingmargomusic/
“Long Time Ago” with Gabe Lee, Lucciana Costa and Rylie Bourne on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/2ut9F2KYjy2cf15Ta2ShE7?si=bv94E120Rc2NLEn8HredcQ
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

Hunter Flynn on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5j6t35Ik2EoS5efJDxOAS2?si=_Iz9m_c9R_u4pq12AqzdhA

Ian Noe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2TEpPi5SFalflhpcQHq3lB?si=UttmUVn9Req65cbdXV5HHw

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.

Even singer-songwriter Lucciana Costa didn’t like piano lessons

Make time tomorrow to visit with a brand new episode of Roots Music Rambler! Our episode with @luccianacosta, half of the duo @kingmargomusic and singer-songwriter in her own right, joins us to talk about her journey, the myriad of projects she’s involved in, writing and more.

She told us something a lot of us can relate to: She took piano lessons, but didn’t like them.

Dial up the episode Friday at rootsmusicrambler.com, on our YouTube Channel or wherever you listen to podcasts!

#luccianacosta #kingmargo #americanamusic #singersongwriters #countrymusic

King Margo’s Lucciana Costa has been writing in some form since childhood

A new episode of Roots Music Rambler drops Friday! This week, Frank and Falls talk to the busiest badass in Nashville — @luccianacosta ! One half of the duo @kingmargomusic, multi-instrumentalist and hell of a solo act in her own right, Costa told us all about her journey to being a professional musician. The writing isn’t limited to songs, too! She’s working on a novel and says that’s been in the making since she was little.

Dial up the episode Friday at rootsmusicrambler.com, on our YouTube Channel or wherever you listen to podcasts!

#luccianacosta #kingmargo #americanamusic #singersongwriters #countrymusic

Montana Hobbs describes the music scene in her home state of Kentucky

The latest episode of Roots Music Rambler is out and features one of our favorite bands: @thelocalhoneys. Frank and Falls chatted with @lindajeanstokley and @montanafromky about everything from influences to mountain mommas and everything in between. It’s sure worth a watch or a listen.

Both of the Honeys are very active in the music scene in their home state of Kentucky which Montana described as almost idyllic.

Watch or listen to the full episode on our YouTube channel (@rootsmusicrambler), at rootsmusicrambler.com or search for it wherever you listen to podcasts.

#thelocalhoneys #kentuckymusic #appalchianmusic #kentuckymusicscene