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.

Music took second-fiddle to sports for Nicholas Jamerson growing up

A new episode of Roots Music Rambler drops tomorrow morning and this week, we’ve got the amazing @nicholasjamerson on the show. He just came off a headlining gig at the @laurelcovemusicfestival.

We talked about the festival, his new album The Narrow Way, growing up in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, his football playing days and more.

In this clip, he says music was always second-fiddle to sports growing up. But he later revealed it was a football coach that pushed him toward singing and songwriting.

Frank and Falls also choose their 2025 Americana Music Association award winners and share some great picks for you to listen to in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment.

Get the full episode Friday at rootsmusicrambler.com or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

#nicholasjamerson #sundybest #singersongwriter #americanamusic #countrymusic #rootsmusic #laurelcovemusicfestival #musicpodcast #musicinterview #kentuckymusic

Nicholas Jamerson reflects on the 2025 Laurel Cove Music Festival

The incomparable @nicholasjamerson joins us on the next episode of Roots Music Rambler. It drops Friday!

Nicholas just came off a headlining gig at the @laurelcovemusicfestival and shared his thoughts on how it went. We talked about his history at the festival, his new album The Narrow Way, his football playing days and more.

Jump over to RootsMusicRambler.com on Friday to get the full episode. Or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

#nicholasjamerson #sundybest #singersongwriter #americanamusic #countrymusic #rootsmusic #laurelcovemusicfestival #musicpodcast #musicinterview #kentuckymusic

Ben Chapman explains the formula for success as a Nashville recording artist

On the latest episode of Roots Music Rambler, @benchapman tells the story of getting his first songwriting contract in Nashville. He and his now wife @megmcree have both been contract writers for a few years.

But in the explanation, Ben talks about the formula for success in Nashville, particularly for commercial country music success, which we found hilarious.

Hear the full episode which includes Frank and Falls’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations of the week and more. Download the episode at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

#benchapman #americanamusic #countrymusic #singersongwriter #megmcree #rootsmusic #songwriting #songwriters #musicpodcast #musicinterview

How Ben Chapman proposed to fellow songwriter Meg McRee

The new episode of Roots Music Rambler is live and you need to hear this one! The incomparable singer-songwriter Ben Chapman sits in with us and talks everything from marriage to a new album to the real success formula in commercial country music.

In this clip, Ben told us the story of his marriage proposal to now wife and fellow singer-songwriter Meg McCree. (He also shared some fun news about family on the show!)

Frank and Falls also have their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ recommendations of the week and more. Download the episode at rootsmusicrambler.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

#benchapman #americanamusic #countrymusic #singersongwriter #megmcree #rootsmusic #songwriting #songwriters #musicpodcast #musicinterview