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Roots Music Rambler

Roots Music Rambler

By: Francesca Folinazzo & Jason Falls
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Where there are people, there is music. In our celebration of melodies and lyrics, harmonies and riffs, we typically focus on the songs or the people who wrote them. We often overlook the where. Join Francesca and Falls for Roots Music Rambler, a podcast exploration of the where as much as the who or what. We’ll interview emerging and established artists, fans and others in Americana, Outlaw Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Roots, Soul, World and beyond. But we will always get to the stories of where they’re from and how that impacted the music we know and love. It’s more than just their influences. It’s their families. Communities. Cultures. This show is a fun combination of music, travel, history and more. We dig into the stories from artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, fans and beyond, that don’t just expose their musical influences, but their life influences. Music follows the path of human movement. We trace the steps to bring better understanding to what we hear today and why we love it. Join us for the exploration of the real roots of music on Roots Music Rambler.2023-present, Roots Music Rambler Music
Episodes
  • Roots Music Rambler Backstage with Shelby Lore

    Roots Music Rambler Backstage with Shelby Lore
    Jun 26 2026
    Welcome to another in our Backstage episode of Roots Music Rambler. 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. In this case, Falls was able to catch Kentucky singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Shelby Lore for a virtual conversation. He’s the man behind the Shelby Lore Band which is based in Northeastern Kentucky in Carter County. That’s a little more than halfway between Lexington, Kentucky and Huntington, West Virginia if you’re traveling East. Less than halfway if you’re going West. Falls first saw Shelby live filling in on lead guitar for fellow Kentuckian Jordan Lee King a while back and made my way to find him after the show, he was so impressed. I soon discovered he was not only a fantastic guitar player, but singer and songwriter on his own with a killer blues-rock-country blend of a band. We chatted about his latest single “Memphis”, music in the works, playing live and supporting other artists while doing so. You’re going to like Shelby a lot. You can find Shelby Lore and his band online at shelbyloremusic.com, on Spotify, Instagram Facebook and other places you find music. Watch the Episode on YouTube 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: Shelby Lore Band online Shelby Lore Band on Spotify Shelby Lore Band on Instagram Shelby Lore Band on Facebook The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • Noah Guthrie’s new album Oddly Flexible is Heavy in more ways than one

    Noah Guthrie’s new album Oddly Flexible is Heavy in more ways than one
    Jun 19 2026
    Noah Guthrie first made a name for himself and his music when his YouTube cover songs were noticed by producers for the Ellen DeGeneres Show. He “won” a contract with Degeneres’s fledgling record label which never manifested an actual album for the South Carolina singer-songwriter. But an appearance on America’s Got Talent started the ball rolling for Guthrie. In that 2018 season of AGT he finished as a semifinalist. That soon placed him on the circuit of Today shows and Tonight shows, let to albums of originals and cover tunes and even landed him in the role of Roderick Meeks on the last season of the hit TV show Glee. Today, Guthrie is promoting his new album Oddly Flexible, an astonishing record of deep, emotional journeys through life and love. It features the single, “Heavy,” which documents Noah’s battle with his weight and self-image. The song has struck a nerve with fans who also deal with body image issues. Noah joined Frank and Falls on Roots Music Rambler this week to talk about the song, the album, Noah’s colorful journey and background. And yes, we talked about his beginnings on YouTube, including his amazing cover of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It.” Frank and Falls also clarify a recent controversy around the Manchester Music Fest, reassuring everyone the 2026 event is on as planned and Falls will see you there! This week’s Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices are two good ones! Frank likes Marfa and Falls brags on West Virginia singer-songwriter Austin Glaspell. Watch the Episode on YouTube 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: Manchester Music Fest Manchester Enterprise piece on Parks buyout Noah Guthrie Online Noah Guthrie on Spotify Noah Guthrie on Instagram Noah Guthrie on YouTube Noah’s audition on AGT The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices Marfa on Spotify Austin Glaspell on Spotify 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Funny, Thoughtful Nathan Evans Fox creates Heirloom To Seed Bank Life’s Work

    Funny, Thoughtful Nathan Evans Fox creates Heirloom To Seed Bank Life’s Work
    Jun 5 2026
    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. Watch the Episode on YouTube 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: Americana Music Association 2026 Award Nominations Nathan Evans Fox Online Heirloom on Spotify Nathan Evans Fox on Spotify Nathan Evans Fox on Instagram Nathan Evans Fox on TikTok Kanopy App The Roots Music Rambler Store Roots Music Rambler on YouTube Roots Music Rambler on Instagram Roots Music Rambler on TikTok Roots Music Rambler on Facebook Jason Falls on Instagram Jason Falls on TikTok Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Choices Ken Burns’s Country Music Metroman on Instagram 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
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