Jack Browning, Red Eye Radio and the Long Way Round

Episode 1 Recap: Jack Browning

Episode one of The Rugged Revival podcast felt like it needed to be simple. No big launch, no forced hype... Just a good conversation with the right person. Jack Browning proved exactly that.

Jack is a UK artist based in Essex, but his music sits comfortably in the world of Country, Folk and Americana. He is also a visual artist, which probably explains why the way he talks about music feels a little different. Nothing feels rushed or calculated.

This episode ended up being long, relaxed, funny in places, and surprisingly honest!

We talked about where he grew up, moving from London to Essex, and how art came before music. Drawing and painting were always there, but music took longer to stick. Guitar took a few attempts. Singing came even later, and mostly because other people pushed him into it.

There was no grand plan to become a frontman. In fact, Jack was pretty reluctant about the whole thing.

One of the best parts of the conversation was hearing how Red Eye Radio came together. The album was never meant to be an "ALBUM". It started with one song, then a couple more, then a few studio sessions that slowly turned into something bigger. At some point, it made sense to stop pretending it was an EP and admit it had become a record.

The name came from a shared playlist. Late night drives. Long journeys. The kind of music you listen to when most people are asleep. Truckers, old radio stations, and that quiet space you only really get on the road.

That idea ended up shaping more than just the title.

Jack spoke a lot about touring in the US, particularly Kentucky and West Virginia, and how unexpected it all was. What started as online connections turned into real friendships, shows, long drives, and some properly strange motel experiences. There were stories about haunted tunnels, no phone signal, generous strangers, and a music scene that feels far more supportive than competitive.

What stood out was how often he came back to the same point. People just showed up for each other. No gatekeeping. No pretending. If someone liked what you were doing, they told you - and if they could help, they did. I have been very lucky to receive this very same affirmation since starting the podcast!

That carried through with Jack into moments like playing Red Barn Radio, which he talked about with a mix of nerves and disbelief. Walking into that space, knowing its history, and then realising thousands of people were watching live is the kind of thing most artists dream about. Jack talked about it like someone still slightly surprised it happened at all.

There were plenty of lighter moments too. Whiskey chat. Road stories. Talking about music becoming disposable and the effort it takes now to slow down and actually listen to an album properly. That part felt especially relevant.

It is clear Jack thinks a lot about how music is consumed, not just how it is made.

Towards the end, we talked about what is coming next. New releases, more shows, and another trip back to Kentucky already taking shape. Things are moving, but still in that same unforced way. One thing leading to another because it feels right, not because it is expected.

This was the perfect way to start The Rugged Revival podcast. It was a proper conversation with someone who is doing things their own way and is happy to admit they are figuring it out as they go. Jack is a true gentleman and has since become a lifelong friend of The Rugged Revival!

The entire episode is available via the website - please give it a watch or a listen.