roots music
Every episode of The Rugged Revival featuring roots music — conversations with independent country, Americana, and roots artists.
Sean Rodriguez
Sean Rodriguez: Bass, Style & Life on the Road with The Wilder Blue
From sandy hot dogs on the Texas coast to a life spent holding down the low end on stages across the country, Sean Rodriguez has taken the long road to The Wilder Blue. Raised between Corpus Christi and College Station, Sean started out on trumpet before an early obsession with bootleg ’60s and ’70s concert footage on the newly launched YouTube drew his ear towards the bass. What followed was an education built through big-band jazz, funk, country and years on the road — touring the South with New Orleans indie-rock band Hazy Ray, playing blues in Houston, moving to Austin, and eventually spending almost eight years on the road with Bri Bagwell before becoming part of The Wilder Blue. In this episode of The Honky Tonk Hair Machine, Sean talks about the craft behind playing bass, singing harmonies and putting on a show at the same time; why The Wilder Blue runs its live set “like clockwork”; and the musical journey that shaped the player he is today. Then there’s the style. Sean digs into his love of colour, ’70s shirts, giant lapels, floral pearl snaps, Wrangler Ranchers and vintage Austin finds, a look influenced less by the modern Western revival than by old photographs of his great-grandfather. Music, clothes, hair and a life on the road with Sean Rodriguez of The Wilder Blue. Find Sean on Instagram: @MrFretless The Wilder Blue: TheWilderBlue.com Chapters 0:00 Intro — Sean Rodriguez of The Wilder Blue 00:24 Growing Up Between Corpus Christi & College Station 01:41 His First Instrument: Trumpet 04:43 Discovering the Bass Through Early YouTube 06:13 High School Bands, Van Halen & Rush 07:43 Becoming a Road Musician — Jazz, Funk, Blues & Country 11:26 Playing Bass, Singing Harmonies & Performing Live 13:43 Developing His Personal Style 16:24 Vintage Finds, Wrangler Ranchers & ’70s Inspiration 20:31 Hair, Moustache Wax & Life on the Road 23:38 Where to Find Sean & The Wilder Blue Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Ander$on
Singer-Songwriter from Detroit | Ander$on
Ander$on is a singer-songwriter from the Detroit area, cutting his teeth on the independent music scene. Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Lance Roark
Wrong Notes, Pearl Snaps & Life on the Road: Lance Roark
Lance Roark has spent years figuring out what makes a song work - sometimes by writing bad ones, sometimes by rewriting other people’s, and eventually by learning when to stop chasing perfection altogether. In this episode, Lance talks growing up in Oklahoma, learning guitar alongside his dad, finding his voice as a songwriter and why, these days, the feeling matters more than hitting every note right. There’s also life on the road, forgotten lyrics, wrong harmonicas, Pearl Snaps, canned salmon and the realities that sit behind the songs. An honest, funny conversation with an artist who’s learned to trust his instincts - onstage, on the page and everywhere in between. Chapters 00:00 Oklahoma Roots & Learning Guitar with Dad 01:23 Writing Bad Songs & Finding His Own Style 03:35 Letting Go of Perfection on Stage 07:18 Pearl Snaps, Levi’s & the Lance Roark Look 09:17 Road Essentials, Wrong Harmonicas & Canned Salmon 11:16 Europe, New Music & What’s Coming Next Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Lucca Mae
Lucca Mae on The Teskey Brothers, Paul Weller & Her Rise Through the UK Soul Scene
Rising soul artist Lucca Mae joins The Rugged Revival Podcast to talk about her journey through the UK music scene, from early gigs to sharing stages with some of her biggest influences. She reflects on working with The Teskey Brothers, an unforgettable encounter with Paul Weller, and finding her own voice along the way. Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:26 Growing Up Around Music 07:28 Busking in Australia & Finding Her Sound 10:35 Canada, Early Recordings & Going Independent 16:52 Paul Weller, Steve White & the London Music Scene 21:37 Making the New Album 28:31 Songwriting, Vocal Influences & Amy Winehouse 33:01 Guitars, Gear & Life as a Working Musician 35:18 The Teskey Brothers & Performing at Murrayfield 39:31 Musical Picks, Influences & What’s Next Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Jonathan Pennington
“Music Became My Therapy” | Jonathan Pennington of Moonlight Mile
Jonathan Pennington of Moonlight Mile joins Camden for an open conversation about music, faith, loss, family, and finding his true voice as a songwriter later in life. From his roots in church music to the experiences that shaped Moonlight Mile, Jonathan shares the highs, the hard moments, and why music ultimately became a form of therapy. A candid conversation about finding out who you really are, and having the courage to make music that reflects it. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:12 Learning Guitar & ’90s Musical Influences 05:42 From Church Music to Finding His Own Voice 13:14 The Reality of Playing Live with Moonlight Mile 16:41 Touring, Family Life & Life on the Road Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Justin Wells
The Time for Bullsh*t Has Passed | Justin Wells on Honest Music in an Artificial Age
Justin Wells is a Kentucky singer-songwriter and former frontman of Fifth on the Floor, known for honest songwriting, a fiercely independent spirit, and years spent earning his stripes on the road. We talk about finding your own voice, the DIY years, life on tour, modern country music, and why making something that actually means something still matters. Learn more about Justin Wells: https://justinwellsmusic.com/ Chapters 00:00 Growing Up, Kentucky & Picking Up the Guitar 05:02 Finding Your Voice in an Artificial Age 07:00 DIY Touring & the Early Fifth on the Floor Years 11:04 Authenticity, Performing & “The Time for Bullsh*t Has Passed” 19:36 Life on the Road, Blown Vocal Cords & Dad Mode Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Effy Harvard
An Emotional Time Machine Through Vintage Country Music | Effy Harvard
Texas singer-songwriter Effy Harvard joins TJ on the Rugged Revival Podcast to talk about her love of vintage country music, the artists who shaped her sound, and why she describes her music as "an emotional time machine." From growing up on Brooks & Dunn and 1950s oldies to modelling around the world before pursuing music full-time, Effy shares the story behind her unique artistic journey. We also discuss songwriting, stage fright, recording with live musicians, the inspiration behind her vintage aesthetic, and her upcoming single "Heat Wave." If you love Country, Americana, Rockabilly, or discovering independent artists before everyone else, this episode is for you! Chapters 00:00 – Why Music Feels More Personal Than Modelling 00:48 – Meet Effy Harvard & Her Musical Journey 02:59 – Growing Up in Texas & Finding Country Music 07:17 – Modelling, Vintage Style & Creative Identity 12:51 – "An Emotional Time Machine" – Defining Her Sound 22:08 – New Music: Heat Wave & Life Playing Texas Dive Bars 24:46 – Quick Fire Questions: Influences, Albums & Live Shows 29:07 – Songwriting, Mental Health & What's Next for Effy #vintagecountry #50scountry #rockabilly Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Pat Reedy
Pat Reedy on Busking, Nashville & Building a Country Music Career
Pat Reedy joins Camden to discuss leaving construction behind for country music, busking in New Orleans, life in Nashville, ...
Bar Jay Bar
Wyoming Country & Western Revival | Bar Jay Bar Podcast
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery.Bar Jay Bar joins Camden for a conversation about modern Country & Western music, Americana storytelling, independent touring, songwriting, cowboy culture and building authentic roots music outside the mainstream industry.Based between Wyoming and the American West, Bar Jay Bar blends classic Country & Western influences with modern Americana and folk songwriting, creating music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.If you enjoy artists like Colter Wall, Charles Wesley Godwin, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and modern western Americana, this episode is for you.Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Meg and the Wheelers
Chicago’s Honky Tonk Revival | Meg and the Wheelers Podcast
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery."Meg and the Wheelers are a Country Western band from Chicago, Illinois. Their sharp-witted lyrics, solid harmonies, classic steel guitar twang, and enthusiasm for drinking the pain away will make you want to boot-scoot your regrets out all over the dance floor"More independent Country, Americana and Roots music conversations on The Rugged Revival.Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628Follow The Rugged Revival:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevivalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679Website: www.theruggedrevival.comEmail: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Capt'n Scum
Capt'n Scum - Frankfurt-based Country, Folk, and Western Musician | Rugged Revival
In this episode, Camden sits down for a conversation with Capt'n Scum, who is a Frankfurt-based country, folk, and western musician.
TJ Ronnie
Confessions of a Podcaster! | Rugged Revival
In this episode, TJ & Ronnie give a little update into their time in Texas, whats been happening since then, and some confessions they need to get off their chest! Subscribe to the channel. Share it with your friends!
Shane Kelley
Shane Kelley - Powerful Blues Soul Inspired by Gregg Allman & Howlin’ Wolf | Rugged Revival
hane Kelley emerges from a small town just south of the Florida–Georgia line with a voice that carries the grit, soul, and raw power of classic blues. Drawing inspiration from legends like Gregg Allman and Howlin’ Wolf, his sound blends deep-rooted blues with rich storytelling and an unmistakable emotional edge.His debut album, Misery Like A Wheel, is a haunting and heartfelt introduction. The record weaves together traditional southern elements—banjo, mandolin, and fiddle—with dark, soulful melodies that feel both timeless and fresh. Every track reflects a journey shaped by struggle, resilience, and authenticity.Growing up surrounded by the strong musical traditions of the South, Kelley channels real-life experiences into songs that hit hard and stay with you. Misery Like A Wheel isn’t just an album—it’s a statement from an artist unafraid to be vulnerable and honest.If you’re a fan of raw blues, southern soul, and music that tells a story, this is one to turn up and feel.
Sunny War
Sunny War - From Hardship to Folk-Blues Star | Rugged Revival
Sunny War enlivens traditional folk and blues by freshening her musical attack and writing lyrics that reflect 21st century concerns. Her first album, "Worthless", arrived in 2014, and she continued to gain attention as she built up a cult following that crested with the release of 2018's "With the Sun".Born Sydney Lyndella Ward to a single mother in Nashville, the singer/songwriter spent her childhood moving around the United States with her parent, spending significant time in both Nashville and the Detroit suburb of Rochester. During this time, she learned to love a wide variety of music, picking up the guitar at the age of 13. After she spent a rough period combating substance abuse and poverty, she gravitated to blues and folk and relocated to California settling in Venice Beach.Adopting the performing name Sunny War, she'd sometimes moonlight with her punk side band Anus Kings, but it was her folk-blues showcased on a self-released album that began to gain notice from local scenesters - including critics at LA Weekly. After a few years, she released her official debut, "Worthless", which appeared in 2014. A second independent record, "Red White and Blue", arrived in 2016.In 2018 Sunny War released, via Hen House Studios, "With the Sun", After that album, she moved from Venice Beach to downtown Los Angeles, quickly delivering her next LP also on Hen House "Shell of a Girl", the following year. Her critically acclaimed EP "Can I Sit With You" premiered in 2020.
Daniel Young
Daniel Young - Indie Folk Americana | Another Golden Hour | Rugged Revival
The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery. Daniel Young is the kind of artist who doesn’t just make music—he lives inside it. A singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, and producer from Salt Lake City, Daniel has spent over two decades honing a craft that runs as deep as the mountains he grew up on. That sense of elevation—of something vast, fleeting, and quietly powerful—echoes through every note he creates. His latest project, Another Golden Hour, captures that rare, glowing moment just before the light fades—when everything feels suspended between what is and what’s about to disappear. These songs were born in the open air of a side patio, shaped in a basement studio, and now return to the world carrying that same warmth, weight, and wonder. Recorded over just two days at Orchard Studios with minimal overdubs, the album reunites Daniel with the Rambling Roses—the same group behind 2024’s Leave It Out to Dry. Together, they create something remarkable: a sound that feels immediate yet timeless, raw yet carefully held together. Each track reflects a different thread of Daniel’s world: • “Baby, Baby Blue” pays tribute to the late KSOP (AM 1370), a pillar of country music history • “Holdin’ Up” wrestles with the quiet weight of modern struggles • “Fires Shall Be Ceased” and “Ways to Communicate” channel the enduring spirit of protest and folk tradition • The title track, “Another Golden Hour,” distills it all into something fluid, shimmering, and deeply human This is music about fleeting light, about holding on, about letting go—and about finding hope anyway. Another day. Another golden hour. Listen now and experience it for yourself. #folksong #countrysongs #americanamusic Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music! Listen to the full podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wnHcgA73o1aiiKaz882vH?si=30aabdaa220a4628 Follow The Rugged Revival: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theruggedrevival/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theruggedrevival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094507520679 Website: www.theruggedrevival.com Email: ruggedrevival@hotmail.com
Andy Thomas
Andy Thomas - Fiery Southern Rock & Roll | High Octane Country Blues | Rugged Revival
Andy Thomas has worked his way up the ranks as an electrifying guitarist across the United States and abroad, whether it’s fronting his own wild-n-out project The Trongone Band or being the six-string rocket fuel for the melodic muscle car that is acclaimed Americana act Yarn. Produced by fellow Virginia native and longtime friend Dave Schools, the legendary bassist for Widespread Panic, and captured at the renowned Spacebomb Studios, Thomas' debut album, “Highway Junkie,” connects the dots of Thomas’ troubled past and hard-fought strength of self in the present — this juncture of fiery southern rock & roll and high-octane country blues.
Walker Tex
Walker Tex - Alt-Country from Glasgow | Modern Country with a Classic Soul | Rugged Revival
Walker Tex and Wilson Lyons are an alt-country duo with a deep connection to storytelling and a modern twist on traditional country music. Hailing from Glasgow, Walker’s love for country blossomed during his time living in Northern Ireland, where he met Northern Irish-born Wilson Lyons as young lads. The two began playing together early on, bonding over their shared passion for music.With Walker’s rich vocals and Wilson’s intricate guitar work, their sound blends nostalgia with a fresh edge. They're joined by drummer, backing vocalist, and producer , who runs Ear Bonez Studios in Athens, Georgia, and shapes their distinctive sound. Together, they create songs that resonate with authenticity, drawing listeners into their unique blend of alt-country.
Spencer Hatcher
Spencer Hatcher - Virginia Bluegrass Country Star | “When She Calls Me Cowboy” | Honky Tonk Hideaway EP | Rugged Revival
Stone Country Records’ Spencer Hatcher is a bluegrass-influenced country artist who was raised on a farm in the heartland of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. By the age of 11, he was already playing his five-string banjo in his family’s bluegrass band. In 2020, Hatcher formed his own country band, backed by younger brother Connor Hatcher, a bass prodigy and “blood harmony” supporting vocalist. Dubbed the “String King” by his hometown newspaper and quickly developing a reputation across Virginia and neighboring states as an exciting live performer, Hatcher played more than 150 shows a year in both 2023 and 2024, often setting venue attendance records. He has also built a strong online fan base, including more than 900,000 social media followers. Hatcher’s debut EP, Honky Tonk Hideaway—a good-time destination for music fans who prefer their country served stone cold—is available now. The EP features Hatcher’s debut single, “When She Calls Me Cowboy,” which was a Top 10 Most Added Song at U.S. Country Radio (Mediabase) out-of-the-box. Saving Country Music has lauded the young old-fashioned gentleman as “one of the most promising up-and-coming voices in traditional country music.”
Canción Franklin
Canción Franklin - Singer-Songwriter from Tuscon, Arizona | Rugged Revival
In this interview Camden speaks with Canción Franklin, an American roots musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Tucson, Arizona, whose authentic sound draws on deep grooves of Americana, country, blues, soul and rock ’n’ roll. From discovering the blues as a teenager to tirelessly honing his craft in dive bars and on the road, Canción’s music is defined by heartfelt lyrics, raw guitar work and a commitment to honesty and emotional expression. His performances - whether solo, with a band, or as a hired gun - are marked by a vulnerable presence and a powerful connection with audiences. Canción’s songs explore resilience, life’s hardships and the beauty found in perseverance, making him a compelling voice in modern roots music.
Steve Burner
Steve Burner - Outlaw Country, Waylon Jennings & the 1970s Sound | Rugged Revival
Steve Burner plays country music rooted in the raw spirit of the 1970s Outlaw movement. His sound draws on the grit of Waylon Jennings and Townes Van Zandt, while tipping its hat to modern torchbearers like Colter Wall, Charley Crockett and Orville Peck. After stints as the bassist of the Hard Rock outfit Travelin Jack and as frontman of Silvershark, Burner now steps into the spotlight on his own terms - bringing a fresh, uncompromising voice to Europe’s roots scene.
Justin Trawick
Justin Trawick - DC based band leader, podcaster, and founder of "We Are the 9" | Rugged Revival
Justin Trawick has been performing in the Washington DC area and along the East Coast since 2006, citing musical influences like Bob Schneider, The Tallest Man on Earth, G. Love, Old Crow Medicine Show, and David Gray. In June of 2015, Trawick released his first single, “Goodbye”, under the band name “Justin Trawick and the Common Good”; written about the search for direction and belonging in a world that constantly feels one step ahead of you. Trawick has performed for TedxEast in NYC at the City Winery, TedxPennsylvaniaAvenue in DC at the Newseum, and has opened for over 30 national acts including Suzanne Vega, Wyclef Jean, Brett Dennen, Blues Traveler, Enter The Haggis, Bob Schneider, and Edwin McCain, and shared bills with Dr. Dogg and The Avett Brothers. Justin is the Founder of the nationally touring show “The 9 Songwriter Series” and co-founder of “The Circus Life Podcast.”
Evan Golden Hopper
Evan Golden Hopper - From Bluegrass Roots to Punk Rebellion | Rugged Revival
From bluegrass porches to punk basements, Evan Golden Hopper has lived a wild musical evolution.In this episode, Camden dives into Evan’s early influences, from his grandparents’ old‑time picking sessions to recording his first DIY punk demos on a Yamaha analog deck. They talk about creative honesty, finding identity through sound, and how artists like Townes Van Zandt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Sierra Ferrell still shape his songwriting today.Evan also teases new music from his project Quell, with a brand‑new single dropping around Thanksgiving - plus insight into what it means to stay real in a world full of noise.
Aaron McDonnell
Aaron McDonnell - Texas Alt-Country Star with a Timeless Sound | Instagram LIVE | Rugged Revival
Aaron McDonnell is one of Texas’ most exciting alt-country artists. With multiple Top 40 hits, over 1,000 live shows, and his acclaimed LP "Too Many Days Like Saturday Night", Aaron has carved out a reputation for blending classic country roots with moody, timeless influences reminiscent of Dwight Yoakam and Chris Isaak.
Jenni Rose
Jenni Rose - From Texas Band Vandoliers
The collection of songs on Vandoliers’ fifth album, Life Behind Bars, offers a window into frontwoman Jenni Rose's journey through addiction and gender dysphoria — a journey that has culminated in her decision to come out as a trans woman while working in the macho worlds of Texas country and punk rock. Ten years into their career, the band’s latest work is as upbeat and sing-along ready as ever, but with a little more stripped-down and intimate feel than their typical fare, in addition to being lyrically more substantive and, at times, more politically pointed. Bars is fearless and fun, a bold entry in a musical space that is still too often hidebound by tradition.www.theruggedrevival.comwww.vigilantehaircare.com#texasmusicscene #countryrock #punk #cowpunk
Bedford Band
Bedford Band - Kentucky Rockers on New Album & Touring Stories
Bedford has released four singles this year from their upcoming album, which is set to drop in late summer 2025. Stream "Sign" now! Though they hail from the rolling hills of Kentucky, they have performed on stages all over the Southeast and Midwest. From New Orleans to Nashville and everywhere in between, you won't want to miss these fellas when they're melting your local stomping grounds!
Ramona Martinez
Ramona & The Holy Smokes – The New Honky-Tonk Sound
In this episode, Camden speaks to Ramona Martinez from Ramona and The Holy Smokes.Based in Central Virginia and with family roots in South Texas, Ramona and the Holy Smokes represent a new generation of honky tonk music. With powerful female vocals that cover an emotional range from determined to comic to vulnerable and a talented backing band steeped in classic country and western styles of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the band exhibits a “clarity and sincerity that bring Patsy Cline to mind” (Nashville Scene, 2025). Fronted by Ramona Martinez, whose songwriting has earned her recognition from Wide Open Country as one of the "15 Latino Artists Shaping Country Music," this Charlottesville, Virginia-based band is rooted in the traditional sounds of country music but unafraid of pushing boundaries and highlighting the connections across border cultures. They have appeared at several Americana festivals including Red Wing Roots (2024), Rooster Walk (2025), and has opened for touring artists like Margo Cilker, Colby Acuff, Willi Carlisle, Redd Volkaert, Joshua Hedley, Donna the Buffalo, and Kashus Culpepper. Their self-produced debut album, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, a collection of original songs about heartache and resiliency, will be released on September26. www.theruggedrevival.com https://www.vigilantehaircare.com/ #countrymusic #classiccountry #musicinterview #musicpodcast
Jesse Williams
Jesse Williams – Blues & Soul Music From North Georgia
Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jesse Williams, is a mountain mama with roots grounded in Blues & Soul. Hailing from North Georgia with the deep belief that it’s best savored when simmered. Her melody medicine is an invitation of sultry vocals and earthy lyrics that explore Life's many winding paths. These serenades are supported with guitar grooves and rhythms that play off the feeling of the Music. Capturing and offering the raw essence of Spirit as it moves listeners within. Jesse's works include her 2020 debut EP, “Off the Vine". Which was recorded in 2019 at InCrowd Recordings in Atlanta, GA. In 2024 she released another EP, “Take My Place”. Recorded in 2018 at The Vault in Marietta, GA. Outside of her EP's, Jesse Williams is featured on other songs and projects. She makes two appearances on the album. Belting on a cover of Renee Geyer’s, , as well as co-writing and singing on . Recently, she joined creative forces with on his melancholic tune, . Her latest accomplishment is winning the Eddie's Attic 55th Bi-Annual Songwriter Shootout in November 2024. Joining the list of winners that include Jennifer Nettles & Cory Jones, John Mayer & Clay Cook, Tyler Childers, and more. She is currently working on recording her first full-length album, “Keep Steady”. More home-grown medicine coming in June 2025.
Addie Levy
Addie Levy – Bluegrass Mandolin Virtuoso
Meet Addie Levy, a captivating American bluegrass-country artist who effortlessly weaves tradition and vision into exciting, progressive movements. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Addie has emerged as a true multi-talent in the world of music, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and exciting mandolin improvisation. From the early age of 10, she has been a powerful performer mentored by the bluegrass and old-time community. Enchanted by the resonating tales and camaraderie embedded within the "happy music" of Bluegrass, Addie swiftly cultivated a deep love for its rich history and stories. Her radiant energy and boundless enthusiasm have transformed her into a sought-after collaborator, drawing the attention of organizations, fellow musicians, businesses, and festivals. Through her music, Addie Levy has breathed new life into traditional sounds and forged a vibrant and ever-expanding landscape for its future.
Kindred Valley
Kindred Valley – Indie Folk from West Virginia
Indie folk band Kindred Valley started when three friends with a passion for music met at Marshall University in 2020. Initially under the name Back Row Baptists, Blake Lacy, Noah Freeman and Brett McCoy met in Huntington, West Virginia, and began writing and recording music together. The band released its first singles as a trio but found its footing in 2021 with three new members - Husband and Wife Rachael and Jadon Hayes and Kaden Salmons. After releasing their self-titled debut album at the end of 2022 the band took to traveling and playing shows as often as they could manage. More time together meant new ideas and songs shared amongst each other - many of which felt like expansions on the ideas of their self-titled release. As the band continued to refine and develop their live show, each song took on a new sound more closely resembling a more experienced and practiced Kindred Valley. Though it took time to decide how to properly share these songs with the world, the band agreed that the sooner it was able to, the better. Recorded between Noah’s unfinished - and now finished - basement as well as the Hayes’ home studio, the project showcases a dynamically contrasting collection of songs that not only displays the growth of the band up to now, but also points towards potential creative directions of future works as well.
Eli Cain
Eli Cain – Georgia Americana from Housepainter to Artist
Eli Cain is a talented singer-songwriter from Watkinsville, Georgia. His journey from housepainter to a rising star in the music industry is awe inspiring. Come and join Eli and The Rugged Revival for a captivating conversation! #musicpodcast #musicinterview #countrymusicartists #americana
Steel Saddle
Steel Saddle – Montreal Country-Rockers with Soulful Edge
Imagine if 1960s country-rock visionaries The Flying Burrito Brothers traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama’s fabled Fame Studios, home to recording artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, and Joe Tex, to record an album and let the studio’s characteristic R ‘n’ B sound shape the resulting tracks. What you’d have would be a unique blending of country rock instrumentation and bluegrass harmonies with a funky soul horn section. That, my friends, is the sound of Canadian rockers Steel Saddle: distinctive, well-crafted, and shit-kickin’ exciting. The six-piece band from Montreal offer an authentic representation of the pioneering country-rock style along with a heapin’ helpin’ of Southern soul to forge a truly original Americana roots sound. #country #rockmusic #southernsoul #bluegrass #canadiancountry
Rugged Ronnie
Bonus Episode – Meet Rugged Ronnie!
Rugged Ronnie finally makes his debut on the podcast! Listen as we talk about Country Music, Whiskey, and our upcoming ideas and projects for the Rugged Revival! Opening song: Josh Mitcham - When You Lose, You Learn #countrymusic #realcountrymusic #countryartist #musicpodcast #countrysingersongwriter