kentucky-music

Nicholas Jamerson

Nicholas Jamerson - Faith, Family, and the Frontier | Rugged Revival

The Narrow Way, the new full-length studio record from Kentucky-born singer-songwriter Nicholas Jamerson finds its grace in the space between folk storytelling and backroads country ramble. A heartfelt exploration of life’s struggles, joys, and the search for purpose, the record is rooted in the storytelling traditions of Appalachian roots and Americana music. Produced by the brilliant Rachel Baiman and featuring collaborations with Baiman, Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show), Tim O’Brien, Shelby Means, and Emily Jamerson, The Narrow Way blends poetic lyrics with authentic melodies to create a deeply personal and universallyresonant listening experience. Weaving together vivid imagery and poignant themes of family, nostalgia, resilience, and redemption, the record is an invitation to reflect on life’s winding paths while celebrating the bumps and beauty of the journey. Jamerson was born into a musical family in eastern Kentucky, where gatherings were full of guitars and songs. “My grandmother always had a camera rolling, which taught me early on that life is worth documenting” he says. “That’s what I try to do through songwriting: turn ordinary moments into something meaningful.” Starting out with piano and choir as a child, Jamerson added guitar, banjo and mandolin to his repertoire along the way. After college, he co-founded the band Sundy Best and has released a dozen records between them and his solo work and band over the last thirteen years. “Music has taken me places I never dreamed, like the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry” he tells, “but more than anything, it’s a way for me to honor place and people, and to help others feel seen and proud of where they come from.” These days, in addition to his own music, Jamerson is working to mentor the next generation, helping other writers find their voice through projects like the Sleeping in the Woods Songwriter Festival. Thematically, The Narrow Way is a meditation on walking a difficult but purposeful path while holding onto faith and integrity while navigating the messiness of life. Those universal touchstones of the human experience - faith and doubt, the complexity of family ties (love, conflict, reconciliation, and the longing for connection and understanding), and the heartache of nostalgia and loss, are all to be found within The Narrow Way. The rain feeds the flowers, and the deep greys are balanced by the lightness found through the dignity of hard work, the sharing of struggles, and the emotional labor of pushing through hardship. Buoyed by and undercurrent of hope for personal renewal, forgiveness, and a clearer path forward, Jamerson hopes that listeners find the record a cathartic experience. “My hope is that it shakes something loose inside them—something they’ve been holding onto for too long—so they can finally let it go and leave it behind” he says. Written with a painterly economy of language, his songs shimmer in the space between narrative and allegory; a kaleidoscope of meditations set to music, they transcend genre and hit straight to the heart. Expertly arranged and elegantly executed, it is a record built around eminently engaging melody and Jamerson’s soaring voice; clear and bright as the stars on a winter night. The Narrow Way is the final chapter in a trilogy that traces a journey of self-discovery, faith, and perseverance—written from the heart of Appalachia, where the sacred and the simple meet. With a voice rooted in tradition and a pen sharpened by experience, Jamerson invites listeners to walk with him through the shadows towards something honest and eternal. The Narrow Way is a soul-stirring blend of mountain wisdom and familial remembrance, written by someone that carries the weight of memory, the fire of purpose, and the humility of a man still learning.

Dakota Saylor - Live at The Burl | Rugged Revival

At the legendary Burl in Lexington, KY, five incredible artists stepped onto the stage for the "For The Love of Appalachia" showcase - each competing for a life-changing opportunity: a fully-funded UK tour. In this interview, Rugged Revival's Kenzie Traylor sits down with Dakota Saylor to talk music, dreams, and what is means to represent Kentucky's thriving independent scene. This is just the beginning - we'll be sharing interviews with all five artists from this unforgettable night. Hit subscribe and join us in celebrating the voices that keep independent music alive! #kentuckymusic #independentmusic #countrymusic #appalachianmusic

Gracie Yates

Gracie Yates - Live at The Burl | Rugged Revival

At the legendary Burl in Lexington, KY, five incredible artists stepped onto the stage for the "For The Love of Appalachia" showcase - each competing for a life-changing opportunity: a fully-funded UK tour. In this interview, Rugged Revival's Kenzie Traylor sits down with Gracie Yates to talk music, dreams, and what is means to represent Kentucky's thriving independent scene. This is just the beginning - we'll be sharing interviews with all five artists from this unforgettable night. Hit subscribe and join us in celebrating the voices that keep independent music alive! #kentuckymusic #independentmusic #countrymusic #appalachianmusic

Josh Mitcham

Josh Mitcham – Ex-Jericho Woods Singer on Solo Barn Album

Josh Mitcham, from Webster, Kentucky is best known for his work with the group Jericho Woods, which he formed in 2014. After the dissolution of JW and the subsequent pandemic, Mitcham set about working on a solo project that would solidify his style. With all the success of Kentucky, and especially Appalachian artists, it would have been easy to lean into that trend in current music tastes, but as Mitcham himself said, “Hell, I live a whole lot closer to John Mellencamp than I do Lawrence County (referring to Tyler Childers)”. While definitely a fan of Appalachian music, and a proud Kentuckian, Mitcham really wanted to tap into the music that had shaped his own taste: Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, Butch Walker, and Nada Surf. While definitely country, Mitcham lands in a middle ground between country and an Isbell-ish rock. Stacked vocals and ambient guitars tinged with fiddle and steel. Still not really “mainstream country radio” ready but not a old-time mountain murder ballad either (there is a song about killing!) Mitcham definitely has his own voice, as these songs are indeed familiar to the style of his former group, but without an attempt to please Nashville or the hipsters; but he might just have a little something here for all of them. Recorded in the 100 year old barn on his family farm, Mitcham has crafted an album that sets him apart from a lot of the trendy music hashtagging onto the Kentucky music train these days. #countrymusic #kentuckymusic #countryartist #musicpodcast #countrysingersongwriter