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.
All content for Roots Music Rambler is the property of Francesca Folinazzo & Jason Falls and is served directly from their servers
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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.
One of the Best Music Festivals of the Summer is In Manchester, Kentucky and It’s Free!
Roots Music Rambler
56 minutes
4 months ago
One of the Best Music Festivals of the Summer is In Manchester, Kentucky and It’s Free!
Did you know there’s a music festival coming Labor Day weekend that features an incredible roster of singers, songwriters and bands in the Americana, country, folk and bluegrass space and the tickets to said event are absolutely free? You do now.
The Manchester Music Fest is in its seventh iteration in eight years (damnit, COVID) and has always been completely free to the public to attend. Yes, you have to get there. Manchester is a small little burg nestled in the heart of the Eastern Kentucky Appalachians. But it’s a short drive from Interstate 75 South from Lexington and North from Knoxville and is a community just bursting at the bit to welcome people to visit.
This year’s lineup (did we mention it’s free yet?):
Brent Cobb & the Fixin’s
Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays
Taylor Hunnicut
The Creekers
Hollerhead
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
Bill Taylor & The Appalachian Heathens
Deep South
Scott T. Smith
Abe Partridge
Emily Jamerson
Roy Caudill
Stinky Pete
Spooky Fox
The Seas
Mayor of Shenanigans
Colby Sams
For free? Yes. Free.
Tim Parks and Jess Bowman are two of the people behind the Manchester Music Fest. They sat in with Falls this week to talk about the event, how they can pull this off without charging for tickets, booking artists and the impact of such an event on a small community. But they also talked about the early challenges some clever marketing presented for the isolated community in them thar hills (as they say).
Parks is even currently or formerly involved in the management and road management of acts like The Creekers and Sundy Best, so a lot of fun insights fell out of the conversation.
Frank also recaps the recent tribute concert for her late friend Lindsey Woodward and, of course, Frank and Falls also have their normal Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices of recommendations of new music for you to experience.
Download the episode and subscribe at rootsmusicrambler.com or 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 Online
Manchester Music Fest Instagram
City of Manchester, Kentucky online
Clay County Kentucky Fiscal Court Online
Bill Taylor and the Appalachian Heathens on America’s Got Talent
The Roots Music Rambler Store
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook
Jason Falls on Instagram
Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations
Lola Kirke
Gasoline Lollipops
Subscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.
Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum; Copyright 2025 - 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.
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Roots Music Rambler
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.
