Tyler-James Kelly - Real Country Music Is Back | Rugged Revival
Watch on YouTube
Subscribe for new episodes, Grit Sessions & more
Listen to this episode
In This Episode
There's something quietly defiant about Tyler-James Kelly's refusal to apologize for the kind of music he makes. In an industry increasingly preoccupied with algorithm-friendly production and stadium-sized production budgets, he's chosen a different path entirely — one paved with vinyl scratches, honest songwriting, and the ghosts of legends like Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, and Guy Clark. When he sits down to talk about "real country music," he's not being nostalgic. He's being insurgent.
The Rhode Island native arrived at this conviction the long way around. Born in America's smallest state, Kelly's childhood was anything but quaint. He grew up surrounded by complexity — a father in and out of prison, bullying from classmates who didn't understand why he was different, and a grandmother who understood something vital about the boy she was raising. While his peers were doing whatever kids in Rhode Island did, his Nana was recording every episode of Hee Haw on DVR, building a bridge between a young kid and an entire tradition of American music. She'd slip on episodes of Days of Our Lives while the real songs played in the background — Buck Owens, Webb Pierce, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed.
Folk music is for the people—that's what the word means. It's real, everyday life.
— Tyler-James Kelly
By the time Kelly was seven, his father had given him a guitar. He spent three years "banging around," as he describes it, before something clicked at ten years old. A year of formal lessons followed, though they frustrated him immediately. The instructors wanted to teach him mainstream pop; Kelly wanted to dig deeper into the roots. He wanted blues — Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, Skip James. He wanted to feel something from the earth, something that tears through the comfortable distance between performer and listener and puts you somewhere else entirely.
This hunger for authenticity defines everything Kelly does now. When he talks about country and Americana music, he's not talking about a genre. He's talking about a practice, a commitment to truthfulness. "Folk means people," he emphasizes during the conversation. "It's for the people." This isn't a catchphrase for him; it's a philosophy. Real country music documents real life — the complicated stuff, the painful stuff, the ordinary stuff that most art industry doesn't want to touch.
I got beat up a lot for not being like the other kids and being different.
— Tyler-James Kelly
What's particularly refreshing about Kelly's approach is that he's not interested in nostalgia as an escape hatch. He's not trying to resurrect the past so we can pretend the present doesn't exist. Instead, he's learned from the 1970s, studied the ways artists like Merle Haggard could write songs that felt urgent and contemporary while maintaining a connection to something timeless. He's taking those lessons and building something new with them. Vintage tones meet modern songwriting. The result is music that feels both of its moment and somehow outside of time.
There's a moment in the conversation where Kelly mentions playing Skip James on the sidewalks of Newport, Rhode Island — the same place where footage of James himself was captured decades earlier, playing "Crow Jane" in black and white. That image of continuity, of a young musician standing in the same place as a blues legend, carrying forward the same commitment to raw authenticity, says everything about what drives Kelly now.
He started writing original music at fifteen, and everything since has been an excavation of what it means to create country and roots music for people who crave something real. In a landscape increasingly dominated by manufactured consistency, Tyler-James Kelly represents a different kind of ambition entirely — not the drive to reach everyone, but the commitment to reach the right people with something true.
If you're tired of country music that sounds like it was written by committee, if you're hungry for Americana that actually means something, if you believe folk music belongs to the people — listen to the full episode. Kelly's revolution isn't loud. It doesn't need to be.
I'll help you. I'll help you start a revolution for this Monday morning love situation. >> Hey, what's up everybody? This is Cam aka the Honky Tonk Hair Machine for the Rugged Revival. Who am I with today? >> Hey folks, here's Tyler James Kelly. Happy to be here. >> All right, thanks for joining me, brother. >> Yeah, man. I appreciate you having me. It's a nice treat. >> The pleasure is all mine. So, I like to ask everybody this first question, and you can answer as indepth or as not in-depth as you want. I feel like it kind of gives us a little peak behind the curtain about who you are. >> Sure. >> So, where are you from originally and what was life like for you as a kid? >> Yeah, believe it or not, I'm I hail from all the way up in Rhode Island, uh, smallest state in the States. You know, we like to call it a small town of a state because that's that's exactly what it is, you know. Yeah, it's uh slim pickings with dating and uh and all that, you know what I mean? Everybody knows everybody and >> yeah, >> but uh but growing up was uh uh it's it's complicated. Early childhood was kind of rough. >> Uh got beat up a lot for not being like the other kids and being different. And um uh dad's been dad's been in and out of jail and prison most of my life. So, not proud to say, but uh we got a pretty tough tough uh relationship, but he did give me uh give me the guitar, so that you know that's pretty cool. Um and then Nana played Nana played a lot of country music when I was younger. >> Oh, nice. Actually, DVR came out when I was young and um I'm sure many people won't even know what that is anymore, but um she recorded every single damn Heihaw for for me. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> She knew I was just obsessed from the get-go. And um you know, I really appreciated that because I would stay up probably till 3:00 a.m. watching Buck Owens and Webb Pierce and of course Chad Atkins, you know, Jerry Reed. Dude, that's crazy because like to me DVR feels like that was yesterday, >> dude. I I would I would uh I would get back on that train right now. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. I feel like DVR for me was still kind of like the new tech of it all, you know, and like the streaming I feel like to me streaming just came out yesterday and we're still trying to figure out the DVR stuff. >> Yeah, that's our problem. We I think uh well, not mine, but uh most people get too fancy, right? >> Yeah, absolutely, man. Oh, like well you're ahead, right? We already had it. Good. >> Yeah, >> man. Nana would slip on some I mean I watched so much Days of Our Lives with that woman. Good lord. That rap bastard Stephano. You know what I'm saying? >> I think that's the uh you know that's the um a lot of the draw for a lot of folks when we get into um like folk and country music. We're looking for something that takes us back to a simpler time and something that feels a little more real and authentic. >> Amen, man. I mean, that's that's the genre. It's real, you know, everyday life, right? Is the word folk means >> people, you know, right? >> So, it's for the people. >> So, you mentioned your your dad taught you guitar or he gave you a guitar. How old were you when you got into playing guitar? >> So, I started when I was seven. Um, and I was just kind of banging around for three years and I really really took to it when I was 10. That's when did a few lessons. um maybe like a maybe a year of lessons actually. But it was uh it was complicated because I never got to learn the music that I wanted, you know, always roots music, >> meaning I just wanted, >> you know, 1950 and 60s blues, >> you know, like early stuff, you know, >> Buddy Guy and and uh that's where I originally cut my teeth on all that [ __ ] I still love that stuff to this day. >> Um >> T-Bone Walker, I could bore you to death on all the old dudes, you Oh, you won't bore me. Trust me. I love some Johnny Winner. All that stuff. >> My favorite Skip James. I mean, you want to feel something from the earth >> and audio quality, man. It just it tears your heart out and puts you in the in a particular place immediately. >> Yeah. >> And uh yeah, there's this great footage of him at the Newport Folk Fest. Um not actually at the festival, but playing on the streets in Newport, Rhode Island. I'm lucky enough I played it last year. I'm blessed to say that. But he there's this killer footage of him playing Crow Jane on the sidewalk and somebody captured it in black and white. It gives me goosebumps till this day, man. >> I know you'd appreciate it. So >> yeah, it's cool that they uh they just happened to be there at that time to be able to capture that that moment. That's that's a special >> not a clip either. A full song. you're like, "Wow, this is" and you know, that was a real camera, you know, >> in the really cool. >> So, you've been playing guitar for quite a long time. When did you uh start playing some of your original music out live? >> Well, I guess original music I was 15, >> trying to play like basement parties and kind of like wherever I could. Um, you know, my dad would drag me into all the bars he was at and make me dance like a monkey for all his cronies, you know, and uh sometimes it would end well and most times it wouldn't. >> Yeah, I'm sure. >> And those are stories for another time. But, uh, I would say I would say 12 uh 15 for original music. You know, when I was 12, you know, like eighth grade, I was playing so my socials. >> Like your seventh grade and eighth grade social. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. >> And I was really proud to do that because the times were changing. You know, I'm I just turned 38, so I'm I'm young, right? But youngish, but you know, I'm really proud that we did that because we were one of the last before, you know, DJs came in and [ __ ] >> Yep. Yep. >> We were playing our high uh what do you call it? Middle school socials. We even still had um >> Led Zeppelin Steer to Heaven was the last song, >> you know? I mean, my parents had that, you know? It's just like so cool that that uh I caught the end of that that little wave, you know. >> I I agree with you, man. I think it's really interesting like so I'm 40, so we're kind of like roughly around the same age. >> Absolutely. >> And I think like our era, you know, we still remember life before social media. We still, you know, >> phones and >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> come home when the street lights come on and >> all that stuff. Yeah. Absolutely. >> Outdoors, right? We remember the outdoors. >> Yeah. And I was lucky enough to grow up with, you know, parents that were way into fishing. So, we were fishing all the time and, you know, doing some real outdoorsy stuff. I mean, my kids, luckily, my kids like to go fishing with me, so we still do that kind of thing. >> Beautiful. But yeah, there's I see a lot of that, you know, to be the old man that shakes fists at cloud. You know, there's still a lot of uh you know, I think a lot of folks are missing out on a lot of stuff and hopefully it all comes full circle. You know, at some point they'll they'll get back out there, you know. >> Happy to hear you say that. I couldn't agree more, man. I really >> I mean, that's how I feel. >> Yeah. And I I'm starting to see some of that. Like even with my kids, the way they interact with social media now is like, you know, it's it's lost some of it shine. It doesn't have the same, you know, interest anymore. They're not chasing numbers. You know, they like posting and belonging to a community. You know, they both like doing like cosplay and horror movie stuff, so they've got the little community, but we're not chasing numbers anymore. You know, we're we're trying to find our who who our people are and reach out to them. and then uh you know put it down after a while and get back to uh real life after a little bit there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely, man. I mean, >> so as a performing artist, you got a lot going on, right? You're trying to sing, you're putting on a good show, and you're trying to play the guitar. What are some of the biggest challenges that you face when trying to juggle all three of those things? >> Oh my god. Depends on the day, really. I mean, >> yeah, >> sometimes I'm just trying to face myself because I gotta, you know, there's not >> Speaking of dads, I used to hold the flashlight for my dad, so you can't hurt my feelings. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. >> Um, and my real point of that, you know, I'm being funny, but my real point of that is I'm already my worst critic. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> [ __ ] that you can do that I haven't already done, you know? So, >> especially with songwriting, you know, but anyway, I'm always trying to outdo myself every day, you know. Some some days are better than better better than others with that. Um, but it's important to me that that kind of drive that I've always had. I was born with that like you have to I got to learn something new every day, >> you know, about the craft, you know, whether it's guitar, you know, I started as a guitar player and I'm I'm very proud of that. You know, I played I still get hired to play with quite a few people. >> Oh, yeah. >> I used to play with Sam Marorrow, Jamie Wyatt. Uh, I play from time to time with my buddy Christopher Seymour. >> Yep. >> Unbelievable talent, man. I love him to pieces. Um, you know, list goes on. But, you know, over the years I'm like, man, my some of my biggest heroes like Vince Gil or something, you know, >> they got that trifecta thing going. >> They can write a song, they can really sing, and they can play guitar, >> you know. And I know that's ambitious, but that's what I'm always going for is trying to keep those scales balanced. You know, >> when my when my vocals start slipping, my guitar is doing well, I start I try to balance that out, you know, >> get get back on working on the vocals, you know, dig deep. >> It's a, you know, it's a forever, it's a forever thing. And and that I think that's beautiful that there's no there's no end to uh to this learning this knowledge and especially in country music. I mean it's bigger than all of us and I'm just so >> I feel bad for you know every once in a while you run into somebody's like I don't like country music. >> Yeah. Run into that a lot. >> I'm like buddy like I'm so sorry your quality of life is significantly like worse than mine. You know >> and I'm sleeping in a dish tonight. You know what I mean? >> I'm just kidding. But you know what I mean? It's like >> Yeah. >> All of us. It's bigger than all of us. >> And uh once you're hooked, as you know, it's so dear to every single one of us. >> I like what you said there about being a a small piece of the puzzle. I think that's really important. And that's what I always tell folks. For me, you know, is um I'm I'm just kind of like a visitor. I'm passing through, you know, and I want to uh have a positive impact on the country music scene as much as I can while respecting its roots, respecting where it comes from and and honestly respecting where it's going all at the same time. So, you know, for all the musicians and the artists that are contributing to this much bigger picture, we're all uh laying down brush strokes of a huge painting of what's known as country music or folk music. >> Yeah. It's, you know, the best part about it, well, there's so many I could keep going, but it's it's all shared information. Nobody's saying nothing new, buddy. >> Yeah. Y >> all about how are you saying this thing? Mhm. >> That's what we want to celebrate. That's what we hear, you know. >> Yeah. >> It's like a country music philosophy, you know, >> just >> absolutely, >> you know, it's um you know, and I think there's a time and a place for each of the subg genres within the genre, you know, like my, you know, my girls love bopping and dancing around the living room. So, they want to hear something that's got a little more pop and bop to it. when I'm in the car, I want to hear uh my John Morland. I want to hear my JD Graham. I want to hear my Tyler James Kelly. That kind of thing, you know, and there's a time I think you got to departmentalize all that stuff. >> Absolutely. I mean, uh I try I run into this a lot and you know what I'm trying to say it. Let me figure how to how how to say this. um you were just talking about remind me what you were that last part you were just saying >> just finding like a a different um element and a time and a place for each version of the genre. >> I remember you were talking about your girls. Right. >> Right. >> And I remember being younger too. My nana was playing this music, you know, Conway and uh you know George and and Tammy of course and Loretta. But I always tell people the reason we rejected it for so long is like what the hell does a seven-year-old know about cheating or even have what do we know about having a wife or >> getting drunk? >> We don't even like the smell of beer, you know. >> That's right. >> Trust me, I smelt it a lot, you know. >> But uh yeah. Yeah. Dad's scruff and and butt butt heavy, you know. Maro Reds and and uh this really wild like polo pine musk or something and of course grease because he was a he was a great mechanic at one time. >> But all those smells combined I mean is you you oh my god when I smell a garage I'm taken right back sometimes >> years old. Yeah you know >> but but back to what I was saying what the hell do we know? We don't know [ __ ] You have to grow into this music you know. I love I love Brett Brett Cobb's uh t-shirt. I still got it. It's country music for grown folks, you know. >> I love that. >> It's true, man. You gota >> Yeah. >> The music isn't for kids. So, of course tearing it up in the living room to some hip-hop sound and [ __ ] you know. >> Yeah. Or, you know, uh who who do they like? They like, uh, you know, we all love Laney Wilson >> and, uh, they like Sabrina Carpenter and that kind of stuff, you It's it's they're singing about, you know, fun stuff and that's cool. A time and a place for that. >> Absolutely, man. >> So, you've rattled off quite a a list of influences already. So, when it comes to Tyler James Kelly today, who are your biggest country and non-country influences, both uh musically and maybe even fashion wise? >> Oh, fashion. Um, well um, you know, people call me a throwback and that's kind of fun. >> Mhm. >> But what's really really fun about it is like I'm not trying at all. If you could hang out with me, it's like 1975 every day, you know. Um, it comes natural to me, you know. >> There's a funny quote that's in my bio that my mom says. It's like he walked into a cornfield in 1975 and he just came out now. And um I love that cuz it's genuine. And [ __ ] I wasn't even born till 1988, so that's why it's even more funny. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> But you know, I really love the old [ __ ] >> and not because I'm trying to love the old [ __ ] It really is just what I want to put on. I think there's more music from those times, believe it or not, that the well is is so deep that >> Yes, >> still there's still stuff to be discovered. >> Yes, I agree. >> Maybe some people know it all, you know. Good luck if you know everything. But I'm still digging in that thing all the time. You know, I want to know >> the obscure >> Yeah. >> country artist or folk artists or roots roots music >> and um you know, so I have a hard time with with modern day stuff, but don't get me wrong, there's there's folks out there >> you know, I'm a big Merl guy >> as far as my sound. you know, Billy Joe Shaver, of course, >> um, Don Williams, um, Don, all these all these artists that I'm naming have, they teach you so much, >> right? >> Don Williams teaches me, you know, of course, I obviously never met him, but I'm saying through his music teaches you you back to your girls a little bit. Not every song has to be this sad bastard, you know, uh, cheat on my wife, you know, my life's [ __ ] right now. on the ground. >> Oh, you can write songs being grateful. You know, Tom T. Hall teaches us that. >> You know, you you can write silly songs. I love Little Baby Ducks. You know what I mean? You you know, most people will say that's cheesy. It's like, well, cool. You don't get it. You know, life life can be cheesy. You know, country is a little cheesy sometimes. >> Anyway, >> u and then Merl of course teaches us to be real and don't be afraid to say the simple things, the everyday things, you know, and of course he does it so damn well. It's uh makes you want to quit sometimes. >> Um >> I think that's that's that's very Yeah, that that's very real and I I really connect with that what you're just saying because, you know, especially when you think about um you know, there have been thousands of singer songwriters through time there. You know, there are some artists that for whatever reason maybe had the money to put out a big record and that happened for them even back in the day. there like who are the who are the sub of the subculture artists that were you know still burgeoning that aren't household name because some of these household names George Jones uh Towns Vanzant Johnny Cash on and on right like those are the names that are pretty accessible >> Guy Clark you know >> Yeah. Yeah. So who who was like even chasing them to try and come up >> that that we might not know. >> Yeah. some not, you know, like who didn't have the record deal or the money or the, >> you know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Somebody, you know, >> Joe, whatever. Working at the gas station, maybe he could turn a phrase, right? >> Yep. >> I mean, Billy Billy Joe was I feel like he was about to be and then we got lucky by him just being a total animal >> and barging Whan's door down to like say, "Hey, man. I about had it up to here. >> You've been [ __ ] me around. I want you to listen to these songs. I'm serious. You know, that's kind of amazing. You know, >> it is. >> We were just about to and at that moment in time. Probably maybe never hear the guy, right? >> Yeah. Absolutely. >> So, I like [ __ ] like that, you know. But as far as, you know, of course I love Steve Earl. I don't mean just I don't want anybody thinking I'm just an old school guy, you know. Sturggil, of course, and Chris Stapleton. They changed my whole world because I realized, [ __ ] there's other weirdos like me. >> Yeah. >> Like, we love this roots [ __ ] And um and then we're going to chase it, >> you know. Keep it keep that torch going, you know? Um and and you know, I I hope to meet him someday so I can say just that, you know. like they changed me that the minute I heard them I was like this is cool I think this is acceptable too you know >> that's like uh I was playing some culture wall for the girls in the car and I said when you hear this what what do you picture and they're like oh he's probably living on a mountain with a beard to his chest and he's you know working in a coal mine and I show them a picture and they were like what >> he's he's really handsome >> cigarettes Yeah. >> But yeah, I love I love that. I think that's what draws me to even like like you're saying, Sturgil, Stapleton, uh, Culture Wall, you know, they have an obvious old school influence and and again to take it back to the top, we're always chasing the simplicity part of it. You know, we don't need there's a time and a place for the fun bop, but we don't necessarily guys like you and I, we don't we're not going to be drawn to that. >> No, it's shortlived. You know, it's like I got about 20 minutes in me and then >> and then I know I think we just also know who we are really well maybe and that you know we're not trying to be disrespectful but also know maybe life is short and there's some other [ __ ] I could put in my ears right now >> right >> that might be a jukebox on the corner with where the pool table's at, you know, nobody's there, you know. Um, but you know, I love Ray Montaine as far as non-country guys. You know, I think he's just unbelievable. He puts out whatever he puts out, you know. I swear by his his COVID record, I call it, because it it's uh it's called Monovision. >> Not many people heard it because of the whole fiasco we had to deal with. Right. >> Right. >> I swear this is one of the best records. You can hear every influence like Neil Young, Joanie Mitchell, John Denver, Gradence Clarewater. There's some soul in it, you know, maybe Otis Reading moments. >> Uh it's unbelievable, man. It's a truly amazing album. >> Yeah, I follow him on the socials. I have to dig a little deeper in his discoraphy. >> Yeah. Yeah, that one's good. I like that guy, M. Ward. >> Uhhuh. Yep. >> As far as new folks go. Mhm. >> Um them Hermones Gutierrez boys, you know, those >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Those guys are cool. >> They're really cool, man. They put me in this zone, you know what I mean? Like just >> Yeah. >> Spy guitar. I'm a sucker for guitar music, you know? So, >> they put, you know, Dan Arbog puts that [ __ ] out. I'm like, give it to, you know. >> Yeah. I mean, that that's that's how you get like your Sam Marorrow and uh you know, Bones Owens and um even uh Andy Thomas, you know, a lot of the the guitar slayers. I'm I'm always drawn to that first growing up listening to Stevie Rayvon. You know, I'm always pulled into that kind of, >> you know, every America, right? >> Y every single barroom in America, Stevie Rayvon was gone. >> Yeah. It's crazy. I mean, I wish we still had him. I mean, he was something else, you know. >> Yeah. Well, you know, and I think we're given particular people in a certain amount of time for a reason, as hard as that may be, you know, we're we're we're trapping that moment, that magic. >> Yeah. >> And then it's poof, you know, it's gone. So, you've done a lot of touring, man. And I I believe Did you play with the ways for a hot minute there? >> I did. Yeah. Yeah. They're I love those guys. I'm actually I think I'll be seeing them rather soon. In like a week and a half, we'll be back down. >> Oh, nice. >> Yeah, I love them. True authentic folks. They're freaking great. Some of my favorite people. >> We did a long run out west together. >> Yeah. So stinking fun because >> they're can get rowdy, too. They're professional, which I love as well. >> Like we know how to Hey, you know, >> so that's really fun. We already did all we already made all the mistakes. Um, but yeah, they're they're a trip to I mean the laughter. They're some of the funniest, coolest people I've ever met. >> Absolutely, dude. I couldn't agree more. >> Hardworking road dogs right there. >> That's what So that's that's what I'm saying. I think that's where I first learned of you as a musician was was through them. And I know you've put some rubber to the road and you've chewed up some asphalt. Is there anywhere you haven't toured yet that you would want to go to? Yeah, I mean, uh, believe it or not, I haven't been to California and and you know, no way. >> Maybe that's some of my fault because I, you know, there's certain places that I've heard about that might not be for me. Um, >> you know, I'm bad with big cities. I'll just be real, right? >> Why not? >> Like, I have a choice. I'm always real. But I can't do big cities. It's too fast for me, you know? I come from little roadie, dude. We barely have cities, you know what I mean? Um, but it's just fast, you know, like Austin, Texas, even parts of sometimes Nashville's too fast for me. >> Um, that's why I'm always just getting getting away. You know, I'll be at ease. You know what I mean? >> That's also part of like, you know, the whole who you are anyway, right? That takes it all, it all comes back to roots. You know, you want something real and organic and for you, you're not feeling that when you step into the concrete jungles. Yeah, man. I I don't want to I don't give a [ __ ] about John Boon joy. You know what I'm saying? I really don't, you know, enough is enough. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. But I'd also like to go to Europe maybe someday. I've never been over there. So, >> people say they love American music. So, >> yeah. Yeah. There there seems to be a real burgeoning scene happening out of out of uh the UK. >> I'm American. I'm like, "Hey, I like sex and money. Give me a call." You know what I mean? >> That's right. Let's make it happen. >> Let's be friends. >> So, my friend, this kind of brings us to the end of the road. So, I've only got one more question for you. >> Sure. Sure. >> It's it's a two-parter. One, >> do you have anything you want to promote, shows or or songs? And two, where can we find you on the social media? >> Um, okay. Uh, my my website's tylerjameskelly.com. >> Okay. Um, that's it's uh pretty organized thanks to my team at Keystone Artist Connect. >> Yeah, love those guys. >> Oh my god. Uh, lifesavers. >> Anyway, it's pretty it's pretty classy, you know, better than I could do on my own. And uh I think everything's up there where I'm going to be. I know Texas is in a few weeks, but we got a beautiful year ahead. Um I know I'll be I'm really proud of this. I think it's of this folk vest in Saskatchewan. I just got added to I'm really excited being my first time playing in Canada. >> Um just above Montana and also just to get back out there um Wyoming. Uh some dear friends out there, Blanca Tatona, killer little bar. Um just good clean rowdy fun right in Cody, Wyoming, man. Cowboy rodeo capital of the world. >> This is awesome. That's gonna be cool. >> It's cool, man. And it's, you know, they love songs, man. They want the what we're talking about. Hit me with the real [ __ ] You know what I mean? Coming right up, you know it. Here we go. And I just love that energy, you know? >> Yeah. >> Polite, you know what I mean? >> The little things in life for me. So, I'm excited to get back out that way. Um, we got a North Springs Music Fest in October. That's Whitleyville, uh, Tennessee. Um, it's basically just I mean the lineup's out of control. I don't know if you you're familiar. I mean, you should come. >> Dude, the festivals are getting getting bigger and bigger and there's some there's some great stuff going on. >> Well, this one's still intimate, you know. This is a this is a familyun. It doesn't get more down home than this. >> Nice. >> Um, yeah, it's really special. And we're just in a hayfield. >> Um, no service. Your cell phone will not work for three days, which is also >> Yeah. Even better. >> Yeah. Perfect. So, I'm looking forward to that. I mean, I know there's a bunch of other stuff I'm going to get yelled at for not mentioning, but but yeah, just please check out the the stuff on um online if they if you can, you know. >> Absolutely. Well, like I said, man, I appreciate you. I appreciate your time. And hopefully we'll catch you out here in DC area sometime soon. And uh I'll let you go. So, if you just stay on the line with me for one more second, I'll uh end this real quick. >> Hey, brother. Thank you.
Comments
Keep listening
Related Episodes
Anna Victoria
Inside North Carolina's Appalachian Music Scene | Anna Victoria
Anna Victoria joins Camden for an honest conversation about growing up in the mountains of North Carolina, discovering her voice as a songwriter and navigating life as an independent Country and Americana artist. We talk about learning to perform live, protecting her voice, finding confidence on stage, the influence of Appalachian music and artists such as Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell and Dolly Parton, balancing music with motherhood, and the challenge of staying creative in a world driven by social media. It's a thoughtful conversation about music, family, creativity and staying true to yourself while building a career in independent music. Chapters 00:00 – Introductions, Weaverville, childhood. 02:00 – Singing, vocal health and beginning her musical journey. 06:00 – The pandemic, booking gigs and developing as a live performer. 09:00 – Coping with distractions, confidence and performing. 12:00 – Appalachian influences, Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell, Dolly Parton and mountain songwriting. 15:00 – Family life, being a stay-at-home mum, social media and balancing music with everyday life. #lukecombs #sierraferrell #dollyparton 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
Ben Morrison
The Brothers Comatose: Ben Morrison on 18 Years of Music, Family & Touring
Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose joins the Rugged Revival Podcast for an honest conversation about nearly two decades ...
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, ...
Mike Tod
Keeping Traditional Folk Music Alive in Nashville | Mike Tod Podcast
Mike Tod joins Camden to discuss traditional folk music, Canadian roots, life in Nashville, forgotten songs, unusual instruments and why preserving musical history still matters today.Originally from Canada and now based in Nashville, Mike explores the stories behind traditional songs, the connections between folk music around the world and how old music continues to influence modern artists. We also discuss his unique "Crankenstein" instrument, musical curiosity, collecting songs from the past and the importance of keeping traditions alive for future generations.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:00:30 Growing Up in Canada00:02:20 Discovering Music & The Crankenstein00:04:10 The Story Behind The Crankenstein00:05:20 Drones, Folk Traditions & Ancient Music00:08:10 Learning Guitar & Performing Original Songs00:09:40 Accessing Traditional Music in the Digital Age00:11:20 Researching Music History00:12:10 Playing The Crankenstein Live00:14:00 Creating Atmospheric Sounds & Live Performance00:16:00 Traditional Songs & Musical Origins00:17:50 The Artists Influencing Mike Today00:19:20 Studying Philosophy & Creative Thinking00:22:00 Horror, Heavy Music & Folk Culture00:24:00 Scottish Heritage & Family History00:27:10 Final ThoughtsSubscribe 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