Honky Tonk
Every episode of The Rugged Revival featuring Honky Tonk — conversations with independent country, Americana, and roots artists.
Rebecca Porter
Rebecca Porter - From Guam to Rising Appalachian Honky Tonk Star | Rugged Revival
Born in Guam and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, Rebecca Porter blends soulful melodies and fearless lyrics with her honey-smooth voice to create her own brand of Appalachian honky tonk. Her 2023 EP, "Queen of the Local", earned national acclaim and led to recognition in Rissi Palmer's Color Me Country Class of 2024, features on Ed Helms' Good Country and a debut on NPR's Mountain Stage. Known for electrifying live performances, Porter captivates audiences with her emotional intensity and grit. With her highly anticipated debut album, "Roll With the Punches", set for release in August 2025 (announcing April 25), Porter's personal and raw storytelling continues to push boundaries, projecting a cinematic soundscape that balances traditional country’s rugged spirit with an unapologetic journey of perseverance.
Kira Annalise
Kira Annalise - of The Waymores Talks Music, Hair, and Fashion | Instagram LIVE | Rugged Revival
The Waymores are Atlanta-based married honky tonk Americana duo Kira Annalise and Willie Heath Neal. Media fans include Vintage Guitar who said “While 21st-century Nashville pays lip service to this timeless sound, the Waymores keep it alive” and the Austin Chronicle asserted “The Waymores… combine the bright and brash like June Carter and Johnny Cash…”
Cory Cross
Cory Cross - Texas Country Musician | Instagram Live | Rugged Revival
Texas native Cory Cross has been honing his specific brand of country music for over a decade. Getting his start playing guitar in church, Cory began crafting his own songs after being inspired by songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. Now making the rounds at dance halls and dives across Texas, as well as sold out shows in Los Angeles and New York City, Cory and his band put on a performance that is equal parts rough-n-rowdy and tenderly intimate. Utilizing classic country instrumentation from steel guitars and fiddle, Cory’s band infuses their style of honky tonk with garage rock energy coming from fuzzy electrics and a thumping rhythm section. T he Burden is made up of musicians that each bring their wide and unique influences to create a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh. Cory‘s debut full length album, “There’s More”, is a culmination of years of paying dues and cutting teeth. The fourteen songs are an honest look into the life of a working musician that has lived the words he wrote. Cory Cross and the Burden have played with notable and established acts such as Joshua Ray Walker, Summer Dean, and Jeremy Pinnel. They continue to play regularly around Texas at legendary venues like Continental Club in Austin and the famous Stockyards in Fort Worth, as well as national tours through Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City.