Welcome to Episode 11 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo, who Jason calls “Frank,” and Jason Falls, who goes by “Falls” most of the time, as we explore the real roots of the music we love.On this episode, we’re joined by singer-songwriter Sara Jean Stevens. The Illinois-based artist has put in years of grind, playing in other people’s bands and other people’s music. She even did a European tour with Bleached, an L.A.-based punk band a few years back. But she decided one day she had songs in her that needed to get out, so she started gigging with her own band, which morphed into a solo act backed by musicians and began to find her own voice and sound. Firmly planted in the Americana sound, Stevens writes songs she calls “dusty and warm” like the horse farm she grew up on. Frank and Falls talked about her journey to cutting her first album, the new EP and eventual LP in the works, her career as a hair and makeup artist, her recent jaunt into being a muralist, and a lot more. Stevens is set to open for John Hiatt in the spring and is poised for a big year in 2024.Frank and Falls also reveal Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store, talk about their experience in bands and singing in public, and, of course, share some new albums and artists worth checking in in the Pickin’ the Grinnin’ segment of the show. Falls swoons over his favorite new find in years - Proof of Life from Joy Oladokun.  Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.Notes and links:

The Roots Music Rambler Store

Chris Slater’s framed RMR 1st Edition Shirt

Frank singing LaBamba

Sara Jean Stevens Online

Sara Jean Stevens YouTube

Working Mother on Bandcamp

Bleached on Spotify

The Betty White mural in Oak Park (by Sara Jean Stevens)

Dial Back Sound

The Seratones

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

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

WFPK 2023 Countdown Results & Playlist

Jason’s Americana Playlist on Spotify

Weathervanes - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

The Record - Boy Genius

Rustin’ in the Rain - Tyler Childers

Guts - Olivia Rodrigo

Cousin - Wilco

Hackney Diamonds - Rolling Stones

First Two Pages of Frankenstein - The National

Jason’s big recommendation: Joy Oladokun’s Proof of Life  

Noah Kahan on Spotify

Noah Kahan/Hozier Collaboration  

The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We - Mitski

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/ramblerSubscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by GenticorumLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices