The Rugged Revival Podcast

Summer Dean is considered by most to be the reigning queen of Texas country music. Armed with three albums, constant tours, and a hot band behind her, Summer struts onto every stage with the confidence and vulnerability of a songstress that has cemented her place among the top rank Texas tunesmiths.

Her live show takes the concert goer on a ride of original songs blending bravado, vulnerability, and a novelist’s eye for detail. Whether with her full band or all by herself, listeners are treated to an authentic, funny, and honest storyteller performing her way into legendary status.

Presley Haile, a talented singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Texas, found her love for music at 16. Influenced by artists like James Taylor and Patty Griffin, she blends folk, country, and Americana to create her unique sound.

Keep an eye out for this rising star as she takes the industry by storm with her captivating music.

Champs of The Sun are a band from Lexington, Kentucky.

Spearheaded by frontman, Mark Bell - Champs of The Sun can be described as being a bit Folk, with a touch of Glam Rock, Soulful, Punk, and good ol' Rock n Roll. A real blend of styles!

Nathan Bess is a singer-songwriter born and raised in the Charleston area of West Virginia. Influenced by Country, Americana, and Folk genres, he began his music career in 2024 with the release of two EPs titled “part 1” and “part 2” which are a small showcase of his sound.

Zac Wilkerson is a SOUL ROCKER from the COUNTRY.

Powerful, soulful vocals and a driving guitar style combine with poignant songwriting to deliver a new take on Americana, Soul, Country, and Rock.

Wilkerson stumbled into a career in music after being tricked into entering, and eventually winning, The Blue Light Live Singer Songwriter contest in 2011. The prize was a Solo Acoustic set at the 2012 Larry Joe Taylor's Texas Music Festival in Stephenville, TX. He has since etched out a strong following across the Texas the music scene and beyond, with his work appearing in Nationally Syndicated and Regional Radio, and Local and Prime-Time Network TV.

Wilkerson cut his musical teeth in a country church where he started singing at 4. At a young age, he discovered his parents' country, soul, Motown, rock, and folk records, creating a musical foundation with as much variety as passion. 

By 12 he played several instruments, including piano and guitar, which led to songwriting that same year. The musical voice that has evolved since is a fresh take on Rock, Soul, Country and Americana evoking Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers, Bonnie Raitt, and Levon Helm.

Conrad Moore is a North Georgia native singer-songwriter who captures the soul of the working southern man. His songs have roots in folk storytelling which nod to the ups and downs of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness. All washed in hints of booze, half-truths, and motel rooms. His lyrics personify Mother Nature and her dance with Appalachia. The human condition and blue-collar woes are often his muses. Although his songs have no shortage of heartbreak and day to day strife.

Conrad produces a relatable angst of a generation growing up within the confines of a flawed American dream. Not without hope, his music shares with us what's left to save about the southland.

Jacob Ryan Marshall has been playing music since he found his grandmother’s old Gibson guitar under the bed when he was three. He played his first two original songs in Nashville’s Bluebird Café at 15 and has been writing and playing ever since. Jacob recorded his first single in a freshman apartment at Texas A&M. A few weeks later it showed up on the Texas country streaming charts. His songs never stray far from the sound of traditional Honky Tonk country music.

Coming out of Forney Texas with stories of bad luck followed by worse decisions, Zach Welch sings his songs about heartbreak and self-loathing with an energy that’s just happy to be there. Claiming “this song made my mama cry so it must be good” at least twice every show, he tells these stories through a Budweiser-soaked, part hippie, part cowboy, and part punk rock demeanor. Often hanging around the bar long after the show ends making friends and telling anybody who will listen to the stories behind the songs. If you see his name on a sign at the bar, check him out. He’s Zach Welch, he comes from Forney Texas, and he’s gonna sing you some songs.

Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Jesse Williams, is a mountain mama with roots grounded in Blues & Soul. Hailing from North Georgia with the deep belief that it’s best savored when simmered.

Her melody medicine is an invitation of sultry vocals and earthy lyrics that explore Life's many winding paths. These serenades are supported with guitar grooves and rhythms that play off the feeling of the Music. Capturing and offering the raw essence of Spirit as it moves listeners within.

Jesse's works include her 2020 debut EP, “Off the Vine". Which was recorded in 2019 at InCrowd Recordings in Atlanta, GA.

In 2024 she released another EP, “Take My Place”. Recorded in 2018 at The Vault in Marietta, GA.

Outside of her EP's, Jesse Williams is featured on other songs and projects. She makes two appearances on the album. Belting on a cover of Renee Geyer’s, , as well as co-writing and singing on . Recently, she joined creative forces with on his melancholic tune, .

Her latest accomplishment is winning the Eddie's Attic 55th Bi-Annual Songwriter Shootout in November 2024. Joining the list of winners that include Jennifer Nettles & Cory Jones, John Mayer & Clay Cook, Tyler Childers, and more.

She is currently working on recording her first full-length album, “Keep Steady”. More home-grown medicine coming in June 2025.

Meet Addie Levy, a captivating American bluegrass-country artist who effortlessly weaves tradition and vision into exciting, progressive movements.

Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Addie has emerged as a true multi-talent in the world of music, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and exciting mandolin improvisation.

From the early age of 10, she has been a powerful performer mentored by the bluegrass and old-time community. Enchanted by the resonating tales and camaraderie embedded within the "happy music" of Bluegrass, Addie swiftly cultivated a deep love for its rich history and stories.

Her radiant energy and boundless enthusiasm have transformed her into a sought-after collaborator, drawing the attention of organizations, fellow musicians, businesses, and festivals.

Through her music, Addie Levy has breathed new life into traditional sounds and forged a vibrant and ever-expanding landscape for its future.

Indie folk band Kindred Valley started when three friends with a passion for music met at Marshall University in 2020. Initially under the name Back Row Baptists, Blake Lacy, Noah Freeman and Brett McCoy met in Huntington, West Virginia, and began writing and recording music together. The band released its first singles as a trio but found its footing in 2021 with three new members - Husband and Wife Rachael and Jadon Hayes and Kaden Salmons.

After releasing their self-titled debut album at the end of 2022 the band took to traveling and playing shows as often as they could manage. More time together meant new ideas and songs shared amongst each other - many of which felt like expansions on the ideas of their self-titled release. As the band continued to refine and develop their live show, each song took on a new sound more closely resembling a more experienced and practiced Kindred Valley.

Though it took time to decide how to properly share these songs with the world, the band agreed that the sooner it was able to, the better. Recorded between Noah’s unfinished - and now finished - basement as well as the Hayes’ home studio, the project showcases a dynamically contrasting collection of songs that not only displays the growth of the band up to now, but also points towards potential creative directions of future works as well.

Jonathan Peyton is a singer/songwriter from Woodstock, Georgia. Jonathan writes emotion-evoking songs that tell a story and captivate audiences by their relatability and honesty. He says that “Writing music has become a way of processing through life and relating to others and their stories.”

Leon Majcen is a musician whose story is one of resilience and determination. He grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida, the son of Bosnian war refugees who had fled the country in search of a better life for their children.

From a young age, Leon was drawn to the power of storytelling through music, particularly the work of artists like Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Guy Clark. 
 Leon began playing in local bars while still in high school, honing his craft and building a loyal following.

After high school, he decided to pursue his passion for music in New York City, while attending college at New York University and playing shows around town. 


After a while, Leon came to the realisation that the hustle and bustle of the city wasn't where his heart was at and returned home to take a job at a commercial fishing dock while planning his next move to Nashville.

Since arriving in music city, Leon has continued to develop his unique blend of Folk, Country and Americana, drawing on his experiences and love of the outdoors to craft songs that are honest and powerful.

Ritch Henderson is a Southern musician originally from Northern Alabama. Ritch joins the podcast and shares his incredible story, from being in the US Marines, to becoming a highly respected musician touring with the likes of 49 Winchester, Nolan Taylor, Drayton Farley, Pony Bradshaw, and John R Miller.

Eli Cain is a talented singer-songwriter from Watkinsville, Georgia. His journey from housepainter to a rising star in the music industry is awe inspiring. Come and join Eli and The Rugged Revival for a captivating conversation! #musicpodcast #musicinterview #countrymusicartists #americana

TJ & Ronnie recap 2024, the year we launched the podcast. We talk about the highlights and special moments, and discuss our plans for 2025! #musicpodcast #podcast #interview #countrymusic

Imagine if 1960s country-rock visionaries The Flying Burrito Brothers traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama’s fabled Fame Studios, home to recording artists like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, and Joe Tex, to record an album and let the studio’s characteristic R ‘n’ B sound shape the resulting tracks. What you’d have would be a unique blending of country rock instrumentation and bluegrass harmonies with a funky soul horn section. That, my friends, is the sound of Canadian rockers Steel Saddle: distinctive, well-crafted, and shit-kickin’ exciting.

The six-piece band from Montreal offer an authentic representation of the pioneering country-rock style along with a heapin’ helpin’ of Southern soul to forge a truly original Americana roots sound.

#country #rockmusic #southernsoul #bluegrass #canadiancountry

Brennan Edwards is a singer-songwriter hailing from Winchester, Virginia. His music is a heartfelt, relatable blend of country, bluegrass, and folk. All delivered with BE’s unmistakable, soulful voice. His new EP "Stones" is out now, go and download it! #countrymusicartists #newcountryartist #musicpodcast #virginiamusic #appalachia #appalachianmusic #folkmusic #bluegrass

Ricky Forbes is a man who stops at nothing to chase his passions. From documenting the wildest storms on the planet, to spending time with loved ones at home, Ricky's pursuits are all in the quest of a life well lived.For over a decade, Ricky has immersed himself in the heart of tempests, chasing storms that most would seek shelter from. With a career spanning 11 years in storm chasing, Ricky has witnessed over 500 tornadoes, including a heart-pounding encounter being caught inside the world's largest tornado—measuring an astonishing 4km/2.6m wide. This relentless pursuit of the extraordinary has opened doors to numerous opportunities, from documentaries and media appearances to guest starring on various shows, culminating in the creation of his own Netflix series, "Tornado Hunters." But why expose oneself to the formidable forces of nature? For Ricky, being beneath these colossal storms brings a momentary suspension of life, leaving one feeling truly alive. He finds purpose in reporting on these storms to local and national organizations to get the word out and get others to safety. Fueled by his love for photography and videography, Ricky's journey is an undeniable pursuit of capturing the awe-inspiring beauty and raw power of the natural world.

#tornado #stormchaser #twisters #tornadohunters

Jarrod Morris is a horseshoer from Texas who writes songs while he's working. An indie sound and an old soul with a dedicated, modern songwriter’s heart. Jarrod is on a journey exploring different sounds and honest lyrics through the lens of the American West.

#countrymusic #texasmusic #countryartist #musicpodcast #countrysingersongwriter