Singer-Songwriter

Bar Jay Bar

Wyoming Country & Western Revival | Bar Jay Bar Podcast

The Rugged Revival — independent Country, Americana & Roots music. Live sessions, artist interviews and real music discovery.Bar Jay Bar joins Camden for a conversation about modern Country & Western music, Americana storytelling, independent touring, songwriting, cowboy culture and building authentic roots music outside the mainstream industry.Based between Wyoming and the American West, Bar Jay Bar blends classic Country & Western influences with modern Americana and folk songwriting, creating music that feels both timeless and deeply personal.If you enjoy artists like Colter Wall, Charles Wesley Godwin, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell and modern western Americana, this episode is for you.Subscribe to The Rugged Revival. Share it with your friends. Support independent music!Follow 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

Sunny War

Sunny War - From Hardship to Folk-Blues Star | Rugged Revival

Sunny War enlivens traditional folk and blues by freshening her musical attack and writing lyrics that reflect 21st century concerns. Her first album, "Worthless", arrived in 2014, and she continued to gain attention as she built up a cult following that crested with the release of 2018's "With the Sun".Born Sydney Lyndella Ward to a single mother in Nashville, the singer/songwriter spent her childhood moving around the United States with her parent, spending significant time in both Nashville and the Detroit suburb of Rochester. During this time, she learned to love a wide variety of music, picking up the guitar at the age of 13. After she spent a rough period combating substance abuse and poverty, she gravitated to blues and folk and relocated to California settling in Venice Beach.Adopting the performing name Sunny War, she'd sometimes moonlight with her punk side band Anus Kings, but it was her folk-blues showcased on a self-released album that began to gain notice from local scenesters - including critics at LA Weekly. After a few years, she released her official debut, "Worthless", which appeared in 2014. A second independent record, "Red White and Blue", arrived in 2016.In 2018 Sunny War released, via Hen House Studios, "With the Sun", After that album, she moved from Venice Beach to downtown Los Angeles, quickly delivering her next LP also on Hen House "Shell of a Girl", the following year. Her critically acclaimed EP "Can I Sit With You" premiered in 2020.

Emily Jamerson

Emily Jamerson | Appalachian Singer-Songwriter from Eastern Kentucky | Rugged Revival

Emily Jamerson, a singer-songwriter from Prestonsburg, Kentucky, grew up surrounded by music and family. With a voice shaped by the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Emily's sound is part folk singer, part mountain siren. Her songs point to hope and reveal her love for the mountains she calls home.

Caleb Henry - “Black Flag” Country from the Wild West | Love, Loss & Redemption | Rugged Revival

Caleb Henry is a singer and songwriter from the Wild Wild West of California. With his own brand of "Black Flag" Country, Caleb writes from real life experiences of love, loss, and redemption, with an eye for a better future from lessons learned. Backed by his loyal gang of musicians known as "The Customs," Caleb Henry and The Customs turn every stage into an energetic, heartfelt home for those who like to live on the wild side.

Marcus Trummer

Marcus Trummer - Modern Soul with 60s/70s Influences, Blues Guitar & Timeless Songwriting | Rugged Revival

A young blood with an old soul, Marcus Trummer marries modern sensibilities with tradition in his distinctive style of soulful music. Dubbed “a precocious guitarist whose vocals possess a wise-beyond-his-years weariness” by the Calgary Herald, the Calgary-born artist is already earning recognition. In 2023, Trummer won the Telluride Blues Challenge, and would go on to make his US performance debut at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival the following year. Trummer recently received a nomination for the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards “Blues Artist of the Year”, as well as a Canadian Blues Music Awards nomination for “Male Vocalist of the Year”. Marcus Trummer’s debut album, “From The Start”, draws inspiration from the timeless sounds of the 60s and 70s. With his warm and emotive vocals, Trummer pays respect to classic soul singers like Bill Withers and Marvin Gaye. His expressive guitar work channels the impassioned approach of players like B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix. Packed with raw emotion and honesty, Trummer’s songwriting is not to be overlooked. His thoughtful lyrics examine universal subjects of love and coming of age, unpacking experiences that resonate with all listeners.

Independent singer-songwriter - Joe Clark #southernrock #altcountry #upcomingmusician

Joe Clark ft. Cody Lee Meece “Castaway” | recorded live at Lake Bala, Wales. 2025. Recorded exclusively for The Rugged Revival Grit Sessions.

Coltt Winter Lepley

Coltt Winter Lepley - Appalachian Artist, Poet, Author, and Former Racecar Driver | Rugged Revival

Coltt Winter Lepley is an Appalachian folksinger/songwriter from Bedford, Pennsylvania. Coltt’s a published poet, author, folklorist, and former racecar driver who has taken his stories on the road as a touring musician. His highly anticipated and long-awaited recording debut is set to release this year, as a self-titled EP, “Coltt Winter Lepley.” The project was produced by Al Torrence at Music Garden Studios north of Pittsburgh, PA. Al Torrence, and other members from The Allegheny High (the band that plays on Charles Wesley Godwin’s albums and live efforts) including Amico Demuzio, Nate Catanzarite, Joe Pinchotti III, as well as Pittsburgh musicians Justin Long and Alan Getto, helped to form the sound around Coltt’s storytelling in his first studio effort.

Justin Trawick

Justin Trawick - DC based band leader, podcaster, and founder of "We Are the 9" | Rugged Revival

Justin Trawick has been performing in the Washington DC area and along the East Coast since 2006, citing musical influences like Bob Schneider, The Tallest Man on Earth, G. Love, Old Crow Medicine Show, and David Gray. In June of 2015, Trawick released his first single, “Goodbye”, under the band name “Justin Trawick and the Common Good”; written about the search for direction and belonging in a world that constantly feels one step ahead of you. Trawick has performed for TedxEast in NYC at the City Winery, TedxPennsylvaniaAvenue in DC at the Newseum, and has opened for over 30 national acts including Suzanne Vega, Wyclef Jean, Brett Dennen, Blues Traveler, Enter The Haggis, Bob Schneider, and Edwin McCain, and shared bills with Dr. Dogg and The Avett Brothers. Justin is the Founder of the nationally touring show “The 9 Songwriter Series” and co-founder of “The Circus Life Podcast.”

Alex Rogers

Alex Rogers - Storytelling, Mental Health, and the Power of Honest Songwriting | Rugged Revival

Alex Rogers is a soulful, introspective, and honest singer/songwriter hailing from South Carolina. His debut single,“Understanding,” released in October 2024, served as the first glimpse into his heartfelt musical world. The track leads into Hand Me Down, his debut EP—an open and vulnerable exploration of the experiences that have shaped him both as an artist and as a person. With themes rooted in mental health and emotional growth, Hand Me Down offers more than just music; it’s an invitation into a shared space of healing, self-reflection, and connection. Through raw storytelling and a sound that’s as emotive as it is sincere, Alex hopes to bring peace of mind and a sense of community to those who listen

Olivia Ellen Lloyd

Olivia Ellen Lloyd - Country, Folk and Indie Rock Artist | Rugged Revival

Olivia Ellen Lloyd crafts straightforward songs where no word is wasted and every emotion is well-earned.Heavily influenced by country, folk, and indie rock, Lloyd’s sound combines the rooted sounds of her traditional Appalachian upbringing with the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nature of her current life. She is inspired by the rich sounds of New York City, the peaceful quiet of her small hometown, and everything in between. www.olivialloydmusic.com

Nicholas Jamerson

Nicholas Jamerson - Faith, Family, and the Frontier | Rugged Revival

The Narrow Way, the new full-length studio record from Kentucky-born singer-songwriter Nicholas Jamerson finds its grace in the space between folk storytelling and backroads country ramble. A heartfelt exploration of life’s struggles, joys, and the search for purpose, the record is rooted in the storytelling traditions of Appalachian roots and Americana music. Produced by the brilliant Rachel Baiman and featuring collaborations with Baiman, Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show), Tim O’Brien, Shelby Means, and Emily Jamerson, The Narrow Way blends poetic lyrics with authentic melodies to create a deeply personal and universallyresonant listening experience. Weaving together vivid imagery and poignant themes of family, nostalgia, resilience, and redemption, the record is an invitation to reflect on life’s winding paths while celebrating the bumps and beauty of the journey. Jamerson was born into a musical family in eastern Kentucky, where gatherings were full of guitars and songs. “My grandmother always had a camera rolling, which taught me early on that life is worth documenting” he says. “That’s what I try to do through songwriting: turn ordinary moments into something meaningful.” Starting out with piano and choir as a child, Jamerson added guitar, banjo and mandolin to his repertoire along the way. After college, he co-founded the band Sundy Best and has released a dozen records between them and his solo work and band over the last thirteen years. “Music has taken me places I never dreamed, like the Ryman and the Grand Ole Opry” he tells, “but more than anything, it’s a way for me to honor place and people, and to help others feel seen and proud of where they come from.” These days, in addition to his own music, Jamerson is working to mentor the next generation, helping other writers find their voice through projects like the Sleeping in the Woods Songwriter Festival. Thematically, The Narrow Way is a meditation on walking a difficult but purposeful path while holding onto faith and integrity while navigating the messiness of life. Those universal touchstones of the human experience - faith and doubt, the complexity of family ties (love, conflict, reconciliation, and the longing for connection and understanding), and the heartache of nostalgia and loss, are all to be found within The Narrow Way. The rain feeds the flowers, and the deep greys are balanced by the lightness found through the dignity of hard work, the sharing of struggles, and the emotional labor of pushing through hardship. Buoyed by and undercurrent of hope for personal renewal, forgiveness, and a clearer path forward, Jamerson hopes that listeners find the record a cathartic experience. “My hope is that it shakes something loose inside them—something they’ve been holding onto for too long—so they can finally let it go and leave it behind” he says. Written with a painterly economy of language, his songs shimmer in the space between narrative and allegory; a kaleidoscope of meditations set to music, they transcend genre and hit straight to the heart. Expertly arranged and elegantly executed, it is a record built around eminently engaging melody and Jamerson’s soaring voice; clear and bright as the stars on a winter night. The Narrow Way is the final chapter in a trilogy that traces a journey of self-discovery, faith, and perseverance—written from the heart of Appalachia, where the sacred and the simple meet. With a voice rooted in tradition and a pen sharpened by experience, Jamerson invites listeners to walk with him through the shadows towards something honest and eternal. The Narrow Way is a soul-stirring blend of mountain wisdom and familial remembrance, written by someone that carries the weight of memory, the fire of purpose, and the humility of a man still learning.

Jared Daws

Jared Daws - Country/Americana Artist Residing in Mississippi | Rugged Revival

Jared Daws is an American born singer-songwriter originally from New Orleans, Louisiana currently residing in Mississippi gulf coast. As a city-born Latino raised on country music, his style is best described as “eclectic.” Since an early age, Daws was heavily drawn to music and live performance mostly due to his father’s musical influence. Since 2008, Daws has been involved in several musical projects and has released many EPs and singles differing from genre to genre before going solo in 2023. His debut album 'Snow Below' returns him to his childhood roots of country/Americana music.

Hunter Blalock

Hunter Blalock - Georgia Songwriter on Music, Stories & Honesty

Hunter Blalock is an American songwriter from the hills of North-West Georgia. Hunter never fears uncomfortable subjects while writing songs & presents his real uncensored view of the world & himself.Hunter's writing style is something all his own as he blends styles of country, blues, & rock n roll to create a sound that places him in the genre of Americana. His influences range from Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, & American Aquarium to The Band, Townes Van Zant, & Many more. You can find more details relating to Hunter at: www.hunterblalockmusic.com

Randy Hoyet

Randy Hoyet – Bluesy Texas Songwriter on “Shameless”

Randy Hoyet is an independent singer/songwriter who has cut his teeth in the Texas scene while finding his path to a ruckus bluesy sound. Hoyet released his debut EP “Acoustic” in October of 2021, solidifying himself as a voice to be heard in Texas music. With tracks like “Lonely and Scared” to “Shameless”, Hoyet’s songwriting is raw power in real time. He has continued to create motion in the Texas music scene with his latest two full band singles, “Notices”, and “Drawn”. After almost two years of shows and studio time, Randy Hoyet released his highly anticipated debut Album "Shameless" in March 2025.

Tori Forsyth

Tori Forsyth – Australian Country Voice at Laurel Cove

Tori Forsyth is an Australian singer-songwriter, with her roots firmly in the Country music scene. Tori is playing this years Laurel Cove Festival in Kentucky - joining a stellar line-up. Tori is one to watch, so make sure you follow her across socials!

Nathan Bess

Nathan Bess – West Virginia Americana Songwriter

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.

Eli Cain

Eli Cain – Georgia Americana from Housepainter to Artist

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

Adam Hood

Adam Hood – On Writing for Miranda Lambert & Whiskey Myers

The tapestry of southern music in America is rich, vivid and diverse. Adam Hood is an artist who exudes that substantial musical lineage each time he straps on his Telecaster for a show or picks up his pen to write a song. The roots of his Opelika, AL upbringing inform his musicality and guide his soul-stirring lyrics. He paints the characters of his songs with the wisdom that can only be derived by thousands of miles spent behind the steering wheel chasing the next musical adventure from one coast to the next. While initially making waves as a performer of his own songs, it has been other folks singing those songs over the past decade that have added a new layer to Adam Hood’s formidable career. Always a capable and relatable songwriter, Hood has found his way by adeptly crafting songs that created stirring scenes and powerful emotions. An impressive roster of artists have recorded songs from Adam Hood’s pen, including: Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Riley Green and Travis Tritt. While Hood’s songwriting profile has continued to shine over the years, his own recorded and touring output has remained a vital part of the broader country music landscape. Hood’s latest album is titled Bad Days Better. An effort that was recorded in the famed Capricorn Studios in Macon, GA with Brent Cobb at the helm and BlackBerry Smoke’s band playing on the 10 track album. Hood then joined Gordy Quist releasing "Adam Hood's Different Groove". #countrymusic #alabamamusic #countryartist #musicpodcast #countrysingersongwriter #southernmusic