Crossroads of Americana

Crossroads of Americana is a syndicated weekly roots-music radio show hosted and created by John "J.R." Rabold. Broadcast globally from the Crossroads Studio at the Rabold Estate in Brownsburg, Indiana, the three-hour programme blends alternative country, traditional outlaw country, classic roots-rock, and folk music.

📻 About the Show

• The Concept: A curated musical journey bridging the gap between authentic country and classic rock, explicitly avoiding modern, formulaic Top 40 country music
• Featured Artists: The playlist features legendary icons and roots innovators alike, including Johnny Cash, Gram Parsons, The Byrds, Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, and The Jayhawks.
• Local Focus: Rabold frequently spotlights artists from his home state of Indiana, such as Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and The Wright Brothers.
• Special Segments: Every episode typically includes fan-favourite segments like the Honky Tonk Drinking Set and the Crossroads Outlaw Album Side (where five songs are selected entirely by a listener).

🎙️ History & Reach

John Rabold originally conceived the idea for a country-rock hybrid show in the 1990s under the working title Smokestack Lightning. After putting the dream on hold for standard career pursuits, a 2017 road trip through North Carolina reignited his passion and led to a complete rebranding of the concept.

He officially launched the program in 2022. Since its inception, the show has grown from local Indiana community radio syndication into a global broadcast carried on over 50 stations across 10 countries, including stations like Buzz Town Radio (UK), Great North Radio's Northland Radio (US), Radio Evesham (UK), and Cloudburst FM (New Zealand).