Happy Pride!
Howdy, cowpokes,
I want to thank everyone who made it out to the Rainbow Rodeo show at Branded last week. I basically spent all of my twenties there, hanging out with my musical heroes and wishing they got the credit they deserved. (And some of them, like Amythyst Kiah, HC McEntire, and Mya Byrne, have!) It truly is hallowed ground in the same way the Ryman is, and it felt so good to be back there. I could see it in the artists who’d played there before, as well as the owners of the spot. We’ll be back there soon, so keep an eye out!
Unfortunately, the family emergency that pulled me away from writing a few weeks ago doesn’t seem totally resolved yet. I’m going to do my best to get back to regular posts on Rainbow Rodeo this week!
Speaking of Rainbow Rodeo content, if you haven’t subscribed to Sirius XM or the Bluegrass Situation’s Good Country newsletter yet, you ought to do that ;) ;) ;) ;)
I guess this is also where I remind you that Rainbow Rodeo zines and t-shirts are a really cute Pride gift for your favorite cowpoke! (Also, subscribing to the Patreon will give me the flexibility to commission more articles if I’m ever too busy to write them myself.)
Here’s to a happy and safe pride, whatever that looks like for you. I hope you get to spend some time with friends and loved ones.
Rainbow Roundup
Rainbow Rodeo contributor Bee Dolores is starting up a horror movie newsletter. Subscribe to Horrorville now!
Read Betsy Phillips’ insightful piece in the Nashville Scene about why the alt-right feels so comfortable in Nashville (I’d argue her points can apply to country music at large)
Rainbow Rodeo fave John-Allison Weiss is trying to get a new RV so they can get back on the road. Help them out!
This is from a while ago, but Autostraddle covered some DIY Sapphic events in Austin — and the fierce resistance among Southern queers.
Events
6/5 (Nashville) -- Ty Herndon's annual Concert For Love and Acceptance
6/6 (Torrey, UT) — Jaime Wyatt is playing Fort Desolation Fest
6/14 (NYC) — Brian Falduto is releasing a deluxe version of his album Gay Country at the Mercury Lounge — and Bryan Ruby, Hayden Joseph, and Jonathan Hopkins will also be performing!
6/14 (NYC) — Also, Eli Conley, Fox in the Henhouse, and Mya Byrne will be playing Branded Saloon in Brooklyn. Barring family emergencies, I’m gonna try to make it to both! Eli will also be playing Kingston, NY; the Berkshires, and the DMV area.
6/22 (Vienna, VA) — Storied venue the Wolf Trap is hosting an Out & About Fest, featuring Brittany Howard, Jenny Lewis, Kim Gordon, and many more artists!
6/28 (San Francisco) — Pride Mary is throwing a Queermericana Pridefest at Verdi Club, featuring Secret Emchy Society, Country Risque, and Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters
7/25 (NYC) — Stud Country has been hosting queer line-dancing parties at Brooklyn Bowl. This time, they’re bringing the party to a free outdoor dance night at Lincoln Center
Artist Resources
What's a premiere and how do you pitch it?
Got a release coming up? Add it to Country Everywhere’s newsletter! Country Everywhere is a directory of artists and news for queer, BIPOC, and disabled artists.
With Bandcamp changing hands and union busting, here are some alternative resources for selling your music online
Are you on BlueSky? Queer country artist 2 AM Wake Up Call created this feed of musicians. You can ask them to be added to the feed!
I also made a Y’alltertantive Feed on Bluesky. Let me know if you’d like your posts to appear on the feed!
We Are Moving the Needle is looking for women and non-binary audio engineers and music producers
Eli Conley is teaching Unlock the Song Inside: Beginning Songwriting Class for Queer & Trans Folks & Allies, and he also offers an online LGBTQ+ songwriter circle!
Are you on Mastodon or another part of the Fediverse? Get your music on RadioFreeFedi!
PS — If you’re thinking of joining Mastodon, make an account on musician.social and read my tips for making Mastodon work for you!
Submit your music and events to The Q LGBTQ Creative Network
This Twitter thread has a whole list of places to find jobs in the music industry
And here’s a list of resources for “women” entering the music industry — presumably they also encourage nonbinary participants
Submit your profile to the Country Everywhere which seeks to unite BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled artists and professionals
Sign up to the Black Opry Revue’s interest form!
Check out the weekly Queerfolk Fest show in Nashville