Out West: Upending the White Straight Mythology of the American Cowboy
Howdy cowpokes,
Happy July 5th to everyone else who is stuck at work like me. I hope the rest of you are having fun!
If you missed it earlier, make sure to check out Liv Hart’s brilliant visual essay about the queer history of the Old West.
Interviews
Kara Cole uses music to bridge political divides in Indianapolis
Riggings enchants us with tales of queer country music in Athens, GA
Playlist
This week’s playlist is extra long with brand new tracks from Marissa Carper, Jett Holden, Maren Morris, Heather Mae, Lafemmebear, and many many more!
Rainbow Roundup
Congrats to Justin Hiltner, who was just inducted in this year’s Recording Academy Class of 2024!
Canadian magazine Xtra published a list of queer and trans country artists (you’ll probably be familiar with most of them!)
WPLN profiles the Lipstick Lounge, Nashville’s only lesbian bar and part of a growing movement of sports bars that highlight women’s leagues.
Someone made a documentary about Stud Country the LA and NYC-based queer line dancing parties. It features a new duet with Kesha and Orville Peck!
Events
7/18 — (Philadelphia) Sug Daniels and Jessye DeSilva will be playing Johnny Brenda’s
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
7/31 (Philadelphia) — Brittan Ann Tranbaugh is headlining Johnny Brenda’s with Palmyra
8/4 (London, UK) — Rae Spoon plays the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
8/23 - 8/25 (Nashville) - Orville Peck is throwing a killer festival
10/3 (Harvard, MA) — Mary Gauthier leads a songwriting workshop and an evening of song with Jamee Harris at The Fruitlands Museum
10/17 - 10/20 (Texas) — Mary Gauthier, Jaimee Harris, and Carrie Rodriguez launch their Three Women & The Truth tour
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