Rainbow Rodeo on Sirius XM!
Howdy, cowpokes!
I am the Voice of Sirius XM's Country Pride channel, which is running throughout the month! I am also hosting an hour-long block of tunes called Wide Open Country: Pride of Place. On the show, I highlight queer country artists from North Carolina, Arkansas, Austin, and New York City (duh.) I don't have the schedule for that yet but I will soon!
You can listen on the Sirius XM app or website now, and on Channel 105 via satellite radio starting June 15th. (You can get a free trial but prepare to receive annoying e-mails until the end of time — full disclosure.)
Also, just saying now, but you should subscribe to the Good Country newsletter since you seem to like country music newsletters. They just released a beautiful issue highlighting Black Music Month, and I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a Pride issue as well.
Here’s what else to expect this summer as I get back to writing:
Podcasts: I've had an interview with Shawna Virago in the tank for a month now so I just need to edit it and record an intro. I will do my best to have it up next week!
Summer Articles: We’ll be using this summer to catch up on reviewing all the albums we missed between March and June (eek!)
And now…a recap of a full week of Rainbow Rodeo coverage!
Album Reviews
Chris Housman has more talent in his pinky than anyone on the radio, and Blueneck is country pop with queer defiance
pine & fire preach with fiery radical folk punk on Tales of the North Country
Bryn Battani flies free with country, chamber pop, jazz, and everything in between on her intentionally rootless Guest Room EP
New Music
Nessa Grasing recommits to her art — in spite of all the setbacks — on “Omaha”
We premiered Bryan Ruby’s tragically upbeat “Return a Ring”
Playlist
This week’s playlist features Sug Daniels, Izzy Heltai, Riggings, and many more!
Rainbow Roundup
Kayleigh Padar profiles Chicago queer country artists for Block Club Chicago
The Queer South zine is soliciting submissions from now to the fall
We like to think of Canada is kinder, gentler, more equitable, but Dr. Jada Watson has once again illustrated the racial and gender disparities across Canadian radio, including country music
This is from a while ago, but Americanafest dropped their initial lineup. Here’s hoping they create a safer environment for this year. Queer country artists on the lineup include: Crys Matthews, Lizzie No, Rett Madison, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, She Returns From War, and Melissa Carper performing with Wonder Women of Country
Get a FREE e-book of Queer Country from Illinois Press! (A certain newsletter author is quoted in there extensively.)
Honky Tonk Times, our fellow country music zine, wants to take it big-time and needs our help!
Black Opry is also fundraising to be fully self-sustaining
Holler Country has their own pride playlist (but we do ours weekly)
Events
6/8 (Cambridge, NY) — Jessye DeSilva and Ryan Leddick play at Argyle Brewing at the Depot
6/8 (Sacramaneto, CA) — Eli Conley headlines Queer Country West Coast with Shawna Virago, KC Shane, and Dogprayer at 916 Silver Linings. Hard to argue with this slide:
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.
6/15 (Chicago) — Queer Country Bandwagon and THEM Queers are playing an early pride night gig at Dorothy’s!
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!
6/22 (London, UK) — Queer C*ntry and Pink Suits are playing a free gig at Southbank Centre
6/23 (Durham, NC) — So thrilled that Catherine the Great is performing again — this time with Amy Andrews at Seance Listening Room
6/28 (San Francisco) — Proud 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
8/4 (London, UK) — Rae Spoon plays the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses
10/3 (Harvard, MA) — Mary Gautier leads a songwriting workshop and an evening of song with Jamee Harris at The Fruitlands Museum
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