The Podcast is Back -- Featuring Chris Houseman!
If you missed the dulcet tones of my voice, dear reader, fear not! The Rainbow Rodeo podcast is back in the saddle and this month’s conversation is with Chris Houseman. We talk about his gorgeous and catch album Blueneck, but also the obstacles and opportunities Chris has had working in the mainstream country side of things. Listen today and subscribe on your favorite podcast source!
Meanwhile, it’s Pride weekend here in NYC! I will be going to the Mets Pride game tonight and apparently Orville Peck is singing the national anthem while Murray Hill (who I’m more excited about) is going to throw the first pitch. You can be sure I will provide on-the-ground reporting because I am a dedicated journalist.
Have a happy and safe Pride!
News
Check out Liv Hart’s photo essay on the queer history of the Wild West. This is a part of Liv’s Master’s thesis and we’re so honored she shared it with us!
At long last, the Canadian Country Music Academy is inducting kd lang into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. During my unexpected stay in Calgary, I visited Studio Bell, home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (which included a country music exhibit.) lang’s face was all over the museum and the fact that she wasn’t in the country exhibit was a glaring omission.
SG Goodman just launched a Substack. The first issue features an Appalachian mindfulness exercise!
She Returns From War was just inducted into the Recording Academy Class of 2024
Music
Riggings’ EGG is a trans folk masterpiece
We premiered Rita De Los Angeles’ sunny protest against homophobic immigration policy, “Home is Where the Heart Is”
Events
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
7/18 — (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