INTERVIEW: Queerfest Founder Sara Gougeon Sets Her Eyes on the Horizon
The Nashville Scene’s 2022 “Best New Music Festival” returns for its third year celebrating queer artists in Music City this weekend. Founded by artist and entrepreneur Sara Gougeon in 2021, Queerfest has continued growing and transforming each year thanks to Gougeon’s dedication, passion, and effort to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ artists and fans in Nashville. Audiences can expect intimate performances from 13 rising Nashville artists starting at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge on day 1, and finishing at The 5 Spot and The Basement East on day 2. Tickets are available on the Queerfest website with a general admission pass to the Basement East as well as a limited amount of full-festival passes. Once the full festival passes are sold-out, the remaining tickets for Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge and The 5 Spot will be sold at the door.
The last time we spoke you were still settling in to Nashville but found yourself surrounded by an amazing community after only one year. How do you feel your roots have deepened since the last QueerFest?
It’s been an incredible year! There’s been so much traction. The festival last year was incredible. We’re still doing monthly showcases and making sure the community has a space year-round. Last year we were awarded “best new music festival” by The Nashville Scene. We programmed music at their festival, BEST FEST. We expanded to east Tennessee – booking a stage at SoKno Pride in Knoxville. We presented music at WBENC’s (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) conference. We started a column, “Out Now,” in collaboration with The Bluegrass Situation. And Queerfest is becoming well-known within Nashville’s queer community. Lately I’ve met a few people who ask about the work that I do and when I tell them they respond with – “Oh, I know Queerfest! I didn’t realize you founded/run it!” That’s been pretty cool.
What is new and exciting about the festival this year?
The lineup! I’m so excited to be promoting 13 incredible LGBTQ+ artists and bands. All artists are entirely different from last year’s festival. And I’m stoked to have The Collection on the lineup!
This year is a two-day multi venue festival. Last year the event was all in one day. I’m excited to see how that difference feels in real life. I think It’ll be super nice to have a show on Friday night and then the bulk of the festival on Saturday. This year I’m also working with Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge. Last year I loved having an outdoor aspect of the festival at Groove Records – But the weather, heat, and setup are quite challenging in outdoor spaces.
Is there anything you’re doing to ensure the space is safer for trans and non-binary artists and attendees?
I decided to invest in security at The Basement East. I want to make sure all queer people, and especially trans and non-binary folks feel safe.
I believe the energy and intention that goes into an event makes a really big difference in making it feel safe and inclusive. I’m super intentional about the venues I work with. For example, I had someone earlier this year ask to do a collaborative showcase. But it was downtown Nashville on Valentine’s Day. It could have been a fine show. But I turned it down because of the location/energy. I always consider if my artists and the attendees will feel safe in the space.
How are you encouraging both LGBTQ+ and other intersectional diversity in the lineup and audience?
I’m stoked to have a lineup full of queer-identifying artists and bands. I do find it challenging to find a balance of diversity – in every sense. I’m proud to have diversity (folks with different nationalities, genders, races, disabilities, and sexualities) but I’m definitely working on growing towards more diverse and inclusive lineups.
How do you feel the fest has grown in the past year, and what are your plans for the future?
It’s been an incredible year of growth from becoming more well-known in the community to collaborations with amazing organizations like The Bluegrass Situation and booking other events like SoKno Pride, BEST FEST (by The Nashville Scene), and WBENC’s conference.
I have a lot of plans and visions. Sometimes they feel out of reach – but then I remember that I built Queerfest to what it is today largely by myself. It wouldn’t have been possible without mentors, sponsors like Bluegrass Pride, and support and encouragement from the community. But I did a lot of that work on my own.
I have a vision to expand Queerfest to be an outdoor festival with a goal of 2000 attendees at a farm venue outside of Nashville. I’d love to work with bigger sponsors, more local LGBTQ+ vendors, and several national artists while still supporting local artists. This is a 3-5 year vision.
I want to see how this year goes before making any big decisions for next year. But I want to start working toward that vision by growing to bigger indoor venues, booking more artists who have their own draw, and building larger numbers as a multi-venue festival before taking that leap outdoors.
Queerfest will be this weekend! You can get tickets here.
