Let Yourself Be Bad
Our weekly recap features a Aubory Bugg's songwriting approach, Orville Peck's new album, and our editor's picks of the week -- as well as artist resources, and queer country events around the world!
Just gonna use this platform to self-promote...if you like my writing, you'll like my fiction! Check out the Kickstarter for Artema #4! Just $500 to go!
Aubory Bugg has something with her debut album i think i had something once. As Steve Roberts wrote in our review, Bugg's crystalline voice carries beyond the lyrics on the page. But...you gotta start somewhere and here, Bugg points us to her influences via her favorite songs, most recent musical obsessions, and her approach to songwriting.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
I LOVE the song “I Wish I Was” by the Avett Brothers. The song chronicles all of these objects the narrator wishes they were so that they could be the perfect dose for the person they love (a candle you could blow out, a sweater you could take off, a song you could stop singing, etc.) and there is this EVIL gut punch at the very end, literally the last line. I think any song that can successfully set up one single payoff at the very end is a perfect song, but this one in particular just guts me every time.
Do you have any go-to albums to listen to in the van?
I’ve been reaching for The Good Witch by Maisie Peters SO MUCH recently. I think it’s a perfect pop record. I also have a few old faithfuls that are always in rotation like Baby by Born Without Bones, Paradise Pop. 10 by Christian Lee Hutson, and Hejira by Joni Mitchell.
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
I want to headline Red Rocks in Colorado at some point in my career. That is like my “ok i’ve made it” goal. I also deeply want to do a merch collaboration with this company called Canned Goods Clothing. I love their mission and their clothes and I think it could be a really cool experience.
Read the rest here!
Rainbow Rodeo Vol. 7
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This Week on Rainbow Rodeo
Bee Delores
Rachel Cholst
Rainbow Roundup
- Congrats to Katy Guillen and the Drive on their nuptials!
- Bandcamp Daily profiled Mali Obamsawin on the release of her new album
- Get your ooky spooky drag things playing Indigo Girls covers here
Fundraisers
- Robert Bock is finally recording that damn album of his and I'm so excited to have it in my hands so help me out by contributing (you'll need to hover over the images – I got a little confused at first)
- So many of the artists we feature here rely on shows like Mountain Stage and Tiny Desk to get the word out. If, like me, you live in a major city with a large donor base, your station is probably fine. So maybe adopt a station that's had more than 70% of its budget slashed? I'm choosing Allegheny Mountain Radio just because it fits the theme.
- Kamara Thomas, who is a co-organizer of Southern Soul Songbook, needs support as she recovers from Stage 3 breast cancer
- Color Me Country is seeking to raise $202,000 to support BIPOC artists with travel grants and more. Donate here.
Need a Protest Song Mixed?
Artist and Rainbow Rodeo contributor Arend Lee Jessurun has this offer for artists:
I'm looking to get back into the production/mixing/mastering game since a bit of a hiatus for health. I'm starting to better manage my energy with fibromyalgia, and I'm a bit antsy to do more of the work I love. And I'd especially love to work with other queers!
Also, if you've got protest music for these times, I'd love to produce, mix, and/or master it for cheap, even for free if I can swing it. If you're unfamiliar with my work and studio, check it out here.
Events
I make this list by scrolling through Instagram and Threads (and occasionally Bluesky when you all post there.) Feel free to send me events by replying to this e-mail!
- 9/20 - 11/8 (Pennsylvania and Connecticut) – Brittany Ann Tranbaugh takes the show on the road – but mostly sticks close to home – this fall
- 10/8 - 11/12 (Great Britain) – Queer Cxntry hits the road across the jolly old England
- 10/18 – (New Orleans, LA) – Bruisey Peets, Ever More Nest, and Paisley Fields hit The Allways Lounge
- 10/22 (San Francisco, CA) Country Risque lights up the Rickshaw Stop
- 10/23 (Killkenny, Ireland) – Lizzie No plays Billy Byrne's
- 10/23 (Chicago, IL) – Andrew Sa's Cosmic Country showcase returns to The Empty Bottle
- 10/24 (Troy, NY) – The Belle Curves play the fourth annual Ooky Spooky Fest
- 10/31 (Durham, NC) – Amelia Riggs and her new band play Sleepyfest
- 11/5 (Cambridge, MA) – Jessye DeSilva has a single release show at the Lizard Lounge
- 11/6 - 11/8 (Richmond, VA) – The lineup for Queer As Folk Fest includes some real heavy hitters. I can take Amtrak there, right?
- 11/21 (New York, NY) – Brian Falduto has a Residency Encore and EP Release Show @ The Green Room 42 (Tickets here!)
- 12/5 (Sacramento, CA) – Autumn Sky Hall, Eli Conley Quartet, and Chaps – all Rainbow Rodeo faves – play Two Rivers Cider
Artist Resources
- Deadline 10/17: Arend Lee Jessurun (one of our regular writers!) is looking to collaborate on remixes of their recent album The Tower of Babel Falls in exchange for free mixing, master, or session work on a song of your own
- Deadline 10/31: Attention Australian artists who are not cis men! Apply for a ToneShift microgrant for studio equipment and space here!
- Opening 11/1: Apply to play Toronto Pride
- List your queer New York City-based events in Groove
- UK artist Pearl Does Country wants to feature your music on his new internet radio show!
- Lovequeers wants to feature trans/gnc/nonbinary artists! More info here
- The Songbird Radio Show wants your music
- Someone from Threads is soliciting Queer music of all genres for her podcast
- The Wild Honey Pie is looking for YOUR folk music! (Think Western AF, but more twee.) Submit here
- The IndieBubble podcast network is soliciting country music submissions
- Radiofolk is soliciting folk/acoustic music
- Charted is soliciting music from female artists!
- Send in your music to this new alt-country radio station!
- 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’allternative 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!
- If you’re thinking of joining Mastodon, make an account on musician.social and read my tips for making Mastodon work for you!
- Once you do that, reach out to Moonshine Brigade to get added to their Americana and country music starter pack.
- Nice Hearing About Music highlights artists on the Fediverse - check them out and make sure they know about 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
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