One of the Most Important Albums of the Year

Sorry I've fallen behind on these! I don't work on Fridays in the summer and I'm usually AFK. Sure, I could write the post on Thursday and schedule it for Friday...but yeah. Anyway, I'll be on vacation next week, so enjoy this glorious edition of queer country music – starting with what I think is one of the most important albums of the year.

Let's just start with the final verdict: Creekbed Carter Hogan has given us one of the most important albums of the year with Peasant's Revolt.

The album is heady with literary and historical references that will take many listens to unpack – and that's a good thing. After all, we have been fighting against the oppression of the many by the few for a very, very long time and Hogan illustrates that by threading these struggles from medieval times to the Haitian Revolution to the ICE occupation of Hogan's recently-adopted hometown of Minneapolis.

Hogan deftly weaves the personal and political on these intricate songs. The album sets the stage with a hot dog stand as a brief reprieve from the apocalyptic forces gathering against us all, a reminder that we can't take the little things in life (especially processed meats) for granted. In spite of everything, there's always joy in the hot dog stand. As the album kicks off with "Cutbank of Cleaves," an intriguing ballad that transports us to another time and place, we realize that we've been draw into an adventure only Hogan could anticipate – and guide us through.

There are songs of anger, self-doubt, shame – a feeling of powerlessness brought on not just by systemic oppression, but the leavetakings and uncertainty in the future they cause. "Icarus Again" is jaunty, off-kilter folk rock that will appeal to Ryan Davis fans – as Hogan's voice hitches through the words, they create a sense of precarity, but also a homey intimacy – even as the narrator questions the risks they've taken.

Read the rest here!

Rainbow Rodeo Vol. 7

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This Week on Rainbow Rodeo

New Podcast!

We've got a new Podcast series out right now: Songs That Made Me Gay. Episode 2 is with Cindy Emch – and it's guaranteed to make you 60% gayer. You'll need to subscribe for $5 a month or more to listen. :)

Rainbow Roundup

Do you wish Country Pride was a permanent channel on Sirius XM? Good news! Starting today, you can find it in Sirius XM XTRA on the app and web – and I'll be the voice of the station moving forward!
I heard Brandi Carlile did a cool thing at Newport Folk Festival? Anyway, it's a day that ends in Y. But you can see Amos Perrine's photos on No Depression
Americanafest has announced another round of artists. It's exciting that a good third of the lineup is queer – a HUGE increase from the past! But, no trans artists have been announced yet.
MySpace might be back? I'll write more about this when I get back from vacation.
Indigenous singer Shawnee Kish was profiled in Billboard Canada
Hunter Kelley writes about Loretta Lynn and her queer fans on Untethered Southerner
You can listen to Kelly Pruitt's new album two months early...if you take a walk in Nashville's Shelby Park or Percy Warner
Matt Wickstrom speaks with River Shook about their solo debut in Good Country
Speaking of which, read their essay about the superpower we share on No Depression
Nathan Evans Fox serves the takedown to Saving Country Music we've always needed

Fundraisers

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!

8/20 (Portland, OR) – Multnomah Arts Center hosts the Rodeo for Reproductive Rights
8/20 (Austin, TX) – Meanwhile Brewing hosts OUTlaw Pride with live music from Rock Bottom String Band, Rebecca Patek Band, and Bad Luck Penny – there will also be vendors and the event is a fundraiser Trans Education Network of Texas
8/23 (Pawtucket, RI) – River Shook and Olivia Ellen Lloyd hit The Met. Tickets here
8/26 (Halifax, NS) – It's a queer country hootenany at Gus's Pub featuring Holy Crow and Lester Slade
9/12 and 9/13 (Evanston, IL) – Evanston Folk Festival is sporting a killer lineup, including the Indigo Girls, Angela Autumn, Anjimile, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and She Returns From War
9/18 - 9/20 (Lockhart, TX) – The Texas Women's Songwriter festival is back, and Rita Bliss is in the lineup
9/25 - 9/26 (New Orleans, LA) – Black Americanafest returns for a second year in a row. Some of the queer artists featured are Joy Clark, Lili Lewis, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Denitia, Grace Givertz – and many more!
10/8 - 11/12 (Great Britain) – Queer Cxntry hits the road across the jolly old England

Artist Resources

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!
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
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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