Queer Country at Americanafest 2023
Americana has been more or less defined as country and roots music’s island of misfit toys — including queer country artists. But in the past decade, as I wrote for The Boot, Americana the genre has become a commercial juggernaut, thanks in no small part to the Americana Music Association. Every September, Americanafest descends onto Nashville, highlighting the genre’s talent and diversity. While Americanafest still has some ways to go (as I’ll detail on Friday’s roundup), this year’s festival, from September 19 – 23, has one of the most robust lineups of LGBTQ+ artists to date.
Another feature of the festival is the many, many unofficial showcases that happen at this time — that’s how the Black Opry got its kickstart. If your event is not listed here, drop me a line and I’ll add it to this page! There’s so much going on this year that I’ve divided the list into showcases and then a list of individual artists. If I’ve left you off the list, please also drop me a line!
You can find a list of all of the Americanafest events — since there are some pretty good cishets playing the festival, too — here.
Official Events
Tuesday, September 19 — Americana Proud is, shockingly, the first ever official showcase of LGBTQ+ artists at Americanafest (see below.) Watch history get made at City Winery Nashville at 8 PM and 9:30 PM. The showcase will feature Autumn Nicholas, Vidalia Anne Gentry, Jessye DeSilva, ISMAY, Jobi Riccio, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Crys Matthews, Alley Free, Jaimee Harris, Julia Cannon, Denitia, Liv Greene, Lila Blue, Madelyn Kelson, and Palmyra.
Thursday, 9/21, 12 – 6 PM — Not an exclusively queer event per se, but Interstate 88 will be throwing a party at the Eight Room featuring queer country artists Jaimee Harris (2 PM), ISMAY (2:40 PM), and Keturah Allgood (4:25 PM).
Friday, 9/22, 1 PM — Transgender Artists Arriving and Breaking Through in Americana (pass holders only) at the Westin will feature Mya Byrne, Paisley Fields, Ally Free, and Cidny Bullens will discuss the recent triumphs and obstacles for trans and nonbinary artists — and discuss what’s needed to ensure their success.
Unofficial Events
Saturday, 9/23, 2 – 5 PM — Remember the part where Americanafast is only having its first queer country showcase this year? This steadfast gang of cowpokes has been organizing an unofficial showcase for over five years, which the official festival has yet to acknowledge. Head over to the Queer Cowpoke Roundup at The Groove to see Shawna Virago, Mercy Bell, Julie Nolen, Wiley Gaby, Secret Emchy Society, Melody Walker, Austin Lucas, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, and many more!
Saturday, 9/23 – 3 – 6 PM — Don’t you hate it when you’re double-booked? The Bluegrass Situation and Queerfolk Fest are hosting A Good Ol’ Queer Country Jamboree at Soho House Nashville. The lineup will feature Adeem the Artist, Jett Holden, Cidny Bullens, Amanda Fields & Megan McCormick, Chris Houseman and more. To enter, you must RSVP here.
Showcasing Artists
This is a list of all the queer country artists who are officially showcasing at Americanafest. Be sure to check their social media because I have no doubt they will be hopping around town to many day parties and unofficial events. You can find their full official schedule by using the Americanafest app.
- Adeem the Artist
- Allison deGroot & Tatianna Hargreaves
- Amythyst Kiah
- Autumn Nicholas
- Boy Golden — Canadian ethereal pop/country swing? Yes, please!
- Denitia
- Heather Mae — Mae just kickstarted a double album of Americana and pop — all produced and crewed by women and nonbinary folks.
- Jaimee Harris
- Jenny Owen Youngs
- Jessye DeSilva
- Jobi Riccio
- Joy Clark
- Liv Greene
- Mariel Buckley — My wife is still mad at me for saying Buckley’s 2016 album Driving in the Dark makes me feel more understood than any actual person
- Mary Gauthier
- Mya Byrne
- Roger Harvey
- Vidalia Gentry
- Willi Carlisle
- Yasmin Williams — Do you want your brain to explode from guitar pyrotechnics? Yes, you do.
