Queer Country Dominates Year-End Lists

It’s the week before the week before Christmas, and you know what that means: it’s year-end list season. Personally, I like to publish those in January because the year isn’t over and I haven’t listened to everything yet. That’s why there’s still time to vote in the Rainbow Rodeo Year-End Poll for Queer Country Album of the Year!

I was thinking of linking to all the year-end lists that feature queer country artists and then I was like “nah…then that would be like all of them and that’s too much work.”

And then I was like “wait a minute…it is all of them.”

(Just from some informal counting, Allison Russell, Brandy Clark, and Joy Oladokun are receiving most of the well-deserved nods on these lists. That’s also why you should vote in the Rainbow Rodeo poll. I’m a proponent of democracy but let’s just say the polling as it stands now could use a little more diversity in all senses of the word.)

That would have been news-worthy not too long ago, and that should tell us how far queer country artists have come, in spite of the challenges the community has faced this year: from the Aldeans to Americanafest, artists and fans have had to put up with some truly appalling bullshit. But we are recognized and cannot be ignored anymore. (How that translates into food in the fridge and gas in the tank for our musical heroes is a separate discussion.)

This acceptance of queer artists in country and Americana spaces is recent (and of course could be broader) but queer country artists have been self-organizing and supporting each other for decades, as Shana Goldin-Perschbacher points out in her book Queer Country. That’s decades of artists who never got their fair shot.

That’s why I’ve started the Rainbow Rewind column on Rainbow Rodeo, starting with Kandia Crazyhorse’s 2013 album Stampede. Mudgie interviewed Karen Pittelman of Karen and the Sorrows about the Jewish punk rock roots of the current queer country scene, which Karen has been (and still is) so instrumental in building. As much as queer country is growing, it’s so vital remember we are not brand new, and we’ve pretty much always been here.

Other Rainbow Rodeo Articles

It was a pretty quiet week at the Rodeo, so here are the other 2 articles published this week. Keep reading for events, news, Kickstarter campaigns, and artist resources!

• Mouths of Babes will have you grinning ear-to-ear when you watch their new video for “World Brand New”
• This week’s playlist features Izzy Ryder (whose upcoming album was produced by River Shook of Sarah Shook and the Disarmers), Lizzie No, Chris Garneau, and more!

Rainbow Roundup

• Ellen Angelico was interviewed in the Nashville Scene’s Year in Music alongside a number of other session players!
  • PS, I wrote up Allison Russell’s returner for the Top Local Albums feature
• Crys Matthews, who is already a legend at writing loving and astounding protest music, is crowdfunding her next album on Kickstarter
• Sarah King, whose voice could replace the power generated by the Hoover Dam, is also Kickstarting her next album
• Fancy Hagood is part of this year’s Listen Up cohort from CMT. This is a big deal because it means CMT will offer touring support, features on the channel, showcases, etc. Of all the industry country music festivals out there, CMT was the first to offer an official showcase for LGBTQ+ artists — even ahead of Americanafest
• Not country music but if you don’t know about Beverly-Glenn Copeland, you need to learn about his fascinating story and music
• Are you on BlueSky? I made a feed for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC country music!
• You can get almost 50% off the book Queer Country using this code: F21UIP
• Support disabled artists when you support Rampd
• This thread gives advice on self-managed transition in Alabama and other states that restrict our bodily autonomy
• And here’s a directory of DIY HRT
• Eli Conley is running a queer songwriting circle

Artist Resources

• 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 Alone at 2 AM 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
• And here’s a list of resources for “women” entering the music industry — presumably they also encourage nonbinary participants
• Sign up to the Black Opry Revue’s interest form!
• Check out the weekly Queerfolk Fest show in Nashville