The Work Left Undone
Our weekly recap features Nathan Evans Fox, news, artist resources, and queer country events from all over the world!
What does it mean to bring a life into the world as you grieve one that has just been lost? With Heirloom, Nathan Evans Fox tackles the shape of our lives. A circle might be too simplistic; so is the linear beginning, middle, and end. Instead, Heirloom explores the warp and weft of joy, loss, and alienation that spirals through a life well-lived.
Fox's workman-like approach to songwriting will remind listeners of American Aquarium, Jason Isbell, and Adeem the Artist: all people who understand how to write a song with depth of feeling using plainspoken language and sing-along hooks. From the jump, Fox throws us into the deep end with "Lots of Beginnings," a meditation of all of the hopes Fox has his for his firstborn – and a frank understanding of all that is broken in the world that we are giving to her.
But that heirloom is earned with a fight: whether Fox is processing his individual struggles ("Thinking About Quitting No. 5"), the foibles of the life of an independent artist in 2026 ("Little Bit of Shine,") or existing in defiance of what Fox terms Confederate Politics ("Landlords, Bill Lee, etc."), there is an essential warmth in Fox's music. That's in part due to the anthemic lines that are destined for singing in solidarity at shows, but it's also Fox's essential grasp of humanity in all of its states. This is perhaps best illustrated in the final track "I Know the End," which ultimately cycles back to "Lots of Beginnings" – the inheritance we all end up with, after all, is witnessing the ebb and flow of creation.
Heirloom is also a rallying cry – just as life changes, so, too, can we create change in the world. What is it that we want to give to those who come after us – and what, if anything, can we afford to leave unfinished?
Check back at the end of the year, but I'm confident that Heirloom will be on my shortlist for 2026.
Read the full review here!
Rainbow Rodeo Vol. 7
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This Week on Rainbow Rodeo
Rachel Cholst
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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!
- The only self-described content creator I'll actually watch (Gaydar) interviews Brittany Howard
- Jim Allen wrote a beautiful overview of queer country over on Bandcamp Daily (and gave us a shoutout! Thanks!)
- Paisley Field gets political, joining singer-songwriter and data privacy activist Evan Greer in protesting against AI outside Madison Square Garden
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!
- 8/23 (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
- 9/6 (Albany, CA) – See Mr. Cindy & The Secret Emchy Society, Ashleigh Flynn and the Riveters, and Corner Ponies at The Ivy Room
- 9/11 (Evanston, IL) – Ann Powers speaks with Anjimele, She Returns From War, Creekbed Carter Hogan, and Growing Pains to kick off Evanston Folk Fest
- 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
- 9/16 - 19 (Saskatoon, CA) – CJ Trubiak will perform at the Diamond in the Rough showcase at this year's Country Music Week hosted by the Canadian Country Music Association
- 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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