Where Y'ALL really means ALL
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Lavender Country broke barriers with their 1973 studio album. While it went under the radar at the time, it has been reassessed as one of the most important Americana LGBTQ+ albums of all time. It set the stage for what we see today – artists like Brandi Carlile, Joy Oladokun, and Adeem the Artist soaring and causing cracks in the pink ceiling.
Many other artists are making noise of their own – from multi-instrumentalist Jake Blount to singer-songwriter Mya Byrne and folklorist Jessye DeSilva. Artists are making art and thriving on their own terms – with many finding recognition, including Allison Russell, who recently earned several nominations for the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards.
For all the headway, there has been little improvement in mainstream recognition. That’s where Country Everywhere and Rainbow Rodeo and others come into the picture. Here, you can find resources to discover new, fresh talent in our Directory, as well as News & Events and other essential information. With a focus on LGBTQ+ talent, we uplift queer voices and hope you’ll join us in pushing the boundaries even further.
Country music is three chords and the truth after all, and we deserve to have our stories heard, too.
our folks
Featured Profile :
Lavender Country
While LAVENDER COUNTRY (1973) was little known outside the Pacific Northwest and only released one self-distributed album, they created a genuine cultural milestone; the first openly gay country album. After sitting stagnant for four decades, indie label Paradise of Bachelors discovered the album, reissued it, and shot Lavender Country into the stratosphere. With a new rotating lineup of musicians, Haggerty began performing to a brand new generation of Lavender Country fans drawn to the band's timeless message of queer liberation and revolution. Haggerty, now approaching age 77, is stronger than ever. His shows are a unique combination of good country music, sharp Marxist political critique, and a huge lineup of incredible backup musicians across the country. Poignant emotions leave his audience laughing, dancing, and crying all at once. The current emergence of fascism and the deep political divisions in American culture are making Lavender Country a critical component of progressive and radical politics.
