Porch Pride: Queergrass Fest Goes Big
By James Barker, Staff Writer
Porch Pride, a ray of sunshine in last June’s darkness, is back with a blockbuster multi-weekend festival featuring some the top names in queer country, Americana, and folk. This year’s lineup includes Lavender Country, Mya Byrne, Luisa Lopez, Jake Blount, Rainbow Girls, Gangstagrass, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sunny War and many more.
Organized by our friends at Bluegrass Pride around their 5th anniversary, this festival is rooted in the needs of the queergrass community, with en emphasis on diversity, and featuring social angles designed to strengthen community.
The festival kicks off on Saturday, June 6 with Lavender Country Live, hosted by critically acclaimed musician, scholar, and Bluegrass Pride board member Jake Blount. On Saturday, June 12, you can join Bluegrass Pride for an informal brunch gathering, open house, and information session. followed by a beginner-friendly jam-along featuring protest songs and movement music led by Nashville based queer singer-songwriter Luisa Lopez on Sunday, June 13.
The second half of the month will feature two virtual festivals. On June 19, Bluegrass Pride partners with Brandi Pace and Decolonizing the Music Room on Juneteenth: A Rainbow Revival, a three-hour series of performances highlighting the trailblazing, vital contributions of Black queer folks and trans folks to the Pride movement – as well as their contributions to bluegrass, old-time, and roots music.
June 26 and 27 will see a return of Porch Pride proper, celebrating Bluegrass Pride’s fifth anniversary and featuring two days of live music, performances, songs, and fellowship with members and fans, culminating in sets from Gangstagrass (June 26) and Rainbow Girls (June 27). The full line-up is below.
Porch Pride is the headline fundraising event for Bluegrass Pride and there is a suggested donation of $10 to support the musicians in the line ups and the ongoing work of Bluegrass Pride. All of the event’s virtual programs are free to view and attend – and will be available to view on Bluegrass Pride’s website and channels after air. You can find out more here.
Porch Pride schedule of events and line-up
June 6, 2021 at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT – Lavender Country Live with Bluegrass Pride, hosted by Bluegrass Pride Board Member Jake Blount.
June 12, 2021 at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT – Bluegrass Pride Brunch & Information Session, an informal gathering and Q&A period hosted by Bluegrass Pride Board Members. Open to all members, fans, followers, and folks new to Bluegrass Pride.
June 13, 2021 at 1pm PDT / 4pm EDT – Beginner-Friendly Jam-Along with Luisa Lopez, “bring” your instruments and voice to play and sing along with protest songs and movement music. Lyrics and chord sheets provided.
June 19, 2021 at 3pm PDT / 6pm EDT – Juneteenth: A Rainbow Revival, featuring Sunny War, Jake Blount, Yasmin Williams, Faith Nolan, Jackie & Resa, Stephanie Anne Johnson, and Lenworth Poyser. An evening of musical performances curated by Brandi Pace of non-profit Decolonizing the Music Room that will highlight the essential contributions of Black queer, trans, and non-binary folks to roots music and the Pride movement.
June 26 & 27, 2021 at 3pm PDT / 6pm EDT – Porch Pride: 5th Anniversary Celebration. Our headline festival returns celebrating five years of Bluegrass Pride and featuring performances by:
Saturday, June 26:
Mya Byrne
Ben Garnett
Crys Matthews
BOOJUM
Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Gangstagrass
Sunday, June 27:
Willi Carlisle
Maddie Witler
Chris Sexton
Hasee Ciaccio & Friends
Stephanie Anne Johnson
Rainbow Girls