Queer Music News is a smattering of what’s going on in music by LGBTQ artists and the artists we love.
Here’s a wrap-up of music we’ve received in recent days for your new Monday Mixtape. Also, we got a new name!
Maren Morris and Jack Antonoff musically come together to benefit The Ally Coalition
All Things Go, the independent music festival based in Washington, DC and New York City, recently announced the second track of its forthcoming benefit compilation. Titled “Welcome to the End,” the song is performed and co-written by Maren Morris with Jack Antonoff serving as producer. She joins an impressive roster of artists — many LGBTQ for this benefit album — with proceeds benefiting The Ally Coalition (TAC).
The compilation, featuring a diverse lineup of special original songs and collaborations from artists in the All Things Go community, will be available this fall.
Last month, the compilation dropped the first track, “Jesus and John Wayne,” a collaboration by Googly Eyes, Joy Oladokun, and Dallas Voice favorite, Allison Ponthier. Other artists confirmed for the record include Orville Peck, Tayla Parx, Hudson Mohawke, Kesha and others. with more to be announced.
“Jesus and John Wayne” is inspired by the NYT Bestselling novel by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. and it reimagines spirituality as a source of healing, belonging, and radical love, especially for those the church has pushed aside.
Founded in 2013 by Jack Antonoff and fashion designer Rachel Antonoff, TAC is committed to bettering the lives of LGBTQ+ youth across the country. By working with artists on tours, campaigns and events, TAC provides support for nonprofit organizations around the world.
In 2023, All Things Go launched a partnership with The Ally Coalition (TAC) to further support LGBTQ+ youth through on-site programming and artist-driven engagement across its festival platforms.
One hundred percent of the proceeds will go toward the organization.
Listen to “Welcome to the End” below:
The Aces can’t put out a “Twin Flame”
On Friday, pop band The Aces released “Twin Flame,” the latest single from the band’s upcoming record Gold Star Baby. The band shared, “‘Twin Flame’ is about that tortuous in-between of not wanting to let go, but knowing you need to. This song also has a strong Latin influence from the guitar line to the bridge in Spanish. With half of us being Latina, we really wanted to express that part of who we are through this song.”
The band also announced a new tour which lands in Dallas on Dec. 2.
Watch the lyric video for “Twin Flame” below:
Rainbow Kitten Surprise unveil new single “Dang” out now
The queer/trans fronted rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise released its latest single, “Dang” last Friday via Atlantic Records. This is the latest song from RKS’ 2024 album release LOVE HATE MUSIC BOX. Along with the track, RKS also dropped an accompanying video which is inspired by the film Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, only here, the band gives the film a queer, East Nashville twist which follows a real-life couple racing around the city to catch an RKS performance.
Watch the video for “Dang” below:
With a new single ,Gatlin announces debut album, a reckoning with her queer identity in conservative Florida
Indie pop singer Gatlin announced her first album this week. The Eldest Daughter will come out Oct 3 via Dualtone Records. She previews the release with the new single and video for “Jesus Christ & Country Clubs.”
Her publicity declares the song as an exemplification of a pivotal moment of rebellion, when Gatlin began questioning the world she grew up in, as someone raised in a conservative town where her queerness often felt isolating.
“I played a part for so many years growing up and when I finally left Florida I really got to discover who I am—and parts of who I am are rejected by my community and family,” she said in a press release.
Watch the video for “Jesus Christ and Country Clubs” below:
Concert calendar
July 26: Keyshia Cole at Dickies Arena.
Aug. 2: Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns Tour at The Music Hall at Fair Park.
Aug. 6: Regina Spektor at Majestic Theatre.
Aug. 8: Horsegirl at Sons Of Hermann Hall.
Aug. 16: Gretchen Wilson at Billy Bob’s Texas.
Aug. 17: Lost 80’s Live at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.
Aug. 22: RuPaul (DJ set) at SILO Dallas.
Aug. 27: The Weeknd at AT&T Stadium.
Aug. 29: Fitz And The Tantrums at The Echo Lounge & Music Hall.
Aug. 30: Bernadette Peters at Eisemann Center.
Sept. 13: Boulet Brothers at House of Blues.
Sept. 20: Benson Boone at Dickies Arena.
Sept. 25: Pam Tillis at Arlington Music Hall.
Sept. 30 and Oct. 1: Dua Lipa at American Airlines Center.
Oct. 3: Rio Romeo at Club Dada.
Oct. 8: Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Nov 15: Andy Bell at the Majestic Theatre.
Nov. 16: Palmyra at Club Dada.
Dec. 2: The Aces at TBA.
– Rich Lopez