Guest Blog: Queer Cxntry

Saddle Up Y’all! Margate Punk Duo pink suits are bringing their cult night ‘Queer Cxntry’ to Signature Brew in Walthamstow for a FULL DAY TAKEOVER this bank holiday Saturday, 23rd August. Have a read all about it below, make sure you nab tickets, and listen to our special Queer Cxntry playlist to get you in the mood!

Is this your first Rodeo? For those who have not been to or heard of Queer Cxntry, here’s what to expect:

Queer Cxntry is a Country music themed LGBTQIA+ live gig and club night. Hosted by Lori Mae with performances from creators of the night pink suits‘ house band ‘The Northdown Rodeo’, plus drag legends The Cybils and special guest performers and DJs including Donna Poderosa, Izzy Aman and Dolly Parton tribute band, The Dumb Blondes. Audiences are encouraged to get involved! Come dressed to impress in your Cxntry Best for a chance to win the costume contest, join in some games for a chance to win some cxntry lovin’ prizes or jump up on the Rodeo Bull and show us what you got! Get your photos snapped in the iconic rose booth to show off  your outfits, and then dance the night away to country DJs and live music.

So, how did a political punk duo from Margate end up starting a Queer Cxntry night?

There were many things that lead to us starting Queer Cxntry. Lennie has always been really into cowboys, country music and dressing up. Johnny Cash and June Carter; The Highwaymen; Dolly Parton. And they’ve always been obsessed with watching cowboys that their mum loved growing up… Like Kevin Costner in Silverado, and concert videos of Ray Sawyer in Dr Hook and The Medicine Show, who were incredibly intriguing to a young bi boy from Manchester. Ray grew up in the real country, small town Colorado, USA! Surrounded by cowboys and country music, but in a very macho way. If you look closely, country has always been Queer!

More recent influences that directly lead to us starting Queer Cxntry in Margate were:

In late 2016 Lennie went for a piss in the iconic Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone. There was a country ‘n’ western night happening in the function room that they watched for a while. It was cute and wholesome, older couples line dancing and partner dancing, dressed in flannel shirts and cowboy hats and dresses and boots. But it was also very straight, and problematic with confederate flags hung on the walls. They thought it would be so great to see a Queer version of this… 

In 2019 Orville Peck exploded into our lives with the debut album Pony. This album, all of the songs, all of the aesthetics of Orville Peck and the music videos just crushed us. It was dark and romantic, and camp and silly, and unapologetically Queer. We were obsessed with all of it. That year we saw Orville Peck play in Leeds, London, Barcelona and Sydney. In Sydney we found a pink cowboy hat in a country store called Route 66 and decided to commit our lives to the Queer Cowboy aesthetic… 

Early 2020, right before the world shut down, there was a karaoke night at Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate. Lennie, newly back from Australia and newly committed to the Queer Country life, did a Cyrus mash up – singing Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Achey Breaky Heart’ dressed as Miley Cyrus in Wrecking Ball. Shelley Grotto was there and absolutely crushed Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ and we said there NEEDS to be a night where we can dress like cowboys and Shelley can sing Jolene with a live band…

In Summer 2021 as venues were opening up again, Sammy from Elsewhere (now WhereElse?) asked us to do a show. We wanted to get audiences back together and back in venues, but we are a punk band and the restrictions were still up and down. No basements, no full gigs, no drums, no moving around, stay seated, wear masks etc, which didn’t scream ‘punk night’. We thought it would be a good opportunity to try out a Queer Country night of audience dress up, some gentle live band country covers, some drag performances. We knew Janet District Council played fiddle, and we met Island Girl on the steps at the beach and talked about banjos, so we put a band together. We had one rehearsal that Lucky Deluz just turned up to out of the blue… Thank the country gods! We sold out, a whole forty tickets, for the first ever Queer Cxntry… The rest, as they say…

Why does country lend itself so well to queerness? Has country always been Queer?

This could take a long long time and a lifetime of discussion, which we are fully committed to having! However, for the sake of ease, we will give you the simple answer. Queers love a dress up! And country is a very camp and very varied dress up… And all of it is hot! The cowboy aesthetic is rugged, butch and macho, it can be eccentric and tabby, sexy or subtle, it works for the L’s, G’s the B’s, the T’s the Q’s. The whole Queer alphabet! Leather is hot. Dungarees are hot. Boots and Saddles and Chaps, bandannas and ropes and tight jeans… it’s ALL GOOOD! And let’s be clear, the straights also love cowboys and the hot masc wrangler… But for Queers it is the subversion of this archetype that is fun and silly and sexy.

But country music is also very Queer. Not the business of country music, and a lot of the people who historically have been successful in it. Not the mainstream idea we have of the country music demographic, that has been unfairly co-opted by ideas of homophobia and misogyny, which is definitely rife in country music. But, at its heart, country music is about the experiences of life, love, loss, family and friends, and contemplating how we spend this time together. It is about heartbreak and beauty and struggles and pain. There is so much in country music that speaks to the Queer experience and – despite this idea that we have about country music not being a place for Queer people – a lot of the champions of country music have always been champions of Queer people and have spoken out about peoples right to live and love freely. I am talking about people like: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, The Chicks, Tim McGraw, Brandi Carlisle, Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes… And now we have many out Queer country artists like: Orville Peck, Paisley Fields, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Lil Nas X, Dixon Dallas and many more.

Queer people have always been here. In every part of society. That includes country. It includes country music. It includes cowboys and ranchers and farmers and wranglers. There are some great resources out there that go into more historic detail of Queer life in the American West. 

A couple of our favourite Queer Cxntry albums (in addition to everything by Orville Peck’s Pony):

Noah Cyrus – I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me
Noah Cyrus just dropped one of our favourite albums of all time. It has come out of nowhere and absolutely crushed us. If you do one thing off of the back of this blog, then listen to this album. If you do two things, then listen to the album AND book tickets for the Bank Holiday all dayer!


Allison Russell – Outside Child
We have made this recommendation on GIHE before I believe? But we will never ever stop shouting about this album. It has been four years, and we still listen to it a few times a week. Allison Russell is an unbelievable artist and a wonder to see live! 


A few other must-listen Queer Cxntry songs: 

Lavender Country – ‘Straight White Patterns‘
Mary Gauthier – ‘Drag Queens In Limosines‘
Orville Peck – ‘Hope To Die‘
Paisley Fields – ‘Iowa‘


Like what you’ve heard / seen / read?! Come join the Queer Cxntry revolution at the special All-Dayer event THIS SATURDAY 23RD AUGUST at Signature Brew on Blackhorse Road – tickets here. These events are always the most joyous, most life-affirming of times, so we really cannot recommend it enough to our queer community (and lovely allies)!
If you can’t make it this Saturday, listen to the Queer Cxntry playlist and make sure you catch the whole thing on tour this Autumn – details here.


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GIHE: Personal Highlights of 2024

We’ve already shared our Albums & EPs Of 2024, Tracks Of 2024 and our final Soho Radio show of the year, but now the GIHE team have put together a round up of some of their music related highlights from the past twelve months.

From the festivals we attended, to our monthly GIHE gigs (especially at The Cavendish Arms), to the guests that made our monthly Soho Radio shows continue to feel like a total joy and privilege to host: the GIHE team were grateful to feel connected to our friends and followers which is something that our Personal Highlights of 2024 reflect.

Huge love to everyone who has listened in to our radio shows, read our reviews & features or attended one of our gigs this year. Take care of yourselves and we’ll see you all in 2025. Read below for a recap of some of our best bits of the year…

GIHE night of Queer Country at Sebright Arms with The Dumb Blondes, pink suits and Trouble Wanted

Whilst every gig that I’m lucky enough to host is special in its own way, this year I had the opportunity to branch out a little from our usual line-ups, and organise a night of ‘Queer Country’ at Bethnal Green’s Sebright Arms. Headlined by the world’s best Dolly Parton tribute band/supergroup, The Dumb Blondes – consisting of members from Fightmilk, Panic Pocket and Charley Stone – who brought their own sparkling energy to all the singalong anthems, the evening as a whole just felt really joyous; filled with all the best people and best vibes. Opening the night, Margate duo pink suits delivered their own wonderfully queer renditions of country classics, plus a few countrified punk anthems, complete with banjo, harmonica and spoons! And then Trouble Wanted brought all their fierce riotous energy and fantastically playful allure. It was all so wonderful that I’m definitely thinking of making a queer country night an annual GIHE event, so do keep your eyes peeled through 2025!
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

GIHE being able to host gigs at The Cavendish Arms

Again, although I don’t like to play favourites with our gigs – finding a venue that seems to perfectly fit our ethos makes a real difference to not only my enjoyment of the whole experience, but really helps to put my mind at rest that both the bands and audience are being looked after in the safest, most inclusive space. So, this year, having the opportunity to regularly host gigs at The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell has been such a privilege. Not only is it nice to be south of the river, but the venue really is the most lovely, cosy, accessible space with the most helpful staff, great sound, tasty pizza and best of vibes. Plus, there’s a cat called Karen. What more could you want?

In September we hosted a dreamy night with the Baby Seals, Charley Stone and Skutterfly there and then we were back again in November for a really special time celebrating brand new queer punk-pop supergroup FETCH’s debut gig with Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something and First Timer’s Alumni Lip Stain. Huge thanks to Shirley, Dom and the team for having and for being such a joy to work with. We can’t’wait to be back at the gorgeous venue for plenty more events in 2025, starting with Wormboys, Schande and Tomboy Grandpa on 23rd January – tickets here! (ML)

Whitelands on Soho Radio

London shoegazers Whitelands already made our Albums & EPS of 2024 list with their superb debut record, Nightbound Eyes Are Blind To The Day, but they deserve a second mention here. The band came into the Soho Radio studio to chat to us in February on the same day that they received a copy of their album on vinyl. Etienne, Jagun, Michael and Vanessa looked so content holding the physical iteration of all their hard work in their own hands, and they spoke about Whitelands’ journey from First Timers Fest to signing with iconic label Sonic Cathedral with equal parts gratitude and enthusiasm. I’ve seen Whitelands play live four times this year and they are becoming firm favourites of mine. You can listen back to our show with them here.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

Schande on Soho Radio

I have Mari to thank for introducing me to alt-rockers Schande. They played our first post-covid gig at The Victoria in Dalston supporting Currls and I remember being so impressed by their swirling, reverb-heavy riffs. Each time Mari has booked them to play for us since, I’ve been equally as impressed, so it made sense to finally invite lead vocalist and guitarist Jen on to our Soho Radio show to talk about all things Schande. Jen is such a huge supporter of GIHE and her enthusiasm for new music matches our own. It was a joy to finally have her in the studio with us chatting about Schande’s debut album, Once Around, the inspirations behind the record and just generally gush about how much we all love music. My off-air highlight was when we tried to pay Jen a compliment by telling her she was incredibly cool, and her response was “I’m not a cool girl, I say sorry to chairs when I walk into them.” It still makes me laugh now. Listen back to the show here. (KC)

Supersonic Festival

Having been a longtime admirer of Supersonic – which has been running for 21 years – I was delighted to finally be able to attend the Birmingham-based festival in person for the first time this year. Described as “championing experimental and adventurous music,” my encounter with Supersonic was immersive and fascinating. Punk four piece THE NONE melted my eardrums. Gazelle Twin’s theatrical performance of her paranormal-inspired fourth album, BLACK DOG, sent shivers down my spine – but it wasn’t just the eclectic line up that impressed me. I found the community aspect of Supersonic Festival and the natural friendliness and curiosity of festival goers really striking. I felt this especially at the Decolonise Fest zine making workshop, and at the creative networking brunch where I met some truly lovely people. It was endearing to witness an unwavering level of commitment manifest itself in so many different ways across the weekend at Supersonic Festival. Read my full review of the event here. (KC)

Deer Shed Festival

Having fallen in love with Deer Shed when I attended for the first time back in 2022, and then going on to have another dreamy weekend at the North Yorkshire festival last year, I was very glad I got to go again this year. Highlighting a real family focus, whilst hosting a range of exciting new artists, it oozes the warmest of vibes and – being smaller in size than most other festivals – creates a space that feels comfortingly intimate; an inclusive safe haven for artists and fans of all genres and ages.

This year, in addition to being able to enjoy incredible performances from the likes of CMAT, Los Bitchos, Picture Parlour and The Go! Team, I also had the pleasure of DJing at the In The Dock Stage, playing tunes to a tent that ended up being full of people for the Silent Disco on the Friday night. Lurking in the shadows without being noticed is generally more my vibe, so needless to say I was quite nervous about it. But, despite the cursor key on my laptop deciding to stop working at just the wrong time, causing a few clunky ‘mixes’(and with most of my set clashing with Liverpool legends The Coral on the main stage), it was really lovely to see so many people dancing and singing along to the music I was playing. Noticing the number of young people who seemed to be enjoying it – making up dances with their friends and getting excited by certain songs – was particularly heartwarming and I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to do it. So, massive thanks and love to Deer Shed for letting me unleash my danceable queer tunes onto the crowd (and hopefully my laptop cursor won’t break next time!) Read more about how wonderful the festival was here. (ML)

Interviewing Los Bitchos

Following the success of their 2022 debut, Let The Festivities Begin, London based Los Bitchos released their fantastic new album, Talkie Talkie, in August. Known for their ability to fuse together layers of colourful instrumentation to create joyous cacophonies, the album combines elements ranging from Turkish psych and Cumbian Guacharaca rhythms, to funk-fuelled hooks and the racing excitement of comic book-inspired storylines, to create a thrilling, fun-filled collection; oozing a rousing sonic euphoria throughout.

Ahead of the album’s release and having been blown away by their live set at Deer Shed Festival, I was lucky enough to catch up with Serra and Agustina from the band. We talked about the club concept of the album (“… there’s something in there for everyone. Different rooms with different themes, and everything’s fabulous!”), their love of making fun videos, the iconic experience of playing Glastonbury last year, friendly Americans, and their desire to create safe and inclusive queer spaces at their gigs. One of my favourite bands of 2024, it was really lovely to have the opportunity to speak to Los Bitchos, and I’m very excited to experience more of their joyous live shows in 2025. Read the full interview here. (ML)

Kae Tempest at Koko

Whilst other people were out in the cold watching explosions in the sky, on the evening of Tuesday 5th November I was lucky enough to be inside the warmth of legendary Camden venue KOKO having my mind blown and my heart set alight by the incredible Kae Tempest. I think it was the fourth time I’ve seen them, and I instantly sensed a shift in their presence, a change from the other times I’ve seen them live over the years; a subtle, genuine joy and sense of ease emanated throughout the whole performance. It was so clear how much it meant to them to be able to be there, to be able to be truly themselves, and share that with us. Treating us to a set of strikingly poignant songs from over the last ten years, Tempest oozes an immersive euphoric energy throughout and I come away feeling a sheer sense of delight at the joy I have witnessed; heartened by the empowering and unifying queer energy of the night, I’m left with a subtle sense of hope that – despite how terrifying the world may be right now – through coming together as a community we can find happiness and strength. Thank you Kae Tempest for sharing your journey with us; for being you, and for giving us this hope that is so needed right now. Full review of the show here. (ML)

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (aka Get In Her Eras)

Lots of people are surprised when I reveal that I’m a fan of Taylor Swift. I’ll admit that I’ve been reluctant to admit it in the the past too, but this year, having seen her perform live for the first time on her record-breaking Eras Tour, I cannot stop talking about how wonderfully life-affirming it was to be part of a crowd who were united by their passion for pop music.

As a teenage girl, I felt a weird unease about openly enjoying pop. It wasn’t considered “cool” and it wasn’t accepted as a valid answer when people asked what your favourite type of music was. I rejected it for a long time and in the process I discovered an amazing array of new alternative genres and found some of my favourite bands. But, what I’ve realised now at the age of 34, is that it’s not actually a crime to love more than one genre of music. Not only that, but it’s also more than okay to unashamedly enjoy pop music.

I was privileged enough to be able to attend the Eras Tour in Lisbon on my 34th birthday in May and again in London at Wembley in June. I was surrounded by women and girls who felt comfortable enough to share compliments, stories and friendship bracelets with each other whilst singing in unison to songs that have provided them pure emotional release over the past 18 years. Whether you love or hate Taylor Swift, you cannot deny that she has offered millions of women and girls the opportunity to embrace their girlhood and truly feel their feelings through her infectious narrative-driven songwriting. That is something I think is absolutely priceless (unlike my tickets, which I used some of my savings to pay for.)

The Eras tour also brought Get In Her Ears some attention too! Our ethos was mentioned in an article about Taylor’s Edinburgh show in The Herald newspaper and I was interviewed for The Evening Standard’s front page feature about her London shows about my own experiences of attending the tour. Huge thanks to my friends Rachel, Vicky and Mel for securing tickets and sharing the Eras experience with me too. (KC)

Gossip at All Points East

Finally getting to see Gossip at All Points East on 25th August, having been a mega fan for nearly twenty years, really did exceed all expectations. The empowering energy and fiercely immersive charisma of Beth Ditto is unmatched and it was an experience filled with tonnes of queer joy and overwhelming emotion. “I’ll hold back tears / Move in the right direction / Face my fears / Move in the right direction” – hearing this song live just hit particularly hard. Other highlights from the festival that day included Sleater Kinney, Say She She and headliners, The Postal Service. (ML)

Amyl and the Sniffers at The Roundhouse

One of my many gig highlights of the year! You know what, I think this tells you a lot about my 2024 – I really lent into the dancing. It was the one thing that really brought me a lot of joy over the last couple of months. So, my knees will just have to deal with it. I saw Amyl and the Sniffers at the Roundhouse and they were incredible, such a great gig. So much energy and good vibes and a big shout out to Doto who came with me & got matching merch!
(Tash Walker – Digital Editor)

Launching the GIHE monthly newsletter

One final plug for the year…if you haven’t signed up to our newsletter already, click here! We promise not to spam you with updates – it’s just one email a month that rounds up all of our gig dates, radio endeavours and features on our website. (KC)

Keep your eyes peeled for our Ones To Watch in 2025 feature, which we’ll be publishing on our website before the end of the year…

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WATCH: pink suits – ‘Are You Gay Yet?’

One of the first songs written, but the final single to be released from pink suits’ recent album Dystopian Hellscape, ‘Are You Gay Yet?’ has now been blessed with an accompanying music video, complete with all the riotous style that makes up the band’s signature impact on the punk scene.

The video is set in the kind of classic British pub that will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has ever stopped for a pint in a small town. Union flag bunting is strung up above the bar and a painting of the queen watches over the punters. Other than rather muted blues and greys, the only pop of colour is the golden yellow of very manly beer as the old mate from school chuckles, “Are you gay yet?”

As the music ramps up and the band delivers their response, the video switches gear. With the rallying cry “Am I gay yet? Fuck yes”, the band infuse the drab, simple setting with vibrant energy and colour. They swap out a grey hoodie for a pink mesh tank top and fringed leather waistcoats and leap up onto the karaoke stage. As the song goes on, the crowd joins in, replacing jeans and jumpsuits with bold silk scarves, bright pink cowboy hats and an eclectic assortment of fetish-wear. The camera lingers on different looks, highlighting all the styles and identities that fall under the queer umbrella; making a question as simple as “Are you gay yet?” horribly insufficient in its goal of pinning a label on any individual.

Throughout, neither the setting nor the people change. But the way the band bursts unapologetically into the scene opens a door for everyone there to embrace their own uniqueness and individuality. It hammers home the unavoidable truth that queer people aren’t separate from society, but a fundamental part of it. Whether you see that at a glance or not, the only difference is how much they hide it from you when they’re not sure if you’re safe to come out to. By standing up and being themselves, pink suits take a bland heteronormative room, where it passes as a hilarious joke to suggest someone might be gay, and turn it into the party of the century.

As the video continues, the line “What will the neighbours say?” is delivered from behind a pink latex fetish mask complete with blond braids and a spiked collar. The answer is right there in the room: the neighbours are as wild as anyone else and have been waiting for exactly this permission to show off their authentic selves.

Of the inspiration behind the video, the band explain:

The video was inspired by a real conversation Lennie had in a pub in Manchester with someone they went to school with, as well as an awkward experience doing Karaoke in a bar in a small town in Colorado. The guy hosting the karaoke night had a toy guitar and would play all of the guitar solos, so Lennie did a song and on the solo got on their knees to play the guitar with their mouth and it made the guy absolutely freak out and lose his shit at having a bloke drop to his knees in from of him. It was a very uncomfortable end to the song!”

Watch the joyously empowering new video for ‘Are You Gay Yet?’ now:

Kirstie Summers
@actuallykurt

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LISTEN: pink suits – ‘Be Good To Yourself’

A distinctly pink suits take on the self care anthem, ‘Be Good To Yourself‘ combines the fierce drums, screaming guitars and passionate vocals the band are known for with an unmissable wholesome message. It’s easy to ignore empty platitudes telling you to live, laugh, love, but pink suits take a more insightful and defiant approach to self-care.

The track acknowledges how hard an instruction as simple as “be good to yourself” can be in a world where everyone is struggling for one reason or another with support increasingly difficult to access in the rare places it is available. A world where people feel more isolated than ever, despite the tools we have for connection, because of the dog-eat-dog nature of contemporary society; where you are made to feel guilty for not being on the grind every waking moment of your day; where the controlling elite profit when you feel bad about taking the time out to practice even the slightest moment of genuine self care (assuming, that is, you ever manage to practice genuine self-care, and not the self-care defined by capitalists involving spending money you don’t have on things that only really offer short time comforts). 

pink suits point directly at the cause of the problems likely to be weighing on you and make it impossible to argue with them when they tell you to find a way to be kind to yourself anyway. Every reference to the issues making self-care a struggle comes as a comfort. ‘Be Good To Yourself’ is a track designed to make you feel seen; the rage integral to pink suits’ energy echoes the frustration of self-care feeling so elusive. That energy makes you want to be good to yourself in spite of all the elements of the world around you seemingly designed to make you feel awful.

In a world that is cruel, and makes a particular target out of people who are already marginalised, this song redefines self-care as an act of rebellion and defiance. It hammers home how truly vital it is to ensure that, when there is no guarantee of compassion or kindness from anywhere else, you, at the very least, will be good to yourself.

‘Be Good To Yourself’ is taken from pink suits’ immense new album Dystopian Hellscape. Listen / buy on bandcamp now!

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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