Artist of the Month: Leyla McCalla

BGS Staff

April 6, 2024

The Bluegrass Situation

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Since her solo debut in 2014, Vari-Colored Songs: a Tribute to Langston Hughes, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter, and thought leader Leyla McCalla has routinely and consistently expanded her own sonic universe. But these have not been gratuitous or ambitious artistic reinventions. Instead, the cellist and multi-instrumentalist intentionally and organically brings in new and exciting textures, influences, stories, cultural touch points, and text paintings into her work.

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Photo Credit:

Chris Scheurich

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Leyla McCalla, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter, Sun Without the Heat, American folk, Afrobeat, Ethiopian music theory

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Country Music Against White Supremacy

a group of BIPOC and white musicians, fans, and industry representatives committed to fighting white supremacy in country music. Take the #ChangeCountry Pledge.

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BIPOC Country/Folk/Roots etc.

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Gay Ole Opry

Why queer country music? Because sometimes you love a culture that doesn’t love you back. And when everyone came to the first Gay Ole Opry in April of 2011 in all their country finery, we knew we weren’t alone. We do it because we love the music and want to build a community to support queer country musicians.

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