Trans Trad Music Festival is co-directed by Alex Sturbaum (they/them) and Hayden Stern (he/his). Stern said with the election and the craziness of what is going on regarding the executive orders being enforced restricting transgender people, as artists, they were wondering what they could do as an act of resistance. Celebration and affirmation are an act of resistance. Sturbaum and Stern had experience in event organizing, and in this spirit they formed the Trans Trad Music festival, an event to foreground trans music talent from all over the US, while inviting a wider audience to come and experience trans music artists and support this act of peaceful (ok … maybe a little noisy) resistance.
bottom left to right: McKain Lakey, Morgan Harris
The website describes the event: “Trans Trad is a new festival in Olympia, WA, celebrating and elevating trans and gender nonconforming performers in traditional folk music. Fluid in genre, this festival includes old-time fiddle tunes, hard-driving bluegrass, Irish and Scottish dance music, Scandinavian tunes, and more. There will be three days and two nights of concerts, workshops, dancing, and jamming!”
There is an impressive lineup of artists booked for the event, (all artists’ own websites are listed on the Trans Trad website).
Morgan Harris (she/they) from the band Tall Poppy String Band, will be playing solo in this event. She is one of the better-known artists and is based in Colorado. Harris is described by Stern as a “brilliantly talented, nationally known, old-time flatpicking guitarist,” saying she has a gift for playing the guitar like a fiddle. The Trans Trad website says: “Morgan’s distinctive playing technique allows the guitar to shine as an old-time melody instrument, creating a rhythmic drive and a multi-layered resonance that is unique in the world of flat picked guitar.” Check out her new album Alone Will Tell.
McKain Lakey (they/them) is from Minnesota. They play Queer country music. Stern describes them as “a fun and hugely talented singer-songwriter with a contemporary twist to the routes of country music. Lakey is described on the Trans Trad website: “(they) draw creative inspiration from far corners of the American music tradition, tracing the lines of musical lineage that connect old time to rockabilly, country to Cajun to Dixieland.” Their new album, Somewhere, blurs lines of old and new, referencing musical textures of past eras while unabashedly exploring topics of mental health, family separation, rural identity and queer love.
Starling consists of Mo Brachfeld (they/them) and Jared Kirkpatrick (also they/them), they come from New England. They specialize in contra dance (traditional social dance form) classics with their own unique interpretations, mixing percussive dance and vocals. As described on the Trans Trad website, “In addition to the contra classics and original tunes they play for dances, they also mix in harmony singing, ‘queer tunes,’ and percussive dancing when performing house concerts!” Check out their website for their new upcoming album.
Event organizers Sturbaum and Stern, with Ezra Jane Landsman (he/him), formed Natterjack back in 2022, when the pool of local queer music artists meant they could form a united band. They also play beautiful melodic contra dance music. On the Trans Trad website they are described as having a “combination of rippling accordion, driving fiddle, and rock-solid rhythm guitar.” They have an album named Flying Home. so check out their website for details.
As Stern says, “None of us know if we know and love a trans person/people.” Which is an excellent reason to join in. If you approve of trans human rights, and love traditional music, this is your event. The event is family friendly, so bring your whole supportive tribe. Jammers are welcome, so please bring your instruments.
Ticket sales are open since late March, so check their website and sign up to their newsletter for notifications. There will be a food truck but you’re also welcome to bring your own refreshments (no alcohol).
There is a strong tradition of queer artists benevolently subverting roots music to speak to their own purposes, and this is a great local event to explore and support the genre while having a toe-tapping, twirling good time with your friends and family.
Note: The organizers are accepting donations. Due to the timing of the event, they missed most grant windows, and are currently fundraising “so we can pay our talent what they are worth.” https://www.transtradfest.org/donate
WHAT:
Trans Trad Queer Traditional Music Festival. 2025
WHEN:
Friday-Sunday June 6-8, square dance Friday evening, contra dance Saturday evening.
WHERE:
South Bay Grange, 3918 Sleater Kinney Rd NE, Olympia
HOW MUCH:
To be decided. (If short of funds, volunteer work is accepted instead of payment upon agreement, contact through website).
LEARN MORE:
https://www.transtradfest.org