Voices Carry

A new tour tests the market for gays with guitars.

By Neal Broverman

Jake Walden (left) and Stewart Lewis

New york–based singer-songwriter Stewart Lewis is hoping “there are more Rufus Wainwrights in the world.” The folk artist is frustrated with the notion that “gay music” is solely the stuff of DJs and pop stars. “A lot of out musicians have a more poignant message to get across than a house beat,” he says.

Lewis, who has been signed to here! Tunes (owned by Regent Media, the parent company of The Advocate), creates music more suited to the coffeehouse than the club; he’s opened for Ani DiFranco and cites Imogen Heap and Counting Crows as influences. And throughout December he’ll appear along with fellow gay troubadours Jake Walden and Tom Goss in the Rock the Folk Out tour.

The tour, which touches down in seven East Coast cities, aims to attract audiences who can enjoy a love song from a man, about a man. But for all the singers involved, pigeonholing is a worry.

“I’m very conflicted about [being part of a gay tour],” Lewis says. “In one way, we want to utilize the gay market, but in another sense, we feel our music is not ‘gay,’ it just happens to be that we are.”

Either way, Lewis hopes the tour will show the diversity of gay male artists. “There are so many facets of gay culture that are so cool -- fashion, architecture, design -- but when you go to gay clubs it’s the same tired music,” he says. The association between gay men and dance music “is the one thing about gay culture I don’t understand, and it’s a stereotype we’re trying to eradicate.”

Tour Schedule
Dec 4 2008 8:00 pm
P.A.C.E. W/ REED FOEHL Easthampton, Massachusetts

Dec 9 2008 9:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ All Asia cambridge, Massachusetts

Dec 10 2008 9:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss@ Zipper Theatre nyc, New York

Dec 11 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ Tin Angel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dec 12 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ Hershee Bar Norfolk, Virginia

Dec 13 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ Read Street Books Baltimore, Maryland

Dec 14 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR @ Common Groundz Coffee House richmond, Virginia

Dec 15 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ Iota Arlington, Virginia

Dec 17 2008 8:00 pm
ROCK THE FOLK OUT TOUR w/ Jake Walden and Tom Goss @ Howler’s Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. Page 1 of 1

READ COMMENTS (0) MORE Music EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

More Online Only

Film Awards Shows Gone Gay

From Rob Lowe singing with Snow White to Madonna and Britney swapping spit, Adam Lambert's racy AMA performance reminded us of some of the great gay moments in awards-show history.

DVDs Hot Sheet: Rihanna, New Moon

Whether you spend your time jamming to Rihanna's Chris Brown kiss-off "Russian Roulette," in theaters with those lusty male vampires- or curled up on the couch with Scarlett O'Hara, it's a packed week in entertainment.

Washington D C View From Washington: The DADT Shuffle

A gay White House employee offered his very first interviews to the LGBT press while Congress took one step forward and one step back on "don't ask, don't tell" repeal in 2010.

Art The Kids Are All Right
Photographer Jeffrey Kilmer has dedicated the last seven years to capturing the awkwardness, rebellion, and personal style of young men across the country and around the world. His book, 23% PURE, is a collection of hot guys, far and wide.

Film Teen Spirit

While Native American cultures have long honored people of integrated genders, a new documentary looks at a shocking hate crime against a two-gendered Colorado teenager.

Politicians L.A. Confidential

What's it like to be 33, gay, and one of the most powerful people in America's second-largest city? Stressful, says Matt Szabo, the new deputy chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Commentary Love Bites for Twilight's Gay Fans

Gay fanpires are sure to flock to New Moon, but with questions lingering about author Stephanie Meyer and the cash she gives to the Mormon Church, Mike Albo wonders if we'd be better off tying a clove of garlic around our necks.

Youth Church Opens Doors for Homeless Gay Teens

A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth.

Music France's Latest Export

He's opened for Britney and Katy Perry, kept Dita Von Teese company in the front row at Paris Fashion Week, and gets name-checked on Twitter by Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Sarah Silverman. So who the hell is Sliimy, anyway?

Prevention New Breast Health Rules Leave Out Lesbians

Now that new government guidelines are out on how to best care for your breasts, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender women are left with a lot of questions.

Marriage Equality Triumph in the Tar Heel State

The loss of marriage equality in Maine was a major blow on Election Night, but down the coast in North Carolina there was an LGBT victory. Pam Spaulding talks to Chapel Hill's mayor-elect, Mark Kleinschmidt.

Theater Puppet Masters

When performance-art drag diva Joey Arias combines forces with master puppeteer Basil Twist, anything — no, seriously, anything — can happen.

News Softball With Oprah and Palin

Dave White recaps as Oprah plays nice with Palin in her exclusive, personality-rehabbing interview. Topics include Katie Couric ("badgering"), Levi Johnston ("Ricky Hollywood"), and step class ("gee, it's fun").

News View From Washington: Frank Tells

This week Congressman Barney Frank laid out a plan and a timetable for repealing "don't ask, don't tell..." and a reminder that he's been saying it would happen in 2010 from the beginning.