Highway Queens
@highwayqueens.bsky.social
Music blog featuring women in Americana, country, folk, indie etc
✍️ album & live reviews
🏴 based in Scotland
🩷 https://highwayqueens.com
✍️ album & live reviews
🏴 based in Scotland
🩷 https://highwayqueens.com
Pinned
Highway Queens
@highwayqueens.bsky.social
· Jan 19
What I’ve Learned From Listening to Every Dolly Parton Album
I started my project to listen to all of Dolly’s albums in 2018 and I admit it took me much longer to finish this than I had anticipated (see the full list of reviews here). When you grow up with a…
highwayqueens.com
For Dolly Parton’s birthday here’s my old post about what I learned from listening to all her albums 💜 highwayqueens.com/2022/12/24/w...
As predicated all the Americana artists who put themselves into the ‘Traditional Country’ category have lost out. Make it make sense
February 1, 2026 at 11:07 PM
As predicated all the Americana artists who put themselves into the ‘Traditional Country’ category have lost out. Make it make sense
I’m with Her winning two Grammys is amazing! Even though they should be in the Americana category
February 1, 2026 at 11:04 PM
I’m with Her winning two Grammys is amazing! Even though they should be in the Americana category
Congratulations to Mavis Staples for her Grammy for her version of Kevin Morby’s ‘Beautiful Strangers’ ❤️❤️
February 1, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Congratulations to Mavis Staples for her Grammy for her version of Kevin Morby’s ‘Beautiful Strangers’ ❤️❤️
Discussing tonight’s Grammys and the problem with the word ‘Americana’ on the newsletter this week plus discussing the new Lucinda album ❤️ open.substack.com/pub/highwayq...
HQ #9: The End of Americana?
It’s Grammy day today so I thought I’d address the ever looming elephant in the room: we have an Americana problem.
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Discussing tonight’s Grammys and the problem with the word ‘Americana’ on the newsletter this week plus discussing the new Lucinda album ❤️ open.substack.com/pub/highwayq...
Review of the timely new Lucinda Williams album ‘World’s Gone Wrong’ ❤️ so excited to see her play Celtic Connections tomorrow night ❤️ highwayqueens.com/2026/01/31/a...
Album Review: Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong
Lucinda Williams has previously released three albums with the word ‘world’ in the title. The first was her 1992 classic ‘Sweet Old World’ where the title song was a poignant tribute to a friend wh…
highwayqueens.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Review of the timely new Lucinda Williams album ‘World’s Gone Wrong’ ❤️ so excited to see her play Celtic Connections tomorrow night ❤️ highwayqueens.com/2026/01/31/a...
If anyone still uses Facebook and would like to help my page get to 500 likes I would really appreciate it! 🩷 www.facebook.com/share/17sPLL...
January 23, 2026 at 8:18 PM
If anyone still uses Facebook and would like to help my page get to 500 likes I would really appreciate it! 🩷 www.facebook.com/share/17sPLL...
Reviewed the new album ‘Magic Accident’ by Della Mae 🩷 it’s brightened up my January! 🩷 highwayqueens.com/2026/01/23/a...
Album Review: Della Mae – Magic Accident
Della Mae’s previous albums have been filled with such heart, humanity and fierce feminism that I’ve always thought they were one of the most underrated bands in the Americana / Bluegrass space.&nb…
highwayqueens.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Reviewed the new album ‘Magic Accident’ by Della Mae 🩷 it’s brightened up my January! 🩷 highwayqueens.com/2026/01/23/a...
Reposted by Highway Queens
As Dolly Parton turns 80 today, some news: I'm thrilled to announce the forthcoming publication of my new book, "Dolly Parton: The Stories Behind the Songs," from the same publisher who brought you my books on Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, out in the US on August 11, 2026. www.amazon.com/Dolly-Parton...
January 19, 2026 at 5:17 PM
As Dolly Parton turns 80 today, some news: I'm thrilled to announce the forthcoming publication of my new book, "Dolly Parton: The Stories Behind the Songs," from the same publisher who brought you my books on Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, out in the US on August 11, 2026. www.amazon.com/Dolly-Parton...
Updated my Dolly book guide with a couple of new ones 💜 highwayqueens.com/2022/12/14/d...
Dolly Parton Book Guide
Since starting my Dolly Parton project a few years ago, I have been an avid reader of all things related to the Queen of Country herself. Many of these books are worth recommending so I thought I w…
highwayqueens.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Updated my Dolly book guide with a couple of new ones 💜 highwayqueens.com/2022/12/14/d...
Review of Emmylou on her farewell tour last night 😭❤️ highwayqueens.com/2026/01/17/l...
Live Review: Emmylou Harris @ Celtic Connections, Glasgow 15/01/26
Emmylou Harris last played Glasgow at Country to Country festival in 2018, and since she’s turning 79 in April some thought that was the last time she would play this side of the Atlantic. Luckily …
highwayqueens.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Review of Emmylou on her farewell tour last night 😭❤️ highwayqueens.com/2026/01/17/l...
Shocked by this but guess I’m naive. Need to add ‘HQ does not charge for album reviews’ alongside my ‘HQ does not use AI’ disclaimer 😳
It's hard enough for independent artists and festivals to make it in music. Now that wealthy artists and events can just pay for press coverage, it makes the playing field even more unequal.
savingcountrymusic.com/music-media-...
savingcountrymusic.com/music-media-...
Music Media Outlets ‘Holler’ and ‘Whiskey Riff’ Charging for...
Some of the most critically-acclaimed artists of the era are struggling financially. All these issues feel especially exacerbated when certain performers can simply pay their way to the front of the l...
savingcountrymusic.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Shocked by this but guess I’m naive. Need to add ‘HQ does not charge for album reviews’ alongside my ‘HQ does not use AI’ disclaimer 😳
RIP Bob Weir - what a legend, gonna honour him by listening to the Dead today and for the rest of time ☮️💔 x
January 11, 2026 at 11:50 AM
RIP Bob Weir - what a legend, gonna honour him by listening to the Dead today and for the rest of time ☮️💔 x
Sharing my excitement about seeing Emmylou this week!!! substack.com/@highwayquee...
HQ#6: Me & Emmylou
This week I’ve been mainly fighting off the January blues by listening to Emmylou Harris in preparation for seeing her play her Celtic Connections show in Glasgow on Friday.
substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Sharing my excitement about seeing Emmylou this week!!! substack.com/@highwayquee...
Reposted by Highway Queens
Jenny Lewis married her dog for her 50th birthday 💕
Jenny Lewis Married Her Dog For Her 50th Birthday
On Thursday (Jan. 8), Jenny Lewis turned 50. The Rilo Kiley leader celebrated the big birthday by marrying her cockapoo, Bobby Rhubarb. The ceremony had performances from Morgan Nadler and Farmer Dave...
stereogum.com
January 10, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Jenny Lewis married her dog for her 50th birthday 💕
Write a little about the book ‘Mood Music’ and the way streaming has changed my music consumption highwayqueens.com/2026/01/09/a...
Against the ‘Mood Machine’: How I Listen to Music in the Spotify Age
I recently finished the fascinating book ‘Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist’ by Liz Pelly, which brutally exposes the flaws in the streaming giant. She takes u…
highwayqueens.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Write a little about the book ‘Mood Music’ and the way streaming has changed my music consumption highwayqueens.com/2026/01/09/a...
Reposted by Highway Queens
Just launched the first installment of Catalog Club. It's like a book club but with albums. Every month, I'll pick an artist and over 4 weeks talk about 4 of their albums. This month's artist is Lucinda Williams. Check out the first episode, it's free!
tinyurl.com/ac4msrzm
tinyurl.com/ac4msrzm
Catalog Club: Lucinda Williams' "Happy Woman Blues"(1980)
Part 1 of our look at the early albums of a modern giant of American music
tinyurl.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Just launched the first installment of Catalog Club. It's like a book club but with albums. Every month, I'll pick an artist and over 4 weeks talk about 4 of their albums. This month's artist is Lucinda Williams. Check out the first episode, it's free!
tinyurl.com/ac4msrzm
tinyurl.com/ac4msrzm
Music to look forward to in 2026! highwayqueens.com/2026/01/03/m...
January 3, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Music to look forward to in 2026! highwayqueens.com/2026/01/03/m...
I once got to pick the videos on long defunct alternative music channel MTV2. It was fun. I picked Belly, Throwing Muses, Pixies, Blur, Manics, Beastie Boys and Jeff Buckley. MTV was so cool to me growing up. What’s everyone’s favourite music videos?
January 2, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I once got to pick the videos on long defunct alternative music channel MTV2. It was fun. I picked Belly, Throwing Muses, Pixies, Blur, Manics, Beastie Boys and Jeff Buckley. MTV was so cool to me growing up. What’s everyone’s favourite music videos?
Made some blog resolutions for the new year - posting to keep myself accountable 🩷 highwayqueens.com/2026/01/02/b...
Blogging Resolutions 2026
At the start of each year I re-read Woody Guthrie’s list of ‘New Year’s Rulins’ from 1943 and try to capture a little of his spirit. My favourites remain the same: Work more & be better, work b…
highwayqueens.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Made some blog resolutions for the new year - posting to keep myself accountable 🩷 highwayqueens.com/2026/01/02/b...
If you had a live music wishlist for 2026 what would be on it?
Mine:
- Legacy artists offering FREE concerts for longtime fans.
- Price capped shows.
- A billionaire gives money away to fund small venues and pay new artists
- More residencies not in Vegas
- More multi artist co headline tours
Mine:
- Legacy artists offering FREE concerts for longtime fans.
- Price capped shows.
- A billionaire gives money away to fund small venues and pay new artists
- More residencies not in Vegas
- More multi artist co headline tours
December 31, 2025 at 3:48 PM
If you had a live music wishlist for 2026 what would be on it?
Mine:
- Legacy artists offering FREE concerts for longtime fans.
- Price capped shows.
- A billionaire gives money away to fund small venues and pay new artists
- More residencies not in Vegas
- More multi artist co headline tours
Mine:
- Legacy artists offering FREE concerts for longtime fans.
- Price capped shows.
- A billionaire gives money away to fund small venues and pay new artists
- More residencies not in Vegas
- More multi artist co headline tours
Reposted by Highway Queens
For the 3rd year in a row I've posted a rundown of other blogger's "Best of" lists instead of posting one of my own. I may have missed a couple of good ones so if you want to be added let me know.
The 2025 Year End Review: The 3rd Annual Roundup of Year End "Best Of" Lists Found on the Blogosphere
A pop music blog for adults since 2005.
bloggerhythms.blogspot.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:13 PM
For the 3rd year in a row I've posted a rundown of other blogger's "Best of" lists instead of posting one of my own. I may have missed a couple of good ones so if you want to be added let me know.
Reposted by Highway Queens
Gift link: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
How American Nightlife Went Honky-Tonk
From New York City to Chicago to Portland, bars are riding a country boom, drawing everyone from outlaw singers to finance bros for ‘countryoke’ and line dancing.
www.wsj.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Gift link: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Finished reading ‘Living in the Present with John Prine’ by Tom Piazza and just sobbed my heart out. What a beautiful tribute 💔😭 I think more music books should be love letters
December 29, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Finished reading ‘Living in the Present with John Prine’ by Tom Piazza and just sobbed my heart out. What a beautiful tribute 💔😭 I think more music books should be love letters
Favs of the year all rounded up for you here in my wee newsletter! 💜 substack.com/@highwayquee...
HQ Newsletter #4: It's the End of the Year As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
December is my favourite month and not because it’s my birthday or because of Christmas but because I live for list season.
substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Favs of the year all rounded up for you here in my wee newsletter! 💜 substack.com/@highwayquee...
Made a little playlist of great cover versions released this year - thanks for all suggestions ❤️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2BK...
December 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Made a little playlist of great cover versions released this year - thanks for all suggestions ❤️ open.spotify.com/playlist/2BK...