Basic Folk 20 – Erin McKeown

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Erin McKeown has been queering the folk world for over two decades with her unpredictable and relentlessly unwavering superhuman musical gifts. McKeown has also made it a point to go hard in whatever she touches: school (she was high school valedictorian and went to Brown University), electric guitar and in the last 7 years, musical theater. Her production Miss You Like Hell, a collaboration with Quiara Alegría Hudes, was staged at The Public Theater in New York City.

Erin gets real in our conversation. She talks about (my favorite) summer camp, being super into drugs and sports in high school, her relationship with her gender (she thinks she’s an alien), spirituality and her friendship with Rachel Maddow.

Nerd alert: Erin was the first musician I ever met on my first day at WERS in September of 2000. I remember her being so cool, nice and interested in talking to me. That impression has never wavered! She is personable and makes strong life-long connections. She actually reached out to me about being on the podcast, which was a huge deal! Thanks Erin for being a good human and positive force in the world.

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Erin singing “The Queer Gospel” at OPBMusic

Erin’s 2013 LP Manifestra