Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated American folk singer/songwriter and author whose dark atmospheres and tales of marginalized people draw on her early experiences with addiction and recovery and growing up gay in Southern Louisiana.

She made her initial mark in 1999 following her self-released sophomore effort, Drag Queens in Limousines, which had critics comparing her self-described "country noir" to the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, John Prine, and Lucinda Williams.

The success of the LP led to main-stage shows at festivals around the country and eventually the world, followed by a string of well-received albums.

At latest AMERICANAFEST, veteran journalist Jewly Hight hosts discussion, 'Drag Queens in Limousines Forever: The Importance and Influence of Gauthier's Songs".

"Mark October 2024 on your calendars as Mary Gauthier's sophomore release " Drag Queens In Limousines" will finally be out on vinyl." This 25th anniversary limited edition package is being put together by Cow Pie Recordings out of London and will available on classic black and a ltd edition tri-colored vinyl, gatefold packaging, lyrics booklet with liner notes from the artist.

This is a truly seminal record from 1999 which provided insight to growing up queer but also a wider group with songs about true mavericks, rebels and outcasts.

As Mary said in a recent interview for her book Saved By A Song , "I knew that "Drag Queens In Limousines" needed to be in there," she said.

"I needed to talk about being queer and being an outsider, but I also wanted to show how a song can even transcend the experience of the queer person in country music singing it.

Suddenly, otherness becomes cool, and everyone who hears it wants to be one because the outsider experience is not unique to gay and lesbian people.

I tapped into that without even knowing, and I was surprised with who related to the song." This is the first of Gauthier's releases that was available worldwide and put her on the map of the folk music community.

Now presented the way it should be for the first time! Gatefold slevve with four page booklet with lyrics & linernotes