she/her 🎻 + 🎙️ + ♿ + 🌞+💖 ★ Music for Macbeth on Broadway ★ Co-Founder of RAMPD.org ★ Whovian ★ Wife ♡ Disability Culture ♡ Lake Superior Learn more: linktr.ee/gaelynnlea
530 followers 313 following 169 posts
view profile on Bluesky
Thank you to all the WONDERFUL organizers, staff, and bands, and music lovers who helped make Fest du Nord an absolutely fabulous weekend... I loved playing music in the woods! ✨🌲💖🌳🌲✨ I didn't get any photos, but here are a few recent pics of Lake Superior... She's beautiful from every angle! 📸🌊
We had fun spending time with Paul's college friends (and their kids!) this past weekend. Of course I couldn't resist a little road race! 🤣 🏁🚴♂️👩🦼🚴🏼🚴♀️ I'm finally done with copyedits & I wrote the acknowledgments last night. It made me feel so grateful to everyone who has supported me over the years! 💗
Gaelynn is pumped to see a fellow @rampdup.bsky.social Professional Member doing awesome things in Nashville! Punk artist and professor Cynthia George founded Disabled to the Front: www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylim...
Camping once again at Burlington Bay in Two Harbors, Minnesota. 🌲🏕️🌊 It feels good to be back, as we haven't stayed here since before the pandemic! Also a tad bittersweet because last time our sweet little Clara Belle was with us. Life is always changing! Enjoy the good moments while they last... ❤️🐶🐾
Happy Belated Birthday to the one and only Paul. ❤️ I am so grateful for your love and for sticking by me, supporting me, and being such a wonderful partner for all of life's fun (and sometimes not-so-fun) adventures! Happy Birthday - I hope this next year is amazing for you... You deserve the best!
Labor Day weekend is around the corner! Gaelynn is excited to play again this year at Fest du Nord Family Music Festival 2025: August 29 - 31st at Camp du Nord in Ely, MN. Get tickets here: fdn2025.brownpapertickets.com
Gaelynn met Michael Roth when she first performed in Washington, D.C., in 2017, and he later appeared as a guest on “Sunday Sessions” in 2020. Check out his recent interview here: www.wuwf.org/text/music-a... “Sunday Sessions” here: www.youtube.com/live/yyt0k3y...
More editing today & tomorrow; I'm on Chapter 15 of 37! Yesterday I took a 'lil break from the memoir to do a painting class that Paul & I had signed up for awhile ago. 🎨🖌️ We have really enjoyed these classes (this was our second)! Now what to do with four large paintings in our studio apartment!? 🙀
Things are getting real with the memoir: it comes out April 14, 2026! 📖 This weekend is a marathon editing session, going through the tiniest of suggestions from the copy editor. It's a slow process, but worth it! I'm taking little breaks every hour; a Lake Superior boost for some extra stamina! ❤️🌊❤️
Gaelynn sends congratulations to fellow @rampdup.bsky.social and Recording Academy Colleagues for hosting a roundtable this month about more performance and leadership opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent talent across the music industry. Learn more here: www.grammy.com/news/disabil...
Here's a pretty picture from last weekend when Paul and I stopped to wander around the banks of the St Louis River. 💙 Working on lots of stuff behind the scenes these days! ✍🏻 But I am happy to report an October residency with Music Inclusion Ensemble at Virginia Tech: news.vt.edu/articles/202...
Disability Pride 🖤❤️💛🤍💙💚🖤 1/20 "Bound by a Thread" gaelynnlea.bandcamp.com/track/bound-... Words by @gaelynnlea.bsky.social , music/arrangement co-written with Dave Mehling, Al Church, Martin Dosh and Andrew Foreman Gaelynn has osteogenesis imperfecta. She is a badass! 🔥Tiny Desk link in next post
![Bound, bound, bound By a thread Going down down Through the ages You could've stayed But you came here instead To fill my life's empty pages And I, I do believe We'll see the fruits of our labor Maybe not now Maybe lifetimes ahead If only love would be our guide Gaelynn Lea [Image: blue font on background of very pale silver blue]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zwguxl6p6mezinzwm6ak3hee/bafkreie25zmydcrijqdjl7rzpobf7indnrhcisqafu2ey26ir4w7ewkwmm@jpeg "Click to view full size")
Gaelynn's new album, "Music from Macbeth", is making the rounds. Ron Hart interviewed her about the album and her approach to music for July's 'Now Hear This' column in Spin Magazine. Thank you, Ron! Find article here: www.spin.com/2025/07/now-...
Just got back from a long weekend with my parents, siblings & all eight nieces and nephews! Highlights were playing fiddle tunes with my oldest niece, painting with my youngest niece, swimming with my sister & lots of laughter during evening board games. I am so grateful to have family in my life. 💟
Gaelynn wanted to share the word about a cool project that will begin raising funds at the end of the month. Right now they need as many Followers as possible. Then the matching donation campaign will begin on the 28th. Please follow, share, and donate as you can! seedandspark.com/fund/doodlin...
Hello from Carrie! In case you didn’t know, I also have a Substack, and Gaelynn asked me to share it on her social media platforms. Here’s one of my recent posts for Disability Pride Month! carriesbench.org/p/rain-again...
Go see Wheelchair Sports Camp's boundary-pushing, cross-media exhibit TOMORROW ONLY at the @denverartmuseum.bsky.social. A Real Spectacle: Fit in with the Freaks celebrates #DisabilityPrideMonth! I'm making a cameo, with so many other rad humans! 🥳 Info here: www.denverartmuseum.org/en/calendar/...
Congratulations to Annie Humphrey for winning Best Pop Album in the 2025 Native American Music Awards for The Light in My Bones! I was honored to contribute violin on a few of the tracks that Annie recorded and produced with my friend @jeremyylvisaker.bsky.social. anniehumphreymusic.bandcamp.com
Happy Disability Pride Month! ❤️♿️❤️ Thanks so much to Ian Brennan for this chat in @talkhouse.bsky.social about music—playing with @lowtheband.bsky.social, songwriting & composing for Macbeth—and about being a disabled musician 35 years after the passage of the ADA: www.talkhouse.com/ian-brennan-...
During Disability Pride Month, look at what's happening in Denver, CO! Friday, July 25, 2025– 6 PM - 10 PM. Summer edition of Untitled: Artist Takeover! Wheelchair Sports Camp (pictured) and a cast of contributing creatives. The theme of the night is "A Real Spectacle: Fit in with the Freaks."
Gaelynn will be playing again this year at Fest du Nord: August 29 - 31st at Camp du Nord in Ely, MN. Here are other artists performing that weekend: Kevin Kling, @jeremymessersmith.bsky.social, @mollymaher.bsky.social and Roe Family Singers. Get tickets here: fdn2025.brownpapertickets.com
I'm so grateful I was able to stumble upon their existence this year—they wrote so many healing words I needed to read. That pumpkin essay in particular was just marvelous and I sent it to pretty much everyone I knew that week. We will miss you, Andrea. ❤ andreagibson.substack.com/p/andrea-gib...
You are most welcome... It was GREAT! 😍 And major congratulations on the success of your book! 📖
Hello Friends! The deadline is tomorrow for calling your Representatives - tell them to SAVE Public Broadcasting!!! Not sure where to start? Look up your Representative: 5calls.org or www.house.gov/representati... 📣📻📺📰🇺🇸🗳️ Read my most recent post here: gaelynnlea.substack.com/p/action-ale...
The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center has its grand opening this coming weekend. Gaelynn wanted to share this news by highlighting some of the events. Dinner and Drag Night Date: Friday | July 18 Time: Seating 1: 4:00 - 6:00 | Seating 2: 6:30 - 8:30 PT RSVP: dcc.page/dinner-and-drag
This weekend Paul & my parents finally rose to the level of Mycroft in the Sherlock Files! This little card-based mystery game is a fun way to pass an evening. Usually I die on the hill of some far-fetched theory, but this week we actually solved the case! 🕵️♀️🎉🎴 indieboardsandcards.com/type/sherloc...
Paul & I tried something new as a couple this week - a painting class! 🌹🎨🖌️🖼️💖 Thanks to Carly at Northern Exposure Art for being such a fun & helpful instructor! She has tons of classes in her studio this summer & a few with the Duluth Parks: northernexposureart.com + secure.rec1.com/MN/duluthpar...
Aww thanks! It's a traditional fiddle tune called "Tombigbee Waltz" - I have always loved it! 💖
In Duluth, MN, right by the best lake of all time, Lake Superior! ❤️🌊❤️
I bet you could find a way! If not, I'd really recommend looking into the Soundbeam or the theremin!! 🎶❤️🔊❤️🎶 I have tried both and they feel very similar to playing the violin... Best of luck on your journey! www.soundbeam.co.uk www.sweetwater.com/store/detail... shopmccoykids.com/products/mic...
Fellow RAMPD Founding member, @andreajenningstv.bsky.social, has an amazing show called “Access For All: Integrating Accessibility”. She interviewed @imtiffanyyu.bsky.social about Disability Culture. Look at Tiffany's recent book, “The Anti-Ableist Manifesto”! Watch here: youtu.be/lWNzeQkD_eU?...
Happy #DisabilityPrideMonth! Here's a sneak peek from my lil' part in Wheelchair Sports Camp's DENVER ART MUSEUM TAKEOVER on July 25th!! "A Real Spectacle: Fit in with the Freaks" is gonna be a Disability Pride Celebration like no other! 🤟🏽❤️🖼️♿🎻🥁🎛️😼🤘🏼 Get info: www.denverartmuseum.org/en/calendar/...
Grateful for my Monday night queer contemplative spirituality community. When I saw them tonight, the word that rose up in me was "relief." They are so dear to me.
Awww this group sounds amazing! Thanks for posting about it! ☺️
Tonight, after opening prayers, listening agreements and check ins, we listened together to @gaelynnlea.bsky.social and Matt the Electrician perform "Grace and a Tender Hand."
And if you're a non-queer ally, we have basically the same thing - super queer contemplative spirituality group! but this one is open to allies! - on the opposite Mondays. Our next gathering is next Monday, July 14, from 6:30-8pm PT. Register here:
If you identify as LGBTQIA+, we'd love to have you join us sometime. We'll be back again in two weeks, on July 21, from 6:30-8pm PT. You can register here:
Gaelynn was so glad to see fellow @rampdup.bsky.social and Recording Academy member QuestionATL featured in this awesome article about Black creatives who are making an impact. Check it out here: www.grammy.com/news/black-c...
Last lilacs of the year... Both lovely and bittersweet! 🥀
But there's no easy fix and I think it might get rougher than I want to know. Together I hope we can find ways to care for ourselves & our communities. To keep a spark of joy alive & a sense of compassion in our hearts. Little actions daily can change in our lives and our cities. We are not alone. ❤️
There are so many people I know who are hurting right because of this Administration. It's overwhelming. Be kind to yourselves and to each other. Someone suggested, after the weekend, that I start calling my state reps as they prep for this new budget reality. That felt good and true and empowering.
I'm heartbroken millions of innocent people in the U.S. must face the harsh consequences of this Administration. 💔 I'm grieving because I never envisioned this many elected officials abandoning humanity & decency so readily. I am grateful that so many of the people I know and love ARE good & decent.
Dr Oz says to get Medicaid you must “prove you matter” How? Meeting certain work requirements. Applying for jobs. Contributing to capitalism At the same time the Gestapo continues to kidnap hard working immigrants from their literal place of employment Almost like it’s not about work
"An absolute moral failure." Around one in three disabled people are on Medicaid. I spoke to disability advocates about how devastated they are that the House passed the budget bill that will slash close to a trillion from Medicaid at @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I’m very proud of these doctoral students for completing this feminist disability studies coloring book project. If you’re local to Madison, come join the release party July 12 at @roomofonesownbooks.bsky.social! All proceeds go to Disability Visibility Project! captimes.com/entertainmen...
I think people intuitively understand that stripping funding from public goods that sustain life and delivering it to death squads that kidnap people and destroy lives are the same project, but we should say so
It’s okay to be sad right now guys fuck stop telling ppl not to despair and get back to work, this is why so many ppl are in a state of apathy and dissociation cuz they don’t even have space from movement leaders to feel how they feel
The good thing about having 100K words as your target for a book is that when you have a day when you've written a clear 1000 words you can punch the air and shout I HAVE DONE AN ENTIRE PER CENT, even if all that happens is the cats look at you like you're mad and then you get a spam call.
Honestly I love this energy. This is the way.
PSA: It is ok — and necessary — to grieve right now
Take good care of yourselves tonight, if you can. Hold your loved ones close.
A lot of people call me a doomer but at heart I'm an optimist. I have an unshakable faith that things in the long term will work out for the better. Even the utopian Star Trek universe had a hellish few decades around this time. What I mourn is all the people we'll lose along the way.
Congrats to Lisa Murkowski on voting for a bill that she herself admitted was not ready in hopes that the House would change it. Now it’ll become law. She had the power to stop it, and instead chose to become complicit. That’s her legacy.
She’s right. Mass deportations require an authoritarian infrastructure. ICE will now have funds comparable to a Western military.
Why unemployment for Black women is rising axios.com/2025/06/09/f... #axiosmarkets
Sotomayor issues a blistering dissent that states plainly that this decision renders constitutional protections meaningless.
Good morning, it's Jobs Day. Reports today will likely focus on the modest job growth we saw in June and a fairly low unemployment rate. But I want to once again *turn your attention to Black women,* where the story is very different. 19thnews.org/2025/07/blac...
Wow. The EPA has placed 144 employees on administrative leave after the workers signed a public letter criticizing EPA leadership for disregarding scientific expertise and rolling back environmental and public health protections.
www.newsweek.com/immigration-...
Support independent media because they are gonna be the ones turning over the rocks.
Popping in for a minute to say that it really sucks that the murder bill passed Congress and ALSO to thank every single person who tried to stop the bill from passing. What you did matters. Finally, I wrote a few words: open.substack.com/pub/prisoncu... - I hope they might offer some encouragement.
anyway, in the wise words of @prisonculture.bsky.social :
This is also gonna screw over disabled people but it never makes the headlines! 🤯
A few Republican lawmakers have tried to frame the Medicaid cuts as targeting men. The data tells a different story. 19thnews.org/2025/05/medi...
By Dr Frances Ryan for the Disability Visibility Project about her new book Who Wants Normal? In Trumpian times, we need joyful narratives around disability more than ever disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2025/07/01/i...
An important part of “don’t give in to despair” is actually taking time to grieve. If you’re fighting nonstop without feeling, eventually the feeling catches up with you and knocks you tf out.
A prolonged fight-or-flight state can actually make you incredibly productive, right up until you crash and burn. Be firm yet gentle with yourselves, friends. It’s all about balance. Yes, this is largely a note to self
Darkness only wins when we refuse to be the light that drives it out.
Disabled people are also going to have their rights chipped away slowly by changes in the ADA and lose their freedom to live in their community with proper support (and access to healthcare) quickly by Medicaid cuts. States are going to have to make terrible choices. This is such a sad development.
Gaelynn is a big fan of Ruth's music. She’s hoping to do a show with her in Newcastle the next time she’s in the UK. But for now, a big congratulations on a beautiful album and best of luck with her release shows! UK Friends, go see one if you can! ruthlyon.bandcamp.com/album/poems-...
BBQ with a view! 🌊🍗🥗
Gaelynn wanted to share an event happening this Friday, June 27, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm PT, through the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center. Sign up now! dcc.page/cc-06-2025 Registration closes Wednesday, June 25 at 6 PM PT. Enjoy the rest of your week! Carrie
A rainbow and a sunrise and a smile—all contained within a tiny cluster of flowers. 🌈🌅🌸
Thanks to Angel Romero for writing about my newest album, #MusicFromMacbeth, on @worldmusiccentral.bsky.social! Composing this score was such a fun challenge; I'm grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life, like the engineer Jake Larson & my fab band! 🎶😊🎶 worldmusiccentral.org/2025/06/21/g...
Gaelynn is honored to be performing at the Minnesota Council on Disability Office of the Open House & Conference Room Dedication to honor Margot Imdieke Cross on June 26 at 1:30 PM. You can attend in person or online. More details here: www.disability.state.mn.us/events-and-o...
Weekend wanderings by Lake Superior. ❤️🌊❤️
Gaelynn loves serving on The Recording Academy - Chicago Chapter and encourages anyone interested to attend their next event, open to the music community! ”Building the DREAM: Diversity Center Stage”. Join on Zoom on June 26th at 7 pm Central Time. RSVP here: www.dreamchi.splashthat.com
Gaelynn is honored to perform at the Minnesota Council on Disability Office Open House & Conference Room Dedication honoring Margot Imdieke Cross to celebrate her 35-year legacy of advancing accessibility. June 26th, 1:30 p.m. More details here: www.disability.state.mn.us/events-and-o...
Our tiny little deck, basically the size of a postage stamp, is one of my favorite places in the summer. Herbs growing in the flower boxes and a view that can't be beat (even if it is a little far away). 🌊⛴️ Also, this was a month ago today, a delightful show in Manchester: culturecatch.com/node/4443
Gaelynn is excited to share this news and to congratulate Adrian Anantawan and Rise Nerissa Osby. They are the recipients of this year’s Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities! Read more here: www.americansforthearts.org/news-room/am...
So glad you were there! Miss you, BTW! ❤️
Thanks to Access Press for sharing about my new album, Music From Macbeth! accesspress.org/gaelyn-lea-r... If you haven’t heard it yet, take a listen here: gaelynnlea.bandcamp.com/album/music-...
Proud of everyone who went out to make their voices heard during the No Kings protests today. Fear can't stop us from speaking up! I would have been there but today was celebrating my niece and nephew's graduation. They are such wonderful young adults and they give me hope for the next generation. ❤️
"In one of the largest demonstrations since the social justice protests of 2020 following the death of George Floyd, thousands of protesters gathered at sites across Colorado Saturday to speak out against the Trump administration and its policies."
Portland, Oregon SHOWED UP to say #NoKings in America! 💪
The day started with tragedy with political violence in MN and instead of being scared, neighbors SHOWED UP to stand together at No Kings Twin Cities. We packed the Capitol Mall all the way to the Cathedral. Estimate 80,000+ right now. So proud of our state. #nokings #indivisible
1m people allegedly in boston today. the scale of this is just crazy. i think record-breaking www.wcvb.com/article/more...
This time-lapse video of protesters marching down Broadway in Oakland for No Kings Day gives an idea of how many people turned out today @sfchronicle.com
The No Kings folks are holding Organizer training for anyone who would like to get started with all these good ideas :) www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Holy shit, New York! Here’s the full view. #NoKings #50501Movement
protests can't magically defeat fascism, but massive displays of resistance unsettle the worst people and make good people everywhere feel like they're not alone. 1
A large, vocal and peaceful gathering — that was Nashville’s version of the No Kings protest against President Donald Trump on Saturday. via @wpln.bsky.social
Despite our unspeakable tragedy, Minnesotans stood up today to declare “No Kings”. My resolve is stronger than ever. I hope yours is too.
In Duluth, the more accurate phrase is "May showers bring June flowers." 😉 Been loving the lilac strolls as of late & this gorgeous rainbow over the lake! 💟🌈🪻 Finished Draft 4 of my memoir. Now it's onto the copy editor... Still two more chances to make changes, apparently! Haha, will it ever end?!
for no reason, an excerpt from "let this radicalize you"…
Congratulations to RAMPD founder @lachimusic.bsky.social on being elected as a national trustee of the @recordingacademy.bsky.social… It’s so great to see more and more disability representation in the Academy each year! www.laprogressive.com/sponsored/la...
Home sweet home... The past month in the UK was like a dream, so much fun! But it's good to see Lake Superior again... And it's spring in Duluth! Lilacs will be out in no time. 💜 Line editing this weekend... Pretty soon the memoir will be out of my hands! 📑📖📚 Keep in touch: gaelynnlea.substack.com
You as well!!! I really appreciate your words and I hope you keep sharing them with the world. Take good care! 💗
Awww yay! I found you through my sneakabouts on Bluesky (I am pretty new on here) - haha a coincidence! But I am glad to hear the music resonates with you! 🎶🎻🎶 It's nice to meet you, and Happy Pride Month! 💕🏳️🌈✨
Sneaky Cheese 