First single from new album coming in 2022
Bailey to perform at AmericanaFest later in September
Her music has been called: “…a country romp” (PopMatters.com),
“storytelling soul-twang” (Cowboys & Indians),
“sawdust thick, whiskey-smooth” (Americana Highways),
and “a full package of country music goodness” (Saving Country Music)
Huntington Beach, CA-based classic country singer-songwriter Victoria Bailey is releasing a brand new single, “Queen of the Rodeo,” on September 24, 2021, via Rock Ridge Music. “Queen of the Rodeo” is the first single from her forthcoming album, due out in late spring of 2022. Picking up right where her recent releases have left off musically, “Queen of the Rodeo” is a nod to classic country music and rodeo culture, shining a light on the rodeo queen, the glittery ambassador of the much-beloved sport. The song will premiere on September 22nd at Cowboys & Indians. A video for the track, featuring a real rodeo queen, is forthcoming as well.
Written by Bailey and featuring her on vocals and guitar, the song also found Eric Roebuck (lead guitar), Jeremy Long (pedal steel), Jeff Livingstone (bass, background vocals), Phil Glenn (fiddle), and Tim Hill (drums) joining her in the studio. It was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jonny Bell at Jazz Cats Studio in Long Beach, CA, and Bailey and Roebuck produced “Queen of the Rodeo.”
Says Bailey of the song: “A few years back, I was completely starstruck running into a rodeo queen at an airport security check-in. She stood there with her white sash and sparkly cowgirl hat, and I knew I wanted to write a song about her someday and give tip of the hat to all the strong, horse-riding women out there. This fun, country-western tune is filled with fiddle and pedal steel and ties in a bit of my California-country roots. I am also really honored to have the California Queen herself, Morgan Laughlin, starring in the music video for this song. We filmed it at a junior rodeo ranch in Northern California, and it was so special for me to be able to bring the song to life surrounded by such strong cowgirls!” Bailey’s single has made quite an impact on the rodeo circuit, and they will be supporting the release of the song.
“Queen of the Rodeo” is the follow-up to Bailey’s last single, “Skid Row (Acoustic),” which was released in early 2021. Prior to that, Bailey released several singles in the fall of 2020: two versions of a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart” and a holiday cover of a song from The Band, “Christmas Must Be Tonight.” Her full-length debut, Jesus, Red Wine & Patsy Cline, was released in September 2020. Produced by Jeremy Long, Jesus, Red Wine & Patsy Cline was a whiskey-smooth concoction of crisp guitars, silky fiddle, and radiant pedal steel that expertly glided beneath Bailey’s magnetic, California sun-kissed soprano. The video for her song from the album, “Spent My Dime on White Wine.” was in rotation on CMT. Bailey was also honored to guest DJ three times in the past year for streaming radio station Gimme Country.
PopMatters.com called her music “…a country romp… a rollicking, narrative-driven sound,” while Cowboys & Indians lauded her “storytelling soul-twang,” and Americana Highways praised her “grit mixed with personality, fluency in her musicality, she’s expressive and imaginative… Sawdust thick, whiskey-smooth…” Saving Country Music said: “If you’re looking for a honky tonk sweetheart, then you’ve found one in native Californian Victoria Bailey, who comes sauntering out of the painted desert on a Palomino like a singin’ cowgirl from the days of old, seducing you with… a sweet soprano with the most perfect country warble… a full package of country music goodness… Classic, but cool.”
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bailey has been unable to tour widely, although some occasional in-person shows have graced her schedule. Upcoming shows include an opening slot for Scooter Brown Band at the Brandin’ Iron in San Bernadino, CA on September 17th, and Bailey will also be performing at AmericanaFest in Nashville; her official showcase is set for September 23rd at ONE (inside the Cannery Complex) at 7:30 p.m. central time (proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required for entry).
She has also livestreamed periodically throughout 2021 on her own socials and at Americana Highways and TheBoot.com. More livestreams are planned for the fall alongside Bailey’s “Queen of the Rodeo” promotional efforts. A livestream residency with TheBoot.com as part of their “A Livestream With…” series will see Bailey performing on TheBoot.com’s Facebook page tonight (September 7th), October 26th, and November 16th (all at 6 p.m. pacific time). She will be visiting Americana Highways’ Facebook page on September 14th at 5:30 p.m. pacific time as part of their “Roots Expressway” livestream series. Rounding out her scheduled performances, Bailey will also be livestreaming as part of the “Old Country Living Room Show” series on Wide Open Country’s Facebook page on October 12th at 3:30 p.m. pacific time.