Seattle, known for its music scene, has produced many world-renowned rock stars and bands, including Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains. Recently, one Trans musician, May Graves, took it upon herself to organize a monthly live showcase of Transgender musicians and bands in the Puget Sound area.
The Trans Music Showcase, hosted at Chop Suey on the third Saturday of each month, features musical acts with at least one Trans person. In addition, 20% of the proceeds from ticket sales are donated to the Gender Justice League.
Graves started the event, inspired by a previous show by her band Doll Scheme at Chop Suey in September 2025. That precursor was an emo rock-themed showcase of four Trans-fronted bands: Mike's Emo Band, Overripe, Worms in the Dirt, and Doll Scheme. Graves described it as a really great time, with an amazing turnout of Queer music fans.
Afterward, Graves decided to reach out to Chop Suey about making it monthly, each with different themes. The first official show in this series of performances was on February 21, for which the genre was punk. The lineup consisted of the bands Tripe, Auntie Death, and Pregnant Dad.
For March’s showcase, there wasn’t a specific genre or theme; instead there was a diverse presentation of rock genres and electronic music. The roster consisted of Modern Bird, a newer rock band performing one of their first shows; XEK, a solo artist who does industrial and dark wave music; Shamebanger, a punk rock band from Seattle; and Grave’s Japanese rock–inspired band, Hetakuso. Modern Bird, despite being new to the scene, were able to engage the crowd and exceed expectations. XEK’s synthwave performance was fascinating; her presence made for a fun addition, and the transition from headbanging rock to dance floor beats really made the night.
Shamebanger, described as a punk band with a sharp political edge, delivered on just that. Most of their lyrics covered political issues and systemic injustices, which resonated with the crowd, whose emotionally charged energy makes these shows so cathartic. Last but not least was Hetakuso, which takes inspiration from J-rock bands that perform the closing-title themes for anime. The vibes were not lost in this final act, which felt both exciting and serene, the perfect ending for a night of music and fun.
Next month's show is set to be a showcase of Trans indie musicians. Graves revealed to the SGN an interest in expanding on the Trans Music Showcase in April by including art vendors and working with more organizations outside the Gender Justice League, including the Queer Sick Pay Fund, a newer charity that provides sick pay to Queer performers and grants to Trans people for gender-affirming procedures.
Overall, it’s a very fun way to expand your horizons by supporting local bands and connecting with the Seattle Queer community.
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