We exist to provide an opportunity for musicians to develop their musical abilities in an environment free of prejudice and discrimination and to promote the GLBTI community to the wider population.

The Melbourne Rainbow Band is a Gay and Lesbian community concert band. We began in 1995, and currently have around 40 members drawn from the GLBTI and straight communities. We are a non-profit community group.

Our members’ musical skill levels vary from beginner to professional and our members are gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, old, young, male, female, whomever, whatever – as long as they are accepting, tolerant, and love music! The MRB does not hold auditions for members and is open to all players with basic music reading and playing abilities.

Our repertoire is as diverse as our members. We play music from movies, musicals and TV, pop, rock, jazz, classical and everything in between.

We have regular performances each year, including Midsumma Carnival and an Australia Day Picnic at MtMacedon. Generally we also perform two ticketed showcase concerts each year, along with various community and private performances.

Though we are primarily a sit-down concert band, each Summer we take to the streets as a marching band. We have marched in Melbourne’s Pride March every year since we began, and in recent years have also marched in the Australia Day Parade, Moomba Parade, Daylesford ChillOut Parade and the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade.