Skip to content

Play Samba with SISTAH BOOM at the Dyke March

  • Sunday, April 17, 2016

    to

  • Mosswood Park

    MacArthur and Broadway, Oakland, CA (map)

  • Look for women and drums. Our spot may vary depending on how busy it is at the park. Call/text if needed,[masked]

  • Have you always wanted to drum with Sistah Boom? Previous and new members are welcome to join us in this year’s Dyke March. If you are interested please try to attend as many rehearsals as possible.

    Rehearsals will be at Mosswood Park, 4-6pm

    Sunday April 17, 2016
    Sunday May 1, 2016
    Sunday May 15, 2016
    Sunday June 5, 2016
    Sunday June 19, 2016
    Saturday June 25, 2016 – Dyke March (meet time TBD)

    We ask participants to give $5-20 per rehearsal (or whatever they can) as donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.

    Carolyn Brandy and Mar Stevens will be co-leading this exciting Drum Sundays workshop teaching rhythms that are played by the marching band: SISTAH BOOOM!

    Sistah Boom marching band is organizing for this year’s Dyke March on June 25, 2016.  Carolyn Brandy and Mar Stevens will be leading the rehearsals.

    Sistah Boom was created in 1981 by Carolyn Brandy for the purpose of having a strong women’s contingent playing in the SF Gay Day parade that year.  The band was so popular that it went on to play for many events in its 35 year herstory.  YES! STB has continued all these years with various musical directors. For some time, the band was dissolved only to reconstitute in 2008 when Cleve Jones asked Carolyn to bring Sistah Boom to the filming of Milk. We had an exciting time playing together in a scene for the film.  Sistah Boom has played at the Dyke March stage and led the parade out into the streets from 2008 – 2014 and also played at Gay Pride in 2009 and 2015. We’ve played at Sistahhs Steppin’ in Pride in Oakland from 2008 – 2013.  In 2008 we celebrated gay marriage in San Francisco by playing on the steps of City Hall for the newlyweds. We were also honored to play at the memorial for Del Martin in 2008.

    Our Instrumentation: Bells, (Brazilian) Tamborims, Rattles, Shakers, Snare, Toms, Surdos, and any small percussion instrument that is easy to march with.

    Instruments: We would like women to bring their own instruments if they have ones that are part of our instrumentation. We also have some drums that can be loaned.

    Photo: Carolyn Brandy and Sistah Boom during the 1980s.