Welcome to the Melbourne Rainbow Band! The MRB is Australia’s premiere LGBTQIA+ concert band. We have an exciting opportunity now open for applications as we seek our new Musical Director.
A successful applicant will:
Have substantial conducting experience and proven ability to lead a concert band, including through choice of repertoire
Collaborate with others to engender an environment conducive to inclusivity and improved musical performance
Full the full criteria, description and details of how to apply please explore our MD Position Description: HERE
Browse our website and social media to learn more about us
Attend our next major concert and farewell to the current MD Tracy Videon. This concert, ‘Visions and Reflections’ will be held on Saturday June 1st, tickets on sale soon.
Melbourne Rainbow Band presents: Visions & Reflections
Join the MRB in our farewell concert to our Musical Director of 8 years, Tracy Videon.
This showcase will pay musical tribute to the wonderful journey we have shared. Each piece has been selected to represent special moments for the band and Tracy, and also to evoke a sense of what we dream the future to be.
Experience a truly diverse programme featuring the work from modern and historic Australian composers, a celebration of women like Carole King and Cindi Lauper, and compositions that reflect on momentous times.
This will be a beautiful concert that cannot be missed as we celebrate this chapter with Tracy.
When: Saturday 1st June 2024, 7:30pm
Where: James Tatoulis Auditorium, MLC, 207 Barkers Rd, Kew.
Early bird specials if you get in quick and discounts for families and groups of 5 or more!
Melbourne Rainbow Band presents: Opening Night!
Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon as the Melbourne Rainbow Band brings its vibrant musical prowess to the heart of St Kilda!
We’re thrilled to invite you to an exhilarating afternoon of music and celebration at the magnificent Pride Centre. This isn’t just a concert; it’s a celebration of diversity, unity, and the power of music to bring us together. Immerse yourself in the joy of all your favourite musical theatre delights, all performed with the unique flair that only the Melbourne Rainbow Band can provide.
Whether you’re a long-time supporter or new to the magic of our music, we promise an afternoon filled with spectacular tunes, a warm atmosphere, and the spirit of celebration.
When: Sunday 25th February 2024, 2:00pm
Where: Victorian Pride Centre 79-81 Fitzroy Street St Kilda, VIC 3182
Melbourne Rainbow Band presents: Carols by Queerlight 2023!
Days are getting longer, and warmer. Decorations are going up in stores. Mince tarts are in the shops, and the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg teases your nostrils. It’s the sense of Christmas, which means that it’s time for Carols by Queerlight!
Join the Melbourne Rainbow Band, along with our special guests and seasonal choir – the CbQ Singers – as we kick off the silly season in style.
Gather your family and friends and get ready to sing along with what has been billed the “Campest thing since Christmas” and “A rainbow Christmas for everyone”. There is nowhere like Carols by Queerlight, where being home with the LGBTIQA+ for Christmas puts the sparkle and glitter back into the festive season and brings together the Diverse Gender and Sexuality (DGS) communities.
We are encouraging families of all ages to attend, with an early start time of 7pm and a visit from the jolly Man in Red likely to occur in the first part of the program. Then, after the interval, we’ll see how the grown-ups celebrate once the kids go to bed!
When: Saturday 9th December, 7pm
Where: St Kilda Town Hall Corner of Carlisle Street and Brighton Road, St Kilda
Child, Concession, Family & Full table discounts apply!
Trivia Night 2023
It’s back! After a triumphant return in 2022, the Melbourne Rainbow Band’s legendary trivia night is on once again. Hosted the irrepressible Frock Hudson. Join us to test your grey matter, win fabulous prizes and raise funds for the Melbourne Rainbow Band.
Book a table of six or 8 for a group, or book individual seats and make some new friends.
All proceeds support the Melbourne Rainbow Band to help us keep bringing music to our community.
LOCATION
7:30pm July 1st 2023
Doors open 7:00pm. Trivia starts 7:30pm No BYO – Drinks available at bar prices (But you are welcome to bring your own snacks)
Prahran RSL Memorial Hall 301 High Street, Prahran Victoria 3181
Melbourne Rainbow Band Presents – Just Dance!
The Melbourne Rainbow Band (MRB), under the baton of Music Director Tracy Videon, is proud to present “Just Dance”, a foot-stomping performance that will have you moving to the beat.
We have put together an incredible selection of concert music that will take you everywhere and every when. Get Jiggy with an Irish Riverdance. Or perhaps musicals are your thing? We also have the classics Satiric Dances, the famous wind band composition by Dello Joio, the Snowflakes Waltz from the Nutcracker. With a touch of Hairspray, Strictly Ballroom, or Gangnam Style we have something for everyone.
Hosted by the sunny and effervescent Kirsty Webeck, this once only performance will be an event not to be missed. Come out and join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music, dancing, and community in the spirit of love, acceptance and connections.
When: 2.30pm Sunday 21 May 2023
Where: St Kilda Town Hall (99A Carlisle Street St Kilda)
Welcome to 2023! It’s officially our favourite time of year…Midsumma!!
As always, its a busy two months – here’s what we have planned:
22 January – Midsumma Carnival: See us on the main stage between 1:30pm and 2:00pm, and then listen out for us as we roam the grounds playing more music!
2 February – MRB at the Pride Centre: Performing for the first time in the Pride Centre Theatrette, this will be an intimate one hour show featuring a mix of the popular as well as some classics. We guarantee to get your toes tapping. This is your chance to hear the Melbourne Rainbow Band perform an hour of our favourite music in the incredible Victorian Pride Centre as part of Midsumma Festival!
We can’t wait to be performing out in the sun again, always such an amazing vibe!
Unfortunately, we will not be holding our usual Picnic at Forest Glade this year.
As many of our followers would already be aware, 2022 sadly saw the passing of the Late Cyril Stokes.
As a result, MRB will be taking a break from our much loved Picnic at Forest Glade in 2023 to allow the Stokes Collection to reconvene and plan for the future.
Thank you all for your understanding!
Carols by Queerlight Returns!
It’s that time of year again!
Saturday, December 10 @ 7:00pm
(Doors open @ 6:00pm)
St Kilda Town Hall Corner of Carlisle Street and Brighton Road, St Kilda
Carols by Queerlight is back to help you see out 2022. Join the Melbourne Rainbow Band, along with our special guests and seasonal choir – the CbQ Singers – as we kick off the silly season in style.
Gather your family and friends and get ready to sing along with what has been billed the “Campest thing since Christmas” and “A rainbow Christmas for everyone”. There is nowhere like Carols by Queerlight, where being home with the LGBTIQ+ for Christmas puts the sparkle and glitter back into the festive season and brings together the Diverse Gender and Sexuality (DGS) community.
We are encouraging families of all ages to attend, with an early start time of 7 pm and a visit from the jolly Man in Red likely to occur in the first part of the program. Then, after the interval, we’ll see how the grown-ups celebrate once the kids go to bed!
Tickets for individual seats or whole tables, with special prices for concession and children 12 & under, as well as discounts for booking a whole table, it’s possible for everyone to be part of the festivities.
We couldn’t be more proud of both ourselves and our talented friends at Kyneton Rainbow Voices, Castlemaine Pride, and shOUT Youth Chorus! All that hard work paid off and we successfully juggled watching two conductors to pull off one of our most exciting (and daunting) performances yet.
A huge thank you to the Darebin Arts Centre for the use of their amazing stage, and the help of their brilliant tech and stage crew. Walking into a beautifully set stage made our jobs so much easier than we thought, we couldn’t have done it without you.
And of course we can’t forget our favourite sound guru Colin, patiently walking us through our collective sound checks with endless patience.
Thank you also to our supporters at City of Stonnington and Thorne Harbour Health.
Can’t wait for our next gig…Christmas, OMG!
Together, We Are Heard! – Tickets!
Ticketing is officially live!
We can’t wait for everyone to join us for our biggest collaboration yet – hint: start practicing your vocal warmups so you’re ready to sing along…
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