2008 Montana Pride Celebration

The Giant Ass Drum Corps, Spokane’s “premier bucket band”, was formed in 1999 with the original intent of re-invigorating the Spokane Pride March. Initially women and men from Spokane queer and straight communities were invited to join the Corps. No men attended the first three rehearsals, so in less than one month after its inception, the Giant Ass Drum Corps officially became a women’s group. As we drummed, laughed, learned and grew closer to each other, our focus began to shift and our mission evolved to provide a safe, fun and supportive organization for women to drum together and to promote lesbian unity and pride at events in the queer community and beyond.

The Giant Ass Drum Corps provides a unique opportunity for many lesbians in the Spokane-area to come together to create our own community. A tribe where each woman is honored for who she is. A sorority where each woman is encouraged and supported in expressing herself in ways that are loud, visible, irreverent, quirky, entertaining and profound. A family that encourages and supports each woman’s identity and visibility in the queer community and in the world at large. The Corps performs at the variety of events each year including pride parades in Montana, Idaho and Washington; small neighborhood fairs; large community events such as Bloomsday, First Night and Valley Fest; and hosting bucket drumming/community-building workshops. We also have a sister-corps in Missoula Montana and dream of fostering other sister-corps in cities and towns world-wide!

The Drum Corps is open to women regardless of age, race, sexual orientation and drumming experience. Through fundraising we assure access to the Corps by women of all economic levels (a driving principal since the group’s inception). The Corps is opened to potential new members in the late-summer/early-fall of each year.

As the Drum Corps enters its eighth season, we strive to continue growing in our drumming skills, choreography and show-woman’s-ship. More importantly, we also strive to continue growing in our commitment to each other and in the spirit with which we come together as a group.