Canberra’s been the epicentre of political activism since Federation but something’s been missing at protests – a soundtrack. Now protest rallies have a dedicated backing band and it sounds like a revolution.
Canberra’s brand new Riff Raff Radical Marching Band is a group of local musicians that turns up the volume at demonstrations.
The concept originated in Sydney in 2010 when a bunch of friends grew tired of boring protests so they started a marching band. Other Riff Raff chapters popped up in Melbourne, Brisbane, and now Canberra.
Founder and band leader of Canberra’s Riff Raff Radical Marching Band, Jane Fisher, came up with the idea through her love of street theatre (she toured overseas with a renowned Australian street theatre company in the ‘90s).
“I wanted to combine my music practice with action on climate change and I found Riff Raff online,” Jane said. “I was hoping to start a band to play at protests to animate the crowd and keep the mood happy and I found that was exactly what Riff Raff did. They were playing at the National Folk Festival and I asked if I could play with them and in return, start a Canberra chapter. They said yes and the rest is history.”
Throughout history, politically charged songs have accompanied significant activism (think Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning) so it’s apt to have a house band right on the steps of Parliament House.
Jane described the group as New Orleans’ Jazz style featuring brass, woodwind, percussion and banjo. Riff Raff’s repertoire includes pop songs that pack a punch, like We Shall Not Be Moved by The Seekers, Which Side Are You On?, and A Message to You by the Specials.
Singing from the hoi polloi is strongly encouraged and if the masses need revving up, Riff Raff brings out Taylor Swift’s Shake it Up.
The band’s uniform is “marching band” red, black and gold, and they recently made their worldwide debut at a Palm Sunday rally at Garema Place (they’re available for protests, festivals, anything).
It should be mentioned that band members are not literally “riff raff” as the name implies, but rather conscientious musicians, who march for social and environmental justice.
If ever there was any doubt about the effectiveness of making a noise in protest, it’s worth remembering Australia’s long history of protest leading to significant change – the eight-hour working day, women’s right to vote, apology to the Stolen Generations, and LGBTQIA+ rights.
All Riff Raff Radical Marching bands (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra) are interchangeable (they all learn the same songs) so Riff Raff members can travel interstate to boost each others’ people-power.
Riff Raff bands in other capital cities have recently played at a coal ship blockade in Newcastle, Sydney Mardi Gras and LGBTQUIA+ rights, women’s rights, refugee rallies, whistleblowers, and climate change. The demonstrations vary widely but the music and message of justice remains constant.
Jane said the newest Riff Raff chapter in Canberra is seeking more members, particularly people who play trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxaphone, flute, euphonium, tuba, (a sousaphone would be sensational) and percussion.
“We are an inclusive community band, inviting people of all ages with at least a grade two level, to join us to support activist causes that we believe in,” Jane said. “For experienced players there is plenty of room to improvise. Riff Raff is a great way to pick up that instrument you played some time ago and bring it back up to scratch.”
Riff Raff Radical Marching Band Canberra rehearses at 11am every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, at Smith’s Alternative. Come along or contact them on Facebook.
*Georgia Curry is a member of Riff Raff Radical Marching Band Canberra.
