Drumming up Support – the PCS Samba Band
Dave blogs about the PCS samba band, what they do and how you could get involved.
A novel way to support your union
I’ve been a lifelong PCS member and activist (I retired in 2018, continuing in ARMs - the retired PCS members section) and I started the PCS Samba Band 12½ years ago.
When we started out it was just PCS members, but we’re now multi union and most players in the band saw us in action on a protest first, then asked to join. If you can dance in time to music you can soon learn samba drumming. 90% of the band had never touched a drum before learning with us. The band reflects the membership of PCS, as 60% of the band is women, the same as in the union.
We’ve now drummed at 217 protests and have gained a lot of publicity for PCS including being on the television news, nationally and regionally, and even if you can’t see us, you can hear us!
Why is it the “PCS” samba band?
Our slogan is ‘PCS Drumming Up Support’. We liven up protests, creating a carnival atmosphere, making protests family friendly. Marchers wave their placards in time to our beats, and shoppers and passers-by stop and see what the protest is about.
We march for causes that PCS supports, so we attend events in support of our public services (especially the NHS), against austerity cuts, against the public sector pay cap, strikes, against trident renewal, ‘Free Palestine’, climate change, anti fascism/racism, against war, outside Tory/Labour Conferences, TUC May Day events, Pride, to name just a few. We were supporting climate change marches years before Extinction Rebellion was created in 2018!
Our rhythm’s not just samba
We play three classic Rio samba rhythms but given the multicultural nature of the protests and union membership we also do Hip Hop, Reggae, Jungle, Funk, Latino, Soca, Belly dance and Bhangra rhythms.
Want to join us?
No previous experience is necessary and I provide free equipment and tuition. We can usually pay travel costs to attend protests, but our time is free.
We exist to do protests, not have arguments, so players can choose which protests they want to attend, depending on what you want to support.
We are mainly from Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire and we meet and rehearse locally.
Interested in having a go? Contact me on dgvincent@hotmail.co.uk for more information.