Music allows souls everywhere—regardless of their colour, gender, caste or creed—to come together and share in the human experience. This is especially for the queer community, which has always expressed itself using music. From the Blues and jazz of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey to the glam rock of David Bowie, queer musicians have created revolutions that rally against societal norms since the beginning of history. 

Vancouver’s Queer as Funk is one such band that is blending the power of LGBTQ expression with incredible music to create an inclusive community. Connie Buna (vocals), Alison Gorman (trumpet), Catherine Hiltz (bass), Jocelyn MacDougall (vocals), Allan ‘Soulman’ Ollivierre (keys), Luis ‘Babyface’ Melgar (trombone), Marc Van Rosi (guitar), and Ian Carona on drums make up the band’s eight members.

The eight-piece band was formed 10 years ago when trumpeter Gorman—also known as “The Boss”—had the epiphany about forming a queer-focused band. The result was the formation of Queer As Funk, both a party band and a community safe haven. Their focus on performing covers of Motown, soul music and pop music always leaves the audience in awe with their universal and everlasting song selections from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” to Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best.” With an ear for the right song selections and the band’s own flavour on their selected tunes, Queer as Funk continues to thrive after a decade of playing together.

“When we started 10 years ago, we were simply gathering and playing music together. But over time, we’ve grown and elevated ourselves through hard work and dedication,” shares Connie Buna, one of the band’s vocalists. The band has since then been creating ripples around the music industry.

Yet Queer As Funk is so much more than a party band, as Buna puts it. In subtle and astonishing ways, they are creating a community that fosters resilience. 

“Our shows go beyond mere entertainment; they are spaces for queer celebration and joy. We want to build resilient communities where individuals can connect, finding common ground and celebrating our shared humanity,” explains Buna.

And part of celebrating our shared humanity lives in the familiar music that we share as a collective. A visit to the band’s YouTube Channel reveals performances of songs by artists as varied as Demi Lovato to Prince. 

“While we have faced discrimination as a queer-centred band, we maintain our priority of creating safe and inclusive spaces for audiences who celebrate our identity and the music we make,” shares Jocelyn MacDougall, one of the vocalists for the band. 

“Don’t underestimate the power of queer community, intention, focus, and collaboration. Music holds immense potential to deliver a message while creating an extraordinary experience.” shares Buna. 

Queer as Funk performs at the Commodore Ballroom on August 4 for Vancouver’s annual pride weekend. Tickets here.