The Detroit Party Marching Band is an ever-evolving collective of Detroit area musicians devoted to unanticipated revelry, driving jams, and the power of the un-amplified horn blast. DPMB blurs the line between performance space and public space, bringing the Party to the audience with aggressive intimacy and an in-your-face attitude.

The Detroit Party Marching Band is devoted to unanticipated revelry, driving jams, and the power of the un-amplified horn blast. We believe the essence of music is celebration and joy, and deploy our music without warning to celebrate life and community in & around our dear city of Detroit and beyond! We believe music detached from community has less potency. We’re committed to playing at events and spaces that support the spirit of celebration and positive energy, exposing our audience to the unlimited potential musical art has to offer.

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Although we generally present ourselves as apolitical, we do take action when the band democratically chooses so. As such a large group with no direct leader or president, we operate through member organized committees. Therefore we must honor and respect each member’s separate and free thinking opinion. During past Honk’s we’ve offered our tour bus and chauffeured musicians to the Detention Center as needed and spread the good party gospel in our own special way. Activism doesn’t always have to be political in scope to have a positive effect on the world. As a band we aim to spread joy during an otherwise dark time in this political landscape, and we take great pride in lifting our communities spirits whilst celebrating the revival of Detroit. We are also very passionate about the lack of music education in Detroit and it’s quick decline throughout our public school system. Youth Crash Corps (more below) is a music initiative started by some DPMB members that offers local children free access to instruments and music education. If we don’t support this cause now, what will be left of the music scene for the future? We take on opportunities to play at local events in order to support and expose the kids to the benefits and awesomeness that come along with being a musician.

Last fall one of our members organized a nursing home mini-tour, in coordination with the staff, to celebrate how special and important our often forgot about seniors are. By Catawampus bus we traveled to three nursing homes within Detroit and delighted residents and their invited family guests with short performances within the different campus’ outdoor gardens and patios. Heading into our 5th year, Crash Detroit is an annual festival founded by current DPMB members, completely free and volunteer run happening in July. The festival aims to use street band music and culture to inspire, educate and entertain the Detroit community. In coordination with the festival many of our members have been hard at work with Youth Crash Corps, an initiative to offer local children free access to instruments and music education after-school to culminate in a performance at the Festival. As stated above, we’re really passionate about the future of music education in Detroit and its lack thereof. Kids need to see that there is more you can do with your instrument after high school and college. We’ve also coordinated with and played a few gigs at the Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program whose mission is to change lives and help Detroit students thrive. Their free, after-school educational program provides tutoring, mentoring, enrichment, college and career readiness, and strong academic support as well as boxing and athletics for children ages 7-18.

DPMB embraces diversity and encourages persons of all backgrounds, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation to join its ranks. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form and even have a panel of elected members to assist in conflict resolution and general “feelings” expression and understanding.

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