WE BROUGHT THE BEAT, LIVERPOOL BROUGHT THE LOVE

When Katumba closed out this year’s Liverpool Pride march, the docks were alive – drums thundering, colours flying, bodies moving like one big, beautiful heartbeat. The kind of energy that grabs you by the chest and says, “You belong here. Dance with us.”

Because that’s what Pride is all about. It’s about belonging, celebrating, and showing up unapologetically as who we are. For Katumba, it’s personal. Pride is in our DNA. As an organisation, we’re shaped by every queer, trans, non-binary, and ally soul that steps into our space and works behind the scenes. This is a family that celebrates queerness in all its forms – loud, proud, and with enough rhythm to shake the whole city.

And we can’t shout this loud enough: massive love to Sahir House for making this year’s Pride happen for the Liverpool community.

WHY PRIDE FEELS LIKE HOME

Pride isn’t just a party, it’s a protest, a celebration, and a declaration of “We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.” It’s got the same spirit as Carnival – born out of resistance, rebellion, and joy. And that’s the energy Katumba lives in.

We’re not just about performing carnival arts, we’re about keeping the art form alive in its truest, boldest, most authentic form. Breaking down barriers and saying, “This is for you. Come join us. Let’s create something together.”

But don’t just take it from us, we caught up with Katumba band members Emma Firth and Lucy Rylott to find out why Pride, and this big, bold Katumba family, matters to them.

“To us, Pride means community, love and a shared language. It’s something we can really relate to with Katumba. Katumba provides a safe space for us. It’s a close-knit community where you can be whatever you want to be.”
– Emma

“The freedom of expression is what makes it so exciting and such a lovely place to be as a queer couple, to be able to do it together, but with a wider community that celebrates us as a couple is just amazing. We just love to be part of Katumba as a couple, as individuals, and as part of a wider community.”
– Lucy

Liverpool Pride 2025 was the perfect reminder of why we do what we do: to bring people together, to make some noise, and to show the world that joy is an act of resistance.

The sun has set on Pride for this year, but the rhythm of Katumba keeps pulsing through this city. If you want to book our amazing band for your next event, get in touch.

Until next time, keep moving, keep loving, and keep being loud.