A TMC Arts Program The Music Center's Summer SoundWaves: Las Cafeteras

Las Cafeteras' phenomenal live energy has powered hundreds of stages, including Bonnaroo, the Hollywood Bowl, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Montreal Jazz Festival, Folks Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Edmonton Folk Festival, Wheatland and more. From Afro-Mexican to Americana, from Soul to Son Jarocho, from Roots to Rock and Hip-Hop, Las Cafeteras take roots music to the future where the eight-string jarana, four-string requinto, quijada (donkey jawbone) and tarima (a wooden platform) propel their modern beats and lyrics to new heights. Singing in five distinct languages—English, Spanish, Spanglish, Love and Justice—Las Cafeteras believe everyone understands at least one of those languages. They have performed in the good company of Café Tacuba, Violent Femmes, Natalia Lafourcade, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Lila Downs, Gipsy Kings, Juanes, Common, and fellow Angelenos La Santa Cecilia, Ozomatli and Los Lobos, among many more.