I WAS THERE: Tour is Cancelled But COVID-19 Won’t Stop L.A.’s Las Cafeteras

“Things feel like they’re falling apart. But the artist will utilize whatever moment in time that can be traumatic and make something beautiful out of it.”

When Las Cafeteras’ singer Denise Carlos got the call that their upcoming tour was cancelled, she felt lost. Suddenly, she found herself in the same situation as thirty million others: out of a job and wondering how to pay the rent. It was also a stinging blow to Carlos and her fellow musicians, who formed the band in 2006 while working as community organizers in East Los Angeles. 

The 2020 tour would’ve taken the group across the country and exposed new audiences to the sounds of son jarocho music. The members planned to take advantage of being on the road and encourage voting registration during what they saw as a critical election year. With a global pandemic derailing the band’s plans and its community activism, Carlos found herself grappling with how to keep the music alive and stay focused while living in lockdown. 

About the Series

"I WAS THERE" is about telling a great story. This series of first-person accounts breaks current and historical events down to human scale, carefully taking the viewer behind some of Southern California’s biggest headlines.

Production team

Executive Producer: Karen Foshay 

Producers: Tori Edgar, Denise Chan & Michael Ray 

Photographers: Trevor Jackson, Karen Foshay

Editor/Graphics: Michael Ray, Andy Viner