Las Cafeteras, a popular Chicano band from East Los Angeles, will conduct a live musical performance tomorrow, Nov. 22. Hosted by UCSB’s MultiCultural Center and co-sponsored by the Chicano Studies Institute, this event will be at 8 p.m. in the MCC Theater on campus.

Las Cafeteras (or “The Coffeemakers” in English) got their name from L.A.’s Eastside Café, a community center in El Sereno that the group’s members help run and where they also first learned to play Son Jarocho music. Since their coming together in 2005, they have performed at community centers, churches, schools, museums, parties, protests, youth conferences, theaters and festivals all over the U.S.

The music of this seven-member ensemble merges both traditional and modern sounds with influential stories from L.A. streets. Known for their animated performances, Las Cafeteras combines Afro-Mexican (Son Jarocho) style with hip hop, folk and Native American styles as well as a strong political message that portrays a community looking for love and fighting for justice.

Having toured with many prominent bands including Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Ozomatli, Las Cafeteras has also made their mark on the Latin alternative music community through their most recent album, It’s Time, which includes their hit song, “Luna Lovers.” This proclaimed album was featured by many popular L.A. media networks like NPR/KCRW and the Los Angeles Times.

LA Weekly recently named Las Cafeteras the “Best Latin Alternative Band of 2013,” writing that “It’s rare for a group to mix the traditional with the modern with such aplomb, but thankfully Las Cafeteras remain strongly committed to their unique style.”

Students can take in this significant musical and cultural experience for only $5.

A version of this story appeared on page 10 of the Thursday, November 21, 2013’s print version of the Daily Nexus.