La Doña
Artist, Music Educator, Activist and Cultural Worker
My name is Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea but most people know me as La Doña. The theme for my picks is “We Are Still Here,” and is an ode to the spaces that sustain community-based artists.
San Francisco being a primary market city means that we get most of the big names that tour throughout California. These artists have teams and labels, and these teams have marketing budgets, and one way or another, we WILL hear about these shows.
For my venue picks, I wanted to shed light on some of the spaces that host artists who don’t have teams and marketing budgets, that sometimes operate in the red, and sometimes are fueled only by volunteer hours, but who never halt in their work of uplifting local artists of color.
These kinds of community spaces are the venues I grew up playing with my family band La Familia Peña-Govea later with my own projects, places like Brava Theater, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, MAPP, The Red Poppy, El Rio, Community Music Center. I might never have found my deep love for performance without spaces like these, and I definitely wouldn’t have grown to understand shows as sites of resistance, liberation, testimony, and community healing.
If you are from San Francisco then you know your list well, venues, families and stores like prayer beads that you thumb through when loving Frisco gets especially hard. The venues on my list include Elbo Room, Esta Noche, Amnesia, Cha Cha Cha, The Lex, and even third spaces like the We Party in Parks raves at Dolores Park or secret parties at the arboretum (shhh). I remember and honor them with this list titled “We Are Still Here.”
Venue Picks
I was the daughter of two musician party animals so I know, firsthand, the importance of spaces that can host an inter-generational crowd. Brava Theater for Women in the Arts has been operating since 1986 when 75 women artists from the Mission met with the intent to create a space that would support theater, music, art and education programs that uplifted femme, queer, and young voices. I grew up running through the theater on York Street, and later up in the office as I completed my field study in Community Studies as an intern. Brava debuted my very first music video “Algo Nuevo,” a hyphy bay anthem about lesbian chola love, and continues to support some of my very favorite local artists. Whether for a show, an educational program for your kids, or a community meeting, I encourage everyone to run, not walk, to spend some time in this iconic 1920’s theater located in the heart of the Mission on 24th and York Streets.
Last week as I was going through my tia Catalina Govea’s contact sheets from her six decades of shooting film of the arts scenes in SF and Oakland, I came across a treasure trove of photos picturing my father’s band, Los Compas playing at El Rio in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The dancefloors are packed with queer couples, laughing and dancing salsa. The jungled stage hosts Los Compas, a merry band of salseros from all types of backgrounds. El Rio is a must-include on my “We Are Still Here” list because they are still hosting amazing queer dance nights, drag shows, political organizing events, vigils, and most recently, the strike party for United Educators of San Francisco when they won all their demands from SFUSD after a four-day strike. From partying there as a 20-something on $1 beer night, to playing my first show as La Doña, to breaking my rib while being too hyphy, to strike partying with my fellow educators, El Rio holds a special place in my heart as my favorite bar in all of San Francisco. Support this gem and experience real Frisco.
Honorable mentions include my favorite venues that I have sold out in the last couple of years, iconic venues with amazing, helpful and talented staff- The Independent, Great American Music Hall, and The Fillmore. Thank you for allowing me in your space and being so sweet to me, my band, and my fans. Y’all are the best.
Event Picks
“We Are Still Here” events list include the shows I personally will be attending and am stoked on.
Saturday, April 18
Enraizar Rooting Within @ Bayview Opera House
Hop over to iconic SF venue, Bayview Opera House, to see a group of brilliant young mujeres of Puerto Rican descent perform their original production “Enraizár.” This group of young women have been studying Puerto Rican dance, poetry, music and culture under Shefali Shah of bomba group Aguacero. They are currently studying with cultural bearers in Puerto Rico, as they prepare a homecoming show at Bayview Opera House. Having had the privilege to work with these girls on song-writing, I can assure you that this show is not to be missed. As I toe up to mentor-age, it is so inspiring to see the next generation of strong, radical, culturally-active young women who will be the arts leaders in our community. Get your tickets now for this show that will integrate bomba, poetry, contemporary dance, and theater to communicate how these artists grow taller and stronger the deeper their roots are.
Thursday, April 30
Pher @ The Black Cat
Pher and friends will take over the 7pm and 9pm shows at The Black Cat. I had to include this show on my “We Are Still Here” list both because Pher is a precious and incredibly talented musician from the Bay, and because The Black Cat is one of the most important jazz venues in San Francisco. The Black Cat consistently features the brightest, and newest artists on the scene while supporting legacy musicians who have been holding it down for jazz in the Bay for decades. This venue fosters connections, celebrates ingenuity, and makes it possible for both local and touring musicians to share their music. Pher will deliver his blend of jazz, soul, and r&b in this intimate venue, and will no doubt bring up some of the best jazz cats in the bay to accompany him.
More great picks
Accion Latina, founded by SFSU students of Juan Gonzales in 1987, resides on 24th Street between Harrison and Alabama. Accion Latina is the home to El Tecolote, San Francisco’s bilingual newspaper that keeps us all up on local news. Accion Latina is a mixed-use space that hosts art shows in the Juan Fuentes Gallery and musical shows in their back performance space. I love Accion Latina because I see their work at the intersection of everything I love- community, family, art, music, journalism, and political organizing. They also have one of my favorite photo archives of the Mission since the 70’s. Stop by Accion Latina to check out their gallery or an intimate performance for a real taste of the Mission.
Thursday, March 26
Camellia Boutros @ Blondie’s
Find Camellia Boutros at Blondie’s with her incandescent blend of Arab, jazz and rock music on oud and trumpet. Camellia, her partner Evelyn, and friends, also perform as Corazón de Cedro which blends Son Jarocho with Arab music, highlighting the Middle Eastern diaspora within Mexican traditional music. Camellia is a powerhouse and fellow trumpet girlie, and Blondie’s will serve you your cocktail in a pint glass, so do not miss this show.
Friday, May 15
La Doña + Buscabulla @ UC Theater
La Doña, and power-duo Buscabulla will be coheadlining the UC Theater. With my album Corrientes coming out on 4/29, join me to celebrate its release with a 20 piece band, all new music, and vinyl hot off the press. I am so excited that Puerto Rican indie-electronic duo Buscabulla will play this show with me on their California tour. This is my only local show schedule for this year so run it up!
Thanks everyone for following along on my “We Are Still Here” list and I hope that this provides you with inspiration to support local musicians and get familiar with local venues. Pa’riba y pa’lante, mi gente, because as long as we can share music, culture, and space, “We Are Still Here.”