La Doña
Artist, Music Educator, Activist and Cultural Worker
La Doña makes work that feels inseparable from San Francisco: political, musical, multigenerational, deeply rooted in place. Raised in the city and shaped by its community arts spaces from an early age, she approaches performance not simply as entertainment, but as cultural memory carried forward in real time.
For La Doña, the Bay Area’s independent venues and gathering spaces are part of a larger ecosystem of care, resistance, and artistic survival.
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.