Lou Lou's's Upcoming Shows

This evening, Lou Lou’s will be closed for a private affair—an intimate celebration tucked beneath the chandeliers and velvet glow.

We know evenings out are special, and we never take it lightly when we must turn you away. Please accept our heartfelt apologies for the inconvenience. Nights like these are rare, but sometimes the room asks for a little secrecy.

For your next night out, we invite you to check our calendar for upcoming dates featuring live music, good company, and the kind of evenings you won’t soon forget.

With love and gratitude,

Lou Lou’s at The Lafayette Hotel

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

Before there was Salsa, there was Changüí — authentic Cuban rhythms fused with Flamenco and Jazz colors

San Diego staple brings unique Cuban experience. Joined by vocalist Bruno Serrano and Afrocuban mainstays Omar Lopez, Fernando Gomez and David Castañeda

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

Justin Joyce is a versatile drummer/vibraphonist, composer, and educator based in San Diego, California. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University, where he honed his skills in drum set and vibraphone performance. Over the past decade, Justin has performed and recorded with various artists, including Hether, Teagan Taylor, Doug Walker, and After Ours. In 2022, he released his debut album as a bandleader, Story Tales, featuring all original compositions. His work earned him a nomination for "Best Jazz Artist" at the 2023 San Diego Music Awards and he has become a very familiar and friendly face in San Diego’s various music scenes. He released his second album as a leader, Almost Familiar, in late-2025 on Earslime Records and is bringing the band back to Lou Lou’s! Joining him will be the same musicians you hear on the record; Batya MacAdam-Somer (Violin), Bradley Nash & Travis Klein (Flutes), Paul Castelluzzo (Guitar), Ed Kornhauser (Piano/Organ), Sean Hicke (Bass), Steve Haney (Percussion), and some SPECIAL GUESTS. Come join the party, hear Almost Familiar and More LIVE, and immerse yourself in melodies and grooves that will make you feel déjà vu.

Joining him will be the same musicians you hear on the record; Batya MacAdam-Somer (Violin), Bradley Nash & Travis Klein (Flutes), Paul Castelluzzo (Guitar), Ed Kornhauser (Piano/Organ), Sean Hicke (Bass), and Steve Haney (Percussion) & special guests. Come join the party, hear Almost Familiar LIVE, and immerse yourself in melodies and grooves that will make you feel déjà vu.

COMPLIMENTARY ENTRY | NO RESERVATION REQUIRED | SEATING ON A FIRST-ARRIVAL BASIS | NO DINNER SERVICE | 21+

Afrotruko takes its name from two powerful ideas: Afro, representing the deep African roots at the heart of Latin music, and Truko — the trick, the magic. Just as African rhythm has always been the hidden force beneath the melody, the "truko" speaks to the alchemy of live performance — that unpredictable moment when musicians transform the unexpected into something extraordinary, an improvised and transcendant expression. When a band member can't make the show, you don't panic. You make magic. That's the Afrotruko spirit. Founded around 2003 by Carlos "Charlie" Chávez, Roberto Wence, and Magui Morales, Afrotruko is a binational orchestra rooted in both Tijuana and San Diego, bringing together an extraordinary cast of musicians from across the Americas — horn players, a Cuban bassist (Ignacio Arango), and percussionists from Puerto Rico, Panamá, Venezuela, and Perú. At the helm is Musical Director Charlie Chávez — a virtuoso percussionist born in Juchitán, Oaxaca, and shaped by the rich Cuban and Caribbean rhythms of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. A graduate of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Xalapa, Charlie has shared the stage with legends including Celia Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, and Poncho Sanchez, and is widely regarded as one of Southern California's most important Latin percussionists. His deep reverence for the classic tradition drives Afrotruko's sound and soul. That sound is inspired by and rooted in the golden era: 1970s salsa, Cuban contemporary style, Palladium-era mambo, romantic bolero, and chachachá — honoring the giants who came before while keeping the music alive and electric on stage today. Influences: Ray Barretto · Rubén Blades · Willie Colón · NG La Banda · Fania All-Stars · Típica 73 · Orquesta Coatzacoalcos · Celia Cruz · Tito Puente Afrotruko has opened concerts for Rubén Blades (2012, 30th Anniversary of CECUT), Óscar D'León (2012, 4th & B), and Grupo Niche (2013), and has performed in the Organ Pavilion as part of the City of San Diego's summer concert series for over 10 years.