A video published on TikTok shows what should have been one of the musical events of the Cuban summer turned into a desolate scene: Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco playing in front of a practically empty venue in Guanabo, the popular beach area east of Havana.
The images, captured by user @alexander75._ and shared on social media, show minimal attendance at a concert that in the past would have drawn hundreds of people.
In the video, the host can be heard trying to energize the sparse audience with phrases like "Where are the people who still have it in their body to keep going?" and "Move your hips, I want to see you now!", making a noticeable effort to maintain the energy of the show in front of the empty seats.
The scene did not go unnoticed: "There were hardly any people at the party and the concert was only for a select few, which drew a lot of attention," noted the source that released the material.
What makes the image more striking is that Trabuco, one of the most recognized timba and salsa groups in Cuba since its founding in 1993, has an active schedule this summer.
On Sunday, June 28, just one day prior, the group performed at the Rosado Hall of La Tropical in Havana alongside Orquesta Aragón, as part of the start of the summer season.
Additionally, the group has scheduled a performance at the Varadero Summer Center on July 9, from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., and participated in the Cienfuegos Carnival in June alongside Will Campa and Toque del Río.
The contrast between that agenda and the empty venue in Guanabo starkly encapsulates the reality that Cuba is experiencing.
Mass emigration has emptied neighborhoods and entire cities, drastically reducing the pool of potential attendees for cultural events.
Additionally, there is an energy crisis with power outages exceeding 12 hours daily, the collapse of public transportation due to fuel shortages, and the decline in the population's purchasing power, making it difficult to afford a ticket to a concert.
The summer in Cuba is also experiencing a decline in tourism, which recorded a drop of 55% in 2026 compared to previous years, leaving areas like Guanabo and Varadero with almost deserted entertainment spaces.
Guanabo, which historically was one of the liveliest beach destinations for locals from Havana during the summer, appears in the video as yet another reflection of the demographic and social decline experienced by the island.
The image of a historic band playing in front of a handful of people thus became an involuntary symbol of a country that is emptying as its artists continue to take the stage.
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