A video published on TikTok showcases what should have been one of the musical events of the Cuban summer turned into a desolate scene: Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco performing in front of an almost empty venue in Guanabo, the popular beach area east of Havana.
The images, captured by the user @alexander75._ and shared on social media, show a minimal attendance at a concert that in other times 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 the strength to keep dancing?” and “Come on, move your waist, I want to see you now!” in a visible effort to maintain the show's energy in front of the empty seats.
The scene did not go unnoticed: "There were hardly any people at the party, and the concert was just for a select few, which attracted a lot of attention," said the source that shared the material.
What makes the image more striking is that Trabuco, one of the most recognized timba and salsa groups in Cuba since its foundation in 1993, is having a busy schedule this summer.
On Sunday, June 28, just one day before, the group performed at the Pink Room of La Tropical in Havana alongside Orquesta Aragón, as part of the kickoff of the summer season.
Additionally, the group is scheduled to perform 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.
This is compounded by an energy crisis with power outages exceeding 12 hours a day, the collapse of public transportation due to a lack of fuel, and the decline in the purchasing power of the population, making it difficult to afford a concert ticket.
The summer in Cuba has also been affected by the decline in tourism, which saw a drop of 55% in 2026 compared to previous years, leaving areas like Guanabo and Varadero with nearly deserted entertainment spaces.
Guanabo, which historically was one of the liveliest beach destinations for residents of Havana during the summer, appears in the video as yet another reflection of the demographic and social decline that the island is experiencing.
The image of a historic band playing in front of a handful of people has thus become an unintentional symbol of a country that is emptying while its artists continue to take the stage.
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