Interested in screening our documentary on music and climate justice? Contact us for inquiry.

Learn more at our (previous) fundraising platform at www.seedandspark.com/fund/bootleg-orchestra-reach-out

makibaka | out now

Above: Vanessa Acosta (vocals/trumpet), Menchie Caliboso (bass/production), and Andrew Dickson (guitar/production).

Based in Los Angeles/Long Beach, Bootleg Orchestra is a trio that creates electronic/soul music as a soundtrack for collective and personal transformations occurring in the growing anti-imperialist and anti-fascist movement. As cultural workers, Bootleg Orchestra chooses to continue the path of creating and releasing music because of its value in educating listeners on community issues, advocating for community-led campaigns, and inspiring listeners to create change through organized community-based action.

Drawing influences from electronica, R&B, and jazz, Bootleg Orchestra released their first full-length album, MAKIBAKA, on August 27, 2021. The album reflects their lived duality of organizing in the community and serving the people while working through their own personal journey of healing. In the past, they have shared the stage with Ruby Ibarra, Tiffany Gouche, Sylvan Esso and Gallant, and Talib Kweli.

In May 2024, Bootleg Orchestra collaborated with Roger Rigor of the iconic Filipino disco band VST&Company to create a song and documentary that highlights the role of music and cultural work in movements for social and environmental justice. This was premiered at the Los Angeles Asian-Pacific Film Festival hosted by Visual Communications Media.

When not creating music or organizing in the community, the three are changing lives through their own expertise: Acosta through holistic health, Caliboso through data analytics/science, and Dickson through law.

Follow us on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud!

Listen to our full discography and purchase our music at bootlegorchestra.bandcamp.com

Listen to Spotify-exclusive single “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” by Ruby Ibarra and Bootleg Orchestra (released May 2022)

“Solidaritron” (2021) is inspired by Bodeck Luna’s piece ‘S olidaritron’ and supported by the Chinese American Museum’s Community Resilience: Community Xpressive Initiative

“REACH OUT” PREMIERED IN MAY 2024
AT THE LA ASIAN PACIFIC (VC) FILM FESTIVAL

“BEST DOCUMENTARY” AWARD AT THE CHARLOTTE
ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL (2025)

THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM AND SUPPORTERS!

JOHN ZAFRA-HAAS (DIRECTOR/EDITOR 1)
JOANNE DANGANAN (CO-PRODUCER)
ZO SHAY (SOUND DESIGN)
JANUARY ROAN (ANIMATION)
BLAINE SUQUE (EDITOR 2)

WE WELCOME ANY INQUIRIES TO SHARE THIS DOCUMENTARY IN FESTIVALS, SCHOOLS,
AND COMMUNITY-SPACES.

FESTIVAL SCREENINGS: LA ASIAN AMERICAN (VC) FILM FESTIVAL (2024), SEATTLE ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL (2025), CHARLOTTE ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL (2025), FIL-AM CREATIVE FILM FESTIVAL (2025), SAN DIEGO FILIPINO FILM FESTIVAL (2025), DIWA FILM FESTIVAL (2025)

FINALIST AT: SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL (2025)

AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY AT CHARLOTTE ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

LEARN MORE AT

seedandspark.com/fund/bootleg-orchestra-reach-out

DONATE AT

PAYPAL.ME/BOOTLEGORCHESTRA

THANK YOU TO OUR GROWING LIST OF SPONSORS…
ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK
LONG BEACH FORWARD
LONG BEACH ARTS COUNCIL
DJ THATFLYPINAY

THANK YOU TO OUR SEED&SPARK SUPPORTERS FOR HELPING US REACH OUR FIRST FUNDRAISING GOAL!

THANK YOU TO THE WING LUKE MUSEUM FOR FEATURING OUR DOCUMENTARY TRAILER IN THE
SOUNDCHECK! THE MUSIC WE MAKE EXHIBITION (RUNNING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2024)!

We’re excited to announce that we’re producing our first mini-documentary featuring Roger Rigor (VST & Company)! The idea was born out of a yearning for music that went beyond showing the musician’s creative process by highlighting political ideology that inevitably has a hand in birthing so many songs. As musicians, we’re interested in sharpening our practice as cultural workers - that is, artists that are accountable to revolutionary culture. As organizers, we also often ponder how our music can function as both an educational and organizing tool. We hope that this documentary inspires other artists to serve liberation movements through their work and organizing.

In November 2022, world leaders gathered at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt while activists protested inside and outside the walls of COP27 to heighten the call for both climate justice and human rights. On the same weekend, we flew to Seattle, Washington to record a song with Roger. Through conversations, interviews and collaborative songwriting, this documentary follows our journey with Roger in creating and recording a song that raises critical awareness of climate change and calls for the urgent need for international solidarity.

For full treatment and other inquiries, please e-mail we.are.bootleg.orchestra@gmail.com

Director/Cinematographer: John Haas | Producer: Menchie Caliboso | Producer: Joanne Danganan | Editors: John Haas & Blaine Suque | Score: Bootleg Orchestra

Documentary Stills

Learn more

2025 dates

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OPEN FOR BOOKINGS BUT ON A LIMITED BASIS
EMAIL WE.ARE.BOOTLEG.ORCHESTRA@GMAIL.COM FOR INQUIRIES

11/13 | LONG BEACH, CA
TBA

07/29 | LONG BEACH, CA
CALIFORNIA RENTER POWER ASSEMBLY @ QUEEN MARY

06/28 | LOS ANGELES, CA
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LABOR ALLIANCE GALA

05/04 | LOS ANGELES, CA
W/ VST&CO AT BARYO HIFI

2022-2024 DATES

11/09/24 | LOS ANGELES
2220 ARTS + ARCHIVE

09/14/24 | SAN PEDRO, CA
W/ ROGER RIGOR (VST&CO) AND FRIENDS
AT FPAC

05/12/24 | POMONA, CA
NEXTFEST LA

05/09/24 | LONG BEACH, CA
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL (BY VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS)
DOCUMENTARY WORLD PREMIERE OF “REACH OUT”

05/26/23 | TBA LOS ANGELES, CA
ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (APEN) SOCAL LAUNCH

10/01/22 | LOS ANGELES, CA
EXOTIC FRUITS FESTIVAL @ SV STUDIOS

09/03/22 | LOS ANGELES, CA
FPAC @ LEVITT PAVILION

08/25 | TORRANCE, CA
THE VILLE W/ LUNA LOVEBAD & BLACK NOISE THEORY
CANCELLED

08/19/22 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA
KAPWA GARDENS W/ POWER STRUGGLE

07/23/22 | LONG BEACH, CA
4TH FRIDAYS

06/25/22 | LONG BEACH, CA
BORN THIS GAY LB FESTIVAL

06/11/22 | LONG BEACH, CA
THE PEOPLE’S BUDGET

06/02/22 | LOS ANGELES, CA
THE GOLDFISH W/ TBD

05/04/22 | LOS ANGELES, CA
SILVERLAKE LOUNGE W/ NO SWOON

PAST HIGHLIGHTS

LONG BEACH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL (2021)
Headliner

NIGHT DIVE @ AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC (2021)
Headliner

UNITE! A CONCERT FOR ANTI-IMPERIALIST STRUGGLES
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES (2021)
Headliner

THE BOOTLEG THEATRE, LOS ANGELES
with Ruby Ibarra and Travis Atreo

BRICK + MORTAR, SAN FRANCISCO
with Ruby Ibarra

LONG BEACH FILIPINO FESTIVAL, LONG BEACH
with Beatrock Music

KCRW MUSIC TASTES GOOD FESTIVAL, LONG BEACH
with De La Soul, Sylvan Esso, Gallant, Christian Scott, Las Cafeteras, and more.

VILLAGE FEST, LONG BEACH
with Talib Kweli, Pharcyde, Murs, and Supernatural.

LIVE AFTER 5: NEO-SOULSTICE, LONG BEACH
with Tiffany Gouche, Jungle Fire, Katalyst, NiceGuyxVinny, and Black Noise.

BUSKERFEST, LONG BEACH

LONG BEACH ZINE FEST @ MUSEUM OF LATINA AMERICAN ART, LONG BEACH
with Avi Buffalo and more.

DUBLAB RADIO IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE, LOS ANGELES

THE PROSPECTOR, LONG BEACH
with Eddie Cole and Fourth Dimension (4D)

THE BRASS LAMP, LONG BEACH
with No Swoon and Gemma Castro

THE FEDERAL UNDERGROUND, LONG BEACH
with Free The Robots, Via Leaves, and Bobby Blunders

HUSTLE FEST, LONG BEACH
with Litronix, The Natives, 2Mex, and more.

QUE SERA, LONG BEACH
with The Black Noise and King Kang