Before It Was Cool: The Brooklyn Beat From Lauterbach’s + Q&A

In early-1980s Brooklyn, an unassuming dive bar became the unlikely birthplace of a musical movement.

Lauterbach’s brought together a fiercely creative community of punk, indie and alternative musicians who forged what became known as “The Brooklyn Beat.” Through intimate interviews, archival footage and animation, Before It Was Cool uncovers this overlooked chapter of New York music history and the artists who transformed competition into collaboration. When Lauterbach’s suddenly closed, its community scattered but its influence endured. A love letter to pre-gentrification Brooklyn, the film celebrates a time when music was driven by experimentation, survival and an unbreakable sense of community.

Doc’n Roll Film Festival returns to London this autumn for its 13th edition, bringing another exciting selection of music and arts documentaries to cinemas across the city from 22 October to 8 November. Fiercely independent and rooted in a DIY spirit, Doc’n Roll celebrates the artists, outsiders, scenes and stories that shape music culture, spanning genres, generations and musical movements from around the world.

Please arrive promptly - we do not show adverts.

Part of Doc'n Roll Film Festival 2026 Screened in partnership with Doc'n Roll Michael West, Lia Komakhidze, USA, 2026, 93m.