The 37th Festival Campesino celebrated its success on Saturday night with the performance of El poema diario de Titerroygatra. The show intertwined the stories of individuals who have shaped the emotional and poetic landscape of Lanzarote, featuring traditional music, dance, and sepia-toned glimpses of the island’s past.
After a sweltering day, the evening brought a welcome breeze for local residents and tourists alike, as if San Ginés himself was watching over the celebrations. An hour before the festival began at the José Ramírez Cerdá park in Arrecife, the venue was brimming with loyal fans who turn out each year to support Los Campesinos.
The event kicked off with a video showcasing images from the Memoria Digital de Lanzarote, accompanied by remarks from Benito Cabrera, a close collaborator of Los Campesinos. This set the tone for performances of iconic folk songs including Saranda del viento, Folías del nueve, and more modern pieces like Mujeres del litoral and Isa marina. The programme also paid homage to figures from Lanzarote’s history, such as Josefina Pla and César Manrique.
Los Campesinos ended their set to rapturous applause, paving the way for the second half of the evening featuring special guests, Los Cantadores, who celebrated their 18th anniversary with the unforgettable voice of Tamara. The crowd revelled in over two and a half hours of music, rising only to applaud or join in dance.
Los Cantadores performed a mix of hits from their five albums and traditional pieces, featuring crowd-pleasers like Si tú me dices ven and Guantanamera. Tamara, renowned for her bolero renditions, engaged the audience with beloved songs such as El gato que está triste y azul.
After the performance, Los Campesinos’ president, Miguel Ángel Corujo, expressed his delight in the festival’s success, stating that the traditional music and folklore of the island are alive and thriving: “Traditional music has a future, both in public appreciation and in the emergence of new talent. We are grateful to the City Council of Arrecife, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, and the Centres for Art, Culture and Tourism for their continued support.”
