Following Carnival Monday, last night was arguably the second most awaited event of the carnival season, especially for the murgueros. The initial stage of the adult murgas competition commenced, and although tickets for the event sold out on the same day, the crowd on the night we experienced the eight main acts did not entirely fill the venue. Nevertheless, there was a prominent turnout and vibrant atmosphere, reflecting the enthusiasm for the murgas. Twenty-three groups will take to the stage, culminating in the customary eight final on the following Friday (February 14 this year). Will we witness another hand gesture as we did during the raids?
At 8:30 p.m., amidst thunderous applause, beales ascended the stage to serve as the opening act after winning a well-deserved third-place performance in the Murguitas contest. They made the most of their moment to shine, displaying confidence and relishing the carnival spirit. This was followed by Daniel Álvarez and Emilia González, who were on hand to kick off the festivities, along with bun daswani, the carnival influencer responsible for keeping us updated on social media with the hashtag #Murgassc1. With February arriving, this platform shakes off the dust to engage in the most critical carnival discussions, highlighted by influencers like Lolita Pluma (@lolita_pluma), Mery Gorostiza (@merygorb), and Javi Alonso (@javialogut).
After the opening performance of the night, the Marchilongas captivated the audience, arriving from Taco under the guidance of Keyla Jeréz. This year, they showcased a colourful fantasy designed by Josua Sánchez that represented Mexico: “We may be Mexican, but don’t forget we are the most distinguished.” They had the challenging task of breaking the ice and, alongside them, came the Runaways, who aspire to secure a place in the finals, as they did in 2023.
Runaway embodies solidarity and family, with a unique connection to the Carnival’s theme this year through their charitable initiatives in Gambia, facilitated by Canarian supporters. The group, led by Juani Padilla, who is taking on the director’s role for the first time, then transitioned to the third murga of the night: Chaladas. Under the stewardship of Marina Toledo, they graced Santa Cruz’s stage for the first time after making history in the north in 2024 with an impressive performance. Hailing from ICOD de los Vinos, they not only represent their region but also demonstrate the importance of female participation in this competition, making them one of the most anticipated acts of the night.
As the performance continued, the prominent murgas that set the standard arrived. Burlonas, with an impressive seven consecutive appearances in the finals, has established itself as a leading voice in female critiques through the partnership of Adela Peña and Amelia Casanova, who consistently deliver. With their iconic farewell, “things may be difficult, but Santa Cruz is certainly a festival,” they introduced the Crazy Devils. For over fifty years, this group, led by Tomy Caravajal—who took over from his father several years ago—has been synonymous with humour and has notably improved their vocalisation and sound quality in recent years.
With the entire venue on their feet, singing an iconic farewell that has become folklore of the carnival, they paved the way for Mamelucos. This year, they see a change with Adrián Montes de Oca stepping in for Samuel Fumero, who has returned to Ironicos. With fresh energy…
With fresh enthusiasm and a youthful ensemble, they aim to revive the glorious days of Mamelucos, when they achieved numerous accolades. Thus concludes the initial phase, which could have been more intense had it not been for the commendable standard set. It leaves a pleasing aftertaste that mitigates a competition that is making a welcome comeback.
With this contemplation, the final murga of the evening took to the stage in Africa: diabolical, the electronic sister murga. Leading the performance was Tania Siverio, cousin of Tomy Carvajal and a Murguera by birth, having previously participated in the children’s section. They continue to strive to be one of the leading female figures, although this year they were without Richard Casanova. With an audience only half full, and nearly two in the morning, the inaugural stage of the most awaited competition came to a close.
The panel of adjudicators for the performance consists of Andrés Fulgencio Estévez, a musician and former member of renowned Tenerife orchestras, a composer, and affiliated with the General Society of Authors of Spain (SGAE); Manoly Triviño Alonso, who teaches at the Municipal Choir and the School of White Voices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife; Rocío González Romero, a music educator and percussionist; and Marlene Meneses Mendoza, a journalist, radio presenter, and host of carnival events. In the interpretation category, the panel includes Ivo López García, presenter at CD Tenerife; Sergio Branic, a presenter and artist manager, musician, and composer, as well as a member of the Latin Grammy Academy; Jéssika Rojano, a comedian; and José Antonio González el Flaco, the director of Murga Los Singuangos, lyricist, and director of the Rondalla Peña on Monday. Additionally, Miguel Ángel Hernández Mesa, a musical and creative producer of shows, was added to the jury after Victoria Martín García had to withdraw due to a direct association with one of the competing groups.
In the presentation category, Patricia Hodgson González, a graduate in Fine Arts and educator; Claudia Rebeca Skog Linares, also a Fine Arts graduate and teacher, who is a finalist visual artist in the 2024 Carnival Announcer competition; and Laura Sánchez Vico, a filmmaker and showcase creator, who is also a costume designer.
This evening, commencing at 8:30 p.m., the second phase of the contest will unfold, during which the audience will enjoy performances from ironic, unleashed, tiranguas, zeta-zetas, trabachones, jocicudas, traps, and triqui-trays.
