La Laguna Hosts 7th Canary Islands Music Awards; "El Colorao" Honored

This Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., the Leal Theater in La Laguna will host the 7th Canary Islands Music Awards gala. This year's awards feature 43 nominations across 15 categories. Israel Reyes is the artistic director, and the event will be hosted by Tomás Galván, known from Radio Canaria's 'Roscas y Cotufas' program, alongside actress and filmmaker Mercedes Ortega.

Singer Nia will kick off the show, which also includes performances by nominated artists Xerach, Ale Acosta, Said Muti, and Julia Rodríguez. The only winner announced so far is Domingo Rodríguez, also known as "el Colorao," a timple player from Fuerteventura. He will receive the Honorary Award for his long career and his efforts in promoting traditional Canarian music.

Many artists and creators, including composer Teddy Bautista and pianist Julio Tejera, are expected to attend the ceremony. Lisandro Rodríguez, president of the Canary Islands Music Awards Association, will close the event.

Radio Canaria and the Canary Islands Music Awards Association organize these awards. They receive support from the regional government, La Laguna City Council, and the Leal Theater. Sponsors for the event include Munchitos, Mahou, Ballantine’s, and St Petroni.

For Song of the Year, the nominees are "La chica de la puerta" by Said Muti and Tarque, "El borde del mundo" by Valeria Castro, and "Extraterrestres del amor" by Xerach. In the Best Pop Album category, the contenders are Ale Acosta's "El porvenir," Fajardo's "Trecho," and Pedro Guerra's "Parceiros Vol. 2." The Best Jazz Album award sees "Maires" by Alexis Alonso and Jorge Pardo, "Collabs" by Carlos Meneses, and "Maravijazz" by José Carlos Machado, José Miguel Méndez, and Augusto Báez competing. For Best Urban Music Album, the nominees are Cruz Cafuné for "blu€s (d€lux€)," Quevedo for "Buenas noches," and Resonance for "Valediction."

The Best Roots Music Album category includes "Abora Project" by the group of the same name, "Hacia la vida" by Julia Rodríguez, and "Mestizo" by Tabaiba. Baldosa's "Queriendo igual," Naife's "Untitled," and Said Muti's "Criminales del sueño" are all nominated for Best Rock Album.

The jury has nominated Julia Rodríguez, Naife, and Nia for Breakthrough Artist. In the Best Classical Music Work category, the nominees are Laura Vega, the Maestro Valle University Orchestra, and the Philharmonic Society of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Gromer Records, Jesiisma, and Superstereo Recording Studio are up for Best Recording Studio. Similarly, Alberto Naranja Méndez, Hilario Benítez, and Juan Jesús Guedes (Ñoki) are nominated for Best Sound Engineer. The Best Dissemination Work award will go to either the publishing house Los 80 Pasan Factura, the YouTube-based Musicafé Podcast, or the cultural program Somos 8 from Televisión Española in the Canary Islands.

For Best Design, the nominees are Adrián M. Ferrer and Rubén Acosta for Ale Acosta's "El porvenir," Ariana Pérez for Laura Henríquez's "Lo que tengo que contar," and Carlos Arocha for Said Muti's "Criminales del sueño." The Best Music Video award sees Alejandro González nominated for Rockaria's "Ya no volveré a llorar por ti," Maite Artajo for Julia Rodríguez's "Marioneta de la luna ft. Fabiola," and Said Muti and Alejandro González for Said Muti's "Tu puñal en la espalda."

Finally, the nominees for Best Canarian Music Program are Herofest, the LPA Beer & Music Festival, and the Leal Theater in La Laguna.