Puerto de la Cruz's Parranda Portuense: A Family Legacy Continues

When Carmelo Encinoso, known as El Cachimporro in Puerto de la Cruz, talks about the Parranda Portuense, he's always smiling and has a guitar in hand. He and his brother Gerardo started the group, and he's still a big part of its story. He started learning music at just ten years old, teaching himself to play and sing. Music was a natural part of his home life, with everyone singing and playing instruments.

The story of the Parranda Portuense is closely tied to the Encinoso family. "My mother was a great singer, and my father played the guitar," he remembers. These family tunes sparked a lifelong passion that continues to this day.

Carmelo grew up in a family of twelve siblings, all of whom were musical. Gerardo, one of the older brothers, started teaching lute and timple lessons on the roof of their house in Malpaís, in Taoro Park. In 1996, his students – a group of thirteen neighbors – began to get comfortable with the instruments. So, Gerardo asked Carmelo to come over. "He told me to see if they were ready to form a parranda. And that's how it all began," he says.

The group quickly grew from thirteen to thirty-six members. They named themselves after their neighborhood and town. Before settling on Parranda Portuense, they considered names like Parranda La Ranilla, La Marea, or El Penitente, all inspired by local spots. Finally, Pepe Pereira, one of the members, suggested the name they went with.

After just three months of practice, they decided to perform on stage. They made their debut during the July festivities, on the day of the Embarkation of the Virgen del Carmen. "I jokingly told them I wasn't going to go out there and mess it up," Encinoso laughs. And they didn't. Their first performance was a hit, with songs dedicated to Puerto de la Cruz and its people.

From then on, the Parranda Portuense became a well-known musical group in the town. They played at local festivals, took part in competitions, and even appeared on television. Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) invited them to record a show called Tenderete in San Telmo, which was a major turning point for them. The group became so popular that they recorded two albums. "The guys couldn't believe it. I was in the studio until one in the morning, listening, editing, doing vocals… but the result was amazing."

Even now, Encinoso still loves playing his guitar. Every Thursday, he meets with friends and former members of the parranda at the Hannen Barril bar in Puerto de la Cruz. "The owners came up with the idea to attract customers, and it worked. People even reserve tables to watch us play," he says. They still get invited to perform at events, but they're clear that "it's a hobby and a pleasure to do what we do."

El Cachimporro is most excited to see music being passed down to younger generations. "Young people keep joining the parranda, and they need to keep coming if the group is going to survive," he says. He believes that these new generations are keeping alive the tradition that his family started almost three decades ago. "Young people bring a lot to the table, and we need to support them."