Coinciding with the first anniversary of the death of the Lanzarote singer Ico Arrocha, the Island Council has organized a tribute concert, which will take place on June 3 in the Plaza El Varadero in Puerto del Carmen. In the event, undertaken by the Culture Area of the Corporation in coordination with the Arrocha family and the Guadarfía group, "some of the best voices of traditional singing from Lanzarote will participate, but also half a hundred performers of popular music from all the Islands, many friends of Arrocha", according to the Island Council.
The municipality of Tías, the birthplace of Ico Arrocha, the singers "will perform for free to honor the memory of an exceptional singer", they have pointed out from the Island Corporation. Likewise, they have announced that "the Government of the Canary Islands has joined the tribute, which will include it as the final event within the activities that will be developed to celebrate Canary Islands Day".
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, has expressed the need to organize "a public recognition that is up to the extraordinary quality of Ico Arrocha as an interpreter of the traditional song of Lanzarote and the popular music of the Canary Islands". "He was undoubtedly a bulwark of the popular culture of the islands and deserves that his work as a defender of our folklore be recognized", added San Ginés.
"One of the great exponents of Canarian folklore"
'When one year has passed since the voice of Ico Arrocha became part of the memory and cultural legacy of the Canarians, this well-deserved tribute arrives. A recognition that comes from the heart of all the people of Lanzarote, of all the Canarians", said the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Government of the Canary Islands, María Teresa Lorenzo.
For his part, Amado Vizcaíno, Councilor for Culture and First Deputy Mayor of the Tías City Council, stressed "the importance of Ico Arrocha, as one of the great exponents of Canarian folklore and one of the most beloved and exceptional voices of our folías and Canarian music in general". "Without a doubt, a great person, a very dear neighbor of La Tiñosa who deserves a great tribute", Vizcaíno asserted.
According to the Cabildo of Lanzarote, "Televisión Canaria plans to record the concert so that it can be enjoyed by the many admirers from all the islands who professed great admiration for the figure of Ico Arrocha".