Arrecife will not be able to count on the traditional 'murgas' contest in these carnivals, although the groups have tried until the last minute to maintain their presence in these festivities. Finally, after numerous communiqués from 'murgas' announcing their resignation, Los Simplones, Las Vacilonas and Las Revoltosas will be the only three that will participate in a gala in Arrecife, which will replace the usual contest. They are, without a doubt, the "resistance" of the 'murguero' spirit in this edition.
A total of nine parades will not be heard this 2022 in Lanzarote. Tabletúos was the last to announce that they "stepped aside", after the resignations of Inadaptadas, Desahuciados, Enraladas, Intoxicados, Pijoletas and Titi-Roys, in addition to the two new 'murgas' that intended to debut this year, Las Faltonas and Las Infiltradas.
"We tried, we have lyrics and costumes, but for a new 'murga' to come out in this situation is very difficult," explains Rebeca, one of the members of Las Infiltradas. This new group currently has 32 members and, after several attempts, it has been impossible for them to start.
Despite the absence of the contest and the withdrawal of most of the 'murgas', the Councilor for Festivities of the Arrecife City Council, Encarna Páez, defends that "it will be a fantastic night." The gala will take place next Friday, March 18 at 9:00 p.m., and Páez affirms that in addition to the performance of the three 'murgas', which will perform a single song, there will be "some other things." The councilwoman did not want to give details, but has left open the possibility that 'murgas' from other islands will perform. "It will be a gala of, at least, two hours," she says.
Rehearsals "in that way"
The vice president of Los Simplones, Kike Martín, confesses that it has cost them "a lot" to maintain the rehearsals, and that they are doing them "in that way", although they have managed to keep 42 members. "We do the rehearsals by strings, or through audio notes by WhatsApp," he says.
The 'murga' Las Vacilonas will also participate in the gala, whose president, Marta Ruiz, has told La Voz about the difficulties they have had in order to produce a song. "I call the girls the survivors," she explains, referring to the 36 members who have taken the initiative to try to rehearse and perform this year. This figure is much lower than what Vacilonas usually had, which counted a total of 70 in previous years. "The discouragement of the pandemic has influenced a lot," she laments.
As for the rehearsals, Vacilonas has not had major problems since they had the Tinasoria Sociocultural Center, a large place where they could comply with the sanitary measures established to avoid contagion.
Both 'murgas' will have the opportunity to present themselves to their audience before the Carnival events. In the case of Vacilonas, Marta Ruiz affirms that the City Council offered them the possibility of making a small presentation and, although they still do not know for sure when it will be, they are considering the date of February 26.
In addition, Encarna Páez maintains that the other 'murga' from Arrecife that will participate in the gala, Los Simplones, will also have a presentation day, which in principle would be on February 25. Both events will be held, according to the Councilor for Festivities, at the Víctor Fernández Gopar Theater "El Salinero".
Forty years of Carnival and the illusion intact
The Afilarmónica Las Revoltosas, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of its foundation in 2022, will also be present at the Arrecife Carnival gala. "Las Revoltosas has never lost heart", assures Juana Saavedra, one of its historical members.
The 'murga' has 30 members this year, including singers and percussion, and they rehearse "from Monday to Thursday" at their headquarters in San Bartolomé. "We knew we were going to go out whether there was carnival or not."
In addition, the 'murga' will wear a costume "typical of the 70s or 80s", like the ones they wore in their beginnings. The carnival attire, according to Juana Saavedra herself, has cost "a fortune". "We wanted to say goodbye with glamour, as we deserve," says the member, who maintains that some of them will take advantage of the anniversary to "hang up the costume."
"There are people who want to continue, but others who don't, because we are of an age," says Saavedra, who emphasizes the recognition that the San Bartolomé City Council has given them, which has even given them a street in the municipality. In addition, she affirms that, unlike Simplones, they have not had major problems rehearsing, since they have a large premises "and with several rooms."
The Afilarmónica Las Revoltosas has up to 5 performances scheduled for the different carnivals of Lanzarote, with the debut in 2022 in the municipality of San Bartolomé, on March 1, at the Day Carnival. "We will go wherever they call us, wherever there is Carnival, Las Revoltosas will be there", assures Saavedra.
“This way, in the end, you don't enjoy the 'murga'”
What is evident is that, despite the fact that the 'murgas' have managed to rehearse a song to be able to sing at the Carnival events, the restrictions of the pandemic will prevent many of the 'murguera' customs. "You don't enjoy the 'murga', the contact with people, as it was done before", asserts the vice president of Los Simplones.
However, Kike Martín assures that the mission of his 'murga' is to "keep the flame alive", in order to get both the old members and future generations, "to fall in love with the 'murga'." "We believe that after several years without going out, people's will changes and ends up losing the passion for the 'murga'." In addition, he points out that the stoppage also has an economic impact on the group.
For her part, the director of Las Vacilonas shares the vision of Los Simplones, and assures that they felt the obligation to "save the carnival a little." "It's two years in a row without carnival and people are starting to become disillusioned, we try to maintain some illusion."
The attempt to organize a 'murgas' contest failed
"The goal of all the 'murgas', even if there was no contest, was to go out even if there was one with 15 people," says Marta Ruiz, who regrets that despite that predisposition of all the groups, it could not be fulfilled.
Despite that attempt to organize a contest, the passage of time and the health situation frustrated the ideas. However, the possibility of a gala was later raised, where it was agreed "to do only one song." "We are going to try, among the three 'murgas', to see what we get out of there," says the president.
This feeling is also shared by the vice president of Los Simplones, who assures that "more than 90%" of the 'murgas' had planned to organize, at least, one song. "It is normal that a 'murga' that had 30 people, and now its members have dropped to 15, cannot rehearse in those conditions."