The festival will explore the diversity of traditions, styles, and musical languages linked to percussion, combining concerts, masterclasses, artistic mediation workshops, sound experimentation, and inclusive proposals over four days. Classical and contemporary percussion, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean root music will coexist in an edition focused on knowledge transmission.
Highlights include the world premiere of ‘Marimband’, a composition by Agustín Ramos for marimba and band, and the incorporation of an inclusive percussion workshop. The festival reaffirms its commitment to the professionalization of the music sector and bringing artistic creation closer to new generations. All activities will take place at Lago Martiánez, in the Sala de la Isla and Sala Andrómeda, with free admission until full capacity.
The mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Leopoldo Afonso, emphasized that the festival exemplifies how culture enriches the city's identity and promotes it as a meeting place for talent, creativity, and knowledge exchange. Culture Councilor Desiré Díaz highlighted that 'Ritmos Handmade' offers an extraordinary journey through the diversity of percussion, demonstrating rhythm as a universal language and stressing the importance of music being accessible to everyone.
The opening day, Thursday, November 12, will feature Canary percussionist Miguel Ángel Expósito, who will give a masterclass on band direction and conduct a concert with the Sociedad Filarmónica Nivaria de Arafo. The world premiere of Agustín Ramos's ‘Marimband’ will also take place.
On Friday, November 13, contemporary percussion will take center stage with Carlota Cáceres, an internationally renowned performer and educator. She will offer a masterclass and a concert.
Saturday, November 14, will be dedicated to jazz with Barcelona-based drummer and vibraphonist Marc Miralta, who will present a masterclass and a concert with Canary musicians.
The closing on Sunday, November 15, will bring together Venezuelan percussionist Roberto Quintero and Cuban percussionist Alex Miguel to explore Latin music and its evolution. The day will include a participatory workshop and a closing performance.
Beyond its concert program, the festival focuses on artistic education, knowledge transfer, and audience development through masterclasses and artistic mediation workshops for high school students. Practical workshops on instruments and rhythms from different cultures, as well as an experimental music conference by Juan Antonio Miñana, are also included.
A key novelty this year is the inclusive percussion workshop ‘Ritmo Diver + Gente’, scheduled for Sunday, November 15. It will combine popular percussion, rhythm, movement, and signed dance, with accessibility tools like Spanish Sign Language and vibrating backpacks.
The festival, organized by Jolongo productions, is sponsored by the Culture Department of the Puerto de la Cruz City Council and the Cabildo Insular de Tenerife, with collaborations from the Municipal Music School of Puerto de la Cruz and the Professional Conservatory of Music of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
