Arena Negra by Day brings five major acts to the festival’s daytime programme

The Arena Negra Festival will once again feature Arena Negra by Day, a special programme taking place on Saturday 7 November in Gran Tarajal and bringing together five musical acts: Andrea Rodríguez y la Banda del Trópico, Kilombo Improvisado, NIA, ContraVentura and Timbeque. The day will combine Latin rhythms, tropical sounds and new ways of interpreting music rooted in Canarian tradition.

The daytime programme complements the music on offer at this year’s Arena Negra, which will take place on 6 and 7 November on Gran Tarajal beach. The night-time stage will feature national and international artists including Juan Magán, Rosana, Luis Fonsi, Delaossa and Los Secretos, among others.

The daytime line-up embraces a range of styles and acts that appeal to different audiences, with a particular focus on artists connected to the Canary Islands and the archipelago’s musical identity.

Andrea Rodríguez y la Banda del Trópico will present ‘Songo & Pambiche’, a musical bridge between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean that blends genres including merengue, cumbia, timba, salsa, vallenato and son. The artist has built a career rooted in Canarian folklore and Latin American music, with original works including ‘Trópico de Capri’ and ‘Navidad en el Trópico’.

Kilombo Improvisado will bring a lively set to Gran Tarajal, combining Latin rhythms, original songs and sounds familiar to audiences. The band, formed in the Canary Islands in 2019, is known for its participatory live shows, which pair the energy of popular music with a strong Canarian identity.

Singer NIA, winner of the eleventh edition of ‘Operación Triunfo’ and Spain’s representative at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, will bring her experience in tropical music and salsa. Her career includes collaborations with national and international artists, and her sound connects Latin genres with contemporary influences.

ContraVentura, a project led by Fuerteventura timple player David Rodríguez Santana, ‘El Majorero’, offers a fresh take on music rooted in Canarian tradition. It fuses the timple and the contra majorera with styles such as jazz, funk, rock, flamenco and contemporary folk.

Rounding out the line-up is Timbeque, a music and vocal group from southern Fuerteventura that has performed across the island, highlighting the richness of Canarian and popular music. Its repertoire combines traditional songs from the archipelago, some recovered from obscurity, with Latin American melodies. The group incorporates instruments such as the Venezuelan cuatro (literally, ‘four’) and Cuban tres (literally, ‘three’), alongside the Canarian timple, strengthening musical links between the two sides of the Atlantic.

A musical gathering in Gran Tarajal

Since its launch in 2018, the Arena Negra Festival has established itself as one of Fuerteventura’s major autumn music events and a highlight of the Canary Islands’ cultural calendar. Its seaside stage on Gran Tarajal beach provides a distinctive setting where music blends with local life. The festival offers more than concerts, fostering opportunities to meet, socialise and bring activity to the municipality.

The festival’s identity is shaped by its diverse range of styles and artists. It brings together different audiences and helps promote Fuerteventura as a destination associated with culture, live music and shared experiences. The daytime programme extends that experience, inviting audiences to enjoy live music while showcasing both Canarian talent and cultural connections between the islands and other territories.

The Arena Negra Festival is organised by the Fuerteventura Island Council, with the collaboration of the Canary Islands Government and Tuineje Town Council. The daytime programme is also supported by Cajasiete and the La Gavia Association.