The orchestras Marbella and Capitol inaugurate the San Cristovo festivities in Negreira on Thursday, which include three verbenas featuring groups like New York, América SL, and Finisterre Project.
The town of Negreira is preparing for three intense festive days in honour of San Cristovo, with the orchestras Marbella and Capitol set to kick off the programme on Thursday at the plaza do Concello. The Festexos association of Negreira, in collaboration with the Concello, is organising these festivities for the third consecutive year, combining verbenas, parades, and processions.
Orquesta Marbella: 25 years of history with new features
The orchestra Marbella, founded in 2001, has established itself as one of the most prominent groups in Galician verbenas. Their 2026 tour, titled The Key, presents a renewed repertoire and a front line of six singers: Raúl Campo, Katty Méndes, Lidia Alvariñas, Juani Ares, and new additions Ghaly Fernández, from Mar D'Arousa, and another from Compostela.
The group offers shows for festival committees, town councils, and the general public, and in Negreira, it will be the first to take the stage. According to the organisers, the orchestra has prepared a show that promises to captivate attendees from the very first chord.
Capitol, a reference since 1986
The orchestra Capitol, founded in 1986, is a benchmark in Galician verbenas, synonymous with quality music and dance. Its front line includes Agustina Guzmán, Lucía Escuredo, Pablo Agrafojo, and Oswaldo Montero. The León-born Lucía Escuredo is making her debut this season as a soloist, coming from the orchestra Azabache.
A notable name is the saxophonist Marcos Cernadas, originally from A Baña, who joined Capitol in 2022 from the charanga Os Celtas. The orchestra will perform alongside Marbella in the first verbena, marking the start of the festivities.
Friday: New York and América SL take over
On Friday, the first local holiday of 2026 in Negreira will begin with a parade by the bagpipe group Os Garuleiros, who will repeat on Saturday accompanying the motorised procession. The second verbena will feature the orchestras New York and América SL.
New York presents its Golden Tour, led by singer and artistic director Iván Rodríguez Acuña. Accompanying Iván are soloists Rocío Varela and Asturian Lydia Busto, along with Esteve Soto and Venezuelan Luis Ángel Febres, both of whom joined in 2025. Meanwhile, América SL, founded in 1984, is one of the legendary groups in Galician verbenas, with Iván López, Pedro Conde, and Lorena Ferro in its front line. Pedro Conde has experience in groups like Los Players, Passarela, and Gran Parada.
Saturday: Finisterre Project debuts at home
The grand finale arrives on Saturday with a spectacular verbena where the new proposal of Finisterre Project will make its official debut in Negreira. Born from Galicia Espectáculo, it offers a quality repertoire that spans from the great classics of the 70s, 80s, and 90s to the most current hits.
Finisterre Project features a cast of a dozen top-level artists, with familiar faces from the world of verbenas: a spectacular front line including Dani Lamas (ex Olympus and Kubo), Kris Somad (ex Capitol, Cinema, and Foliada), Christian Mene (ex Galilea, Saudade, and Kubo), and Claudia Cuba (ex Súper Hollywood and trained at the National Lyrical Theatre of Cuba). Additionally, musicians like Andrés Moreiras (keyboards), Javier Iglesias (guitar), Jorge Martínez (bass), and Javier Ares (drums) complete the lineup.
The organisation has highlighted that Finisterre Project represents a radical change for the orchestra based in Negreira, belonging to Galicia Espectáculo. For the locals, it is an opportunity to enjoy top-notch live music without leaving the municipality. The verbenas will be held at the plaza do Concello, with free entry and hours from approximately 22:00 to 04:00. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a spot and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
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