Stick with that name because yesterday a new star was born in La Unión (Murcia) in the world of flamenco singing. Rocío Luna from Córdoba rose on Sunday morning with the most precious award of the International Festival of Cante de las Minas, the Lámpara Minera, a prize endowed with 15,000 euros that encimbella the most maroon of flamenco. The singer also won the prizes for mineras and those of cartagenera, siguiriya, granaína and media granaína.
The Córdoba had everything in her favor in Saturday’s grand final, she was the only classified finalist who could opt for the top award, she had no rival with other contestants, as she had won over the jury. The singer overcame her nerves and swept away with the interpretation by mineres, de Cartagena, siguiriya, granaína and media granaína, and managed to win over an audience that supported her with applause. A whole night of emotion in which Rocío Luna received the award given by the most important flamenco festival in the world at the hands of singer Miguel Poveda, who recalled the night 30 years ago of his success in La Unión. The singer was accompanied by the mayor and president of the Cante de las Minas Foundation, Joaquín Zapata, who was “exulting”.
Very excited by the award, Rocío Crespillo Luna, known as Rocío Luna, a native of the Córdoba town of Cañada del Rabadán, confessed her struggle to “achieve this dream. I’ve been working for this since I was little, it’s a pride to sing here and a luxury to get an award for which I put all my heart”.
The International Festival of the Mines of La Unión, which celebrated its 62nd edition this year, has recovered all the splendor it lost in recent years. The town of Murcia has experienced ten intense days in which the most renowned of flamenco have passed there, such as singer Miguel Poveda, who will be the herald of the 63rd edition. The spectators also enjoyed the presence of the singer Estrella Morente, who left an exciting night, the spectacular performance of Los Vivancos and the presence of the deepest singing in the voice of Carmen Linares.
But there were other awardees. The winners of the top dance trophies: El Filón and El Desplante were won by Yoel Ferré Vargas, from Tarragona, in the male category and Rocío Garrido, from Almeria, in the female category. The one from Cartagena Raúl Pérez Fernández, for the interpretation of taranta on the piano, won the El Filón trophy. Juan Luis Campos, El Poti, obtained the Bordón Minero. As for group III of low-Andalusian songs, María Ángeles Cruzado, from Huelva, won the prize for farruca and Sergio Gómez Delgado, from Granada, for soleá. Antonio José Nieto Fernández, from Córdoba, took home the thirty prize.
