Singer, guitarist and songwriter Monfort blends traditional music with electronic sounds, earning a rare trio of prizes with his second solo album Monkey. He captured awards for Best Album and Best Pop Album, while Moreneta earned him Best Song in a standout night that celebrated innovation and roots alike.
With a powerful voice and a progressive stance on culture and language, Sandra Monfort stood as a beacon for Valencian identity. Her keynote framed a continuum of artists who defend cultural rights through language, art, poetry and music. She recalled the early victories of women on stage and asserted that feminism has moved from the margins to the center of the music scene. Women have entered stages in varied styles—from tracksuits and sneakers to high heels and miniskirts—and they are welcome in every form of performance.
From Marina Alta, Monfort is also part of the group Marala, a duo that earned two awards last year. It is notable that Monfort had already triumphed at the 2021 Carles Santos Awards with his debut, where Angel Reptile Child claimed recognition as a revelation artist and the best album of the year.
Pep Gimeno Botifarra, the singer from Xàtiva, added three awards to his résumé: Best Roots Music Album, Best Tour, and the public award. Valencia Mary achieved two honors: breakthrough artist and best album design for L’Assumpció. The triumph of these artists underscored the ceremony’s emphasis on roots while embracing contemporary perspectives that push the genre forward.
Music again took center stage as the organizing thread, linking performances to the broader narrative of roots anchored in modern sensibilities. The gala featured collaborations and performances that highlighted the evolving soundscapes within the Valencian music scene, with many acts offering new interpretations of traditional material.
During the festive evening, Flora Sempere from the Flood, Miquel Gil, Ana Zomeño, Quietria Muñoz, Andrés Belmonte, María, Alberto Gambino, and Marala offered performances spanning original songs and contemporary reinterpretations, all set against the backdrop of a large ensemble that included Silvia Martí and Lucia Zambudio. Marina Alcantud directed the musical program with Tere Núñez co-directing, crafting a cohesive and evocative array of numbers that celebrated local talent.
The Honor Award—presented by the Ministry of Culture—was accepted by Valencian musician and producer Nacho Mañó, founder of Presuntos Implicados, who received the recognition with grace and gratitude from Abel Guarinos, the director of the Valencian Cultural Institute. Mañó, described as unique, thanked the community for its tireless dedication to the region’s soundtrack across the years.
In the ceremonial moment of response, Mañó called the acknowledgment a lasting honor and hinted at forthcoming gatherings to mark significant milestones. He reflected on the support of notable writers who shaped his career, and he announced plans for important anniversaries in the music community that will bring together artists and audiences for retrospectives and new collaborations.
Across the night, the awards program highlighted 18 prize categories. A field of 60 candidates competed, with multiple finalists in each category. Nominations spanned both album and individual performances, with many entries also vying for the popular vote in the audience prize.
In the rock domain, the Best Rock Album prize went to Jara City with Wolf Evening. The urban music category crowned Maluks with a standout collection, while Plena 79 Salsa Orchestra earned recognition for best fusion and hybridization, with Land and Freedom. The Best Original Song award went to Carles Denia for Mussol, delivering a powerful statement in the singer-songwriter category.
In jazz, Pepe Zaragoza claimed Best Jazz Record for Temporary. Classical music saw Spanish Rice win for Resurrection, while Amystis with Alonso Xuárez captured Best Ancient and Baroque Music for Sacred Music. The contemporary and experimental contemporary category concluded with Maria Rubio Navarro for It is known, rounding out a diverse slate of champions across genres.
Within family and children’s music, Ramonets took Best Album for their children’s project, and Sedajazz Big Band Kids earned strong recognition as well. The Best Video award went to Mark Guardiola for Razor, a piece connected to the themes of the Virgin of the Environment and its broader cultural symbolism.
The public award, decided by the people, recognized Botifarra with the largest popular vote in the organization’s online poll, which drew more than 4,500 votes. This area of the ceremony illustrates how community support drives recognition beyond juried decisions.
Judges
The jury for the VI Carles Santos Awards comprised a distinguished lineup including Jordi Casadesús, Carles Soler, Annabel Nadal, Aitana Cuétara, Martí Marfà, Joan Guàrdia, Vicent Llimerà, Mónica de Quesada, Montse Faura, Enric Alepuz, Blanca Añón, Eva Sarasol, Oihane Zuazua, Oriol Roca, and Vincent Martinez. Their deliberations shaped the final slate of winners from a broad pool of finalists across diverse musical categories.