This is the first edition of an event that defines itself as a festival of 'music and conscience' since it combines pop concerts at night with conferences during the day. The venue is in Montcada i Reixac, just 10 km outside of Barcelona.
Jiwapop is a sustainable and charitable festival, having earned the UniversoVivo Sustainable Festival Certificate, and donating part of the profits to NGOs Unicef and Pallapupas.
Scheduled to headline the concert line-up were veteran British ska-pop group Madness, but just a day before it was to start, the festival organisers cancelled all the nighttime programming, which was to include performances not only from Madness but also Fangoria, Love of Lesbian, Els Amics de les Arts, La Pegatina, Macaco, and Gerard Quintana with Xarim Aresté.
The statement issued by the festival said: 'The reason for this decision reflects that the more than 2,000 tickets purchased in the pre-sale has not been sufficient to meet the necessary expenses to carry out the pop area of the festival.' Refunds for tickets bought will be given out starting next week via the festival's website and email (jiwapop@jiwapop.com).
As for the conferences (10am-10pm), the big draw is Alejandro Jodorowsky, and this is being billed as one of his last public appearances. Among the other speakers are Albert Espinosa, Elsa Punset, Alex Rovira, María Luisa Becerra and Ramiro Calle.