Gustavo Bolivar came out in defense of Jamming and asked for a second chance: “They always complied”

With a few hours to go before its start, thousands of fans and even artists were surprised by the cancellation of the 2022 Jamming Festival, one of the most anticipated musical events in Colombia. After the last edition was suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic, there was great expectation for its celebration, however, many were left empty-handed when the news broke last March 18.

As the days go by, the side effects have not been long in coming. In Ibague, where the festival was to take place, losses of about 75 billion pesos have been estimated, according to estimates by the city's Chamber of Commerce. Likewise, the artisans and entrepreneurs, who had used tents to market their products and who later found them unoccupied, were looted.

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In the midst of the uncertainties and doubts to be resolved, Gustavo Bolivar, the Senate list for the Historical Pact, released a video through his social networks in which he visited Playa Hawaii, where the 2022 Jamming was to take place. During the recording, the congressman showed a panorama of the recreational center, what was left of the facilities — including the 20-meter-high main stage — and collected some testimonies from people involved in the assembly.

In addition, the writer and librettist also expressed his support for Alejandro Casallas, dentist in charge of organizing Jamming, and Luis Casallas, the latter's father and labor relations coordinator. Recall that, in recent days, the second was transferred to the bunker of the Prosecutor's Office to open the proceedings against the organization of the festival. There he remains guarded and is ordered not to leave Ibague until his children appear and the investigation bears fruit.

“As a businessman, I sympathize with the organizers, I know that it was not their intention to leave people fooled by a festival they had bet on so long, with so many dreams. (...) I didn't talk to them so I could find out what happened. I know that they will try to compensate people who are harmed, both attendees and merchants who also bet on these festivals to make their sales,” Bolívar said in the film, which was initially published on YouTube.

“They wanted to do something really big and it got out of hand. I think that doing one of these things cost more than they collected and that calculation failed them. I hope very soon that they can recover and respond to people with the money on the ballots,” he added.

Finally, the senator hopes that this event can be held again, because, in the past, its success has been proven: “This must be done again, we must give second chances and more to people who never failed. They have done nine versions of Jamming, and in the previous eight they always fulfilled every last artist they promised.”

Although there is still no information on the whereabouts of the Casallas brothers, a statement had been issued on social networks explaining the options for replenishment for the more than 150,000 people who purchased their ballot for the event.

Among some of the options was offered that customers can change their Jamming ticket to attend any of the other private events offered at the company. Among these is the presentation of Vicentico, also vocalist of the Fabulous Cadillacs, who will perform in the Colombian capital on May 21 at the Royal Center Theater.

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