With the slow yet firm growth philosophy of an olive tree, Olivera Fest arrives in Els Ibarsos. This new cultural initiative aims to demonstrate that independent music can find its place beyond urban circuits and large festivals. The inaugural edition will take place on July 25th in the Main Square of Els Ibarsos, Castellón, featuring performances by Santi Campos (8:00 PM), Reina Vudú (9:30 PM), and The Clitorians DJs (11:00 PM). Admission will be free.
The Town Council of La Serra d’en Galceran is driving this project with the aim of creating a dedicated space for emerging music and provincial artists. According to Belinda Edo Tena, Employment and Local Development Agent for the council, the idea has materialized thanks to the Diputació a Escena program. «Small towns also want to access different cultural proposals and become stages where interesting things happen», states Edo, encapsulating the festival's spirit: bringing to the town what is often reserved for cities.
Olivera Fest does not aim to be a macro-festival but rather to offer a close-up experience, with less volume and more meaning. Its strength lies in its surroundings and the opportunity to experience music in an everyday, recognizable, and shared space. «We are not looking to organize a macro-festival; on the contrary, we want to convey the value of proximity, the environment, and authentic experiences», explains Belinda Edo. The first edition will be modest in quantity but not in quality or intention, designed for emerging artists to find an alternative stage.
The Main Square of Els Ibarsos, as a space for gathering and shared memory, becomes a symbolic stage. The festival seeks to have music dialogue with the territory, encouraging attendees to discover the municipality, its natural surroundings, gastronomy, and tourist resources. For the Town Council of La Serra d’en Galceran, culture is a tool for local development that can attract visitors and generate economic activity in inland towns.
The lineup, featuring Santi Campos, Reina Vudú, and The Clitorians DJs, aligns with the commitment to independent music and projects with a unique voice. «Having artists like these fits perfectly with the festival's spirit», notes Belinda Edo. The festival aims to gradually incorporate other names from the Castellón music scene, such as Nube Naranja, Anna Millo, Línea Maginot, Chica Medusa, Toni Porcar, Back to the Hills, or Annacrusa, reinforcing the project's role as an open door to new musical discoveries.
The first edition of Olivera Fest arrives with the directive to grow without losing its essence, laying the groundwork for a coherent and locally rooted project. «Our goal is to do it well», states Belinda Edo. In a landscape where many festivals compete on size and headliners, Olivera Fest champions a different scale: the close-up experience, artists finding a place for their work, and a town actively participating in the region's cultural life. This edition will serve as a test to gauge audience response and the project's consolidation potential, declaring that inland towns can indeed generate contemporary culture.
Olivera Fest also aims to extend its impact beyond the stage, contributing to the visibility of rural accommodations, restaurants, and tourist resources in the municipality. Culture is viewed as an opportunity to activate new dynamics in inland towns, fostering narrative and connection with the territory. The festival's name, evoking land, slow time, and Mediterranean identity, seeks to build a proposal rooted in its own landscape.
On July 25th, Els Ibarsos will host the inaugural edition of a festival that arrives discreetly but with a clear vision: to be a meeting point for Castellón's emerging music scene, curious audiences, and a municipality looking towards the future. Santi Campos, Reina Vudú, and The Clitorians DJs will provide the soundtrack to a project starting with a desire for continuity and faithfulness to its origins, proving that music can also take root in villages.
